Page 80 of Hero's Prize

His mood couldn’t be higher as he walked into the Frontier Diner, until he spotted Tony and Rick sitting in a back corner booth of the diner. He tried to turn and back out, but they saw him too quickly. Tony waved him over. Gritting his teeth, Colton made his way across the restaurant.

“What are you guys doing here?”

“We’ve actually been staying in Reddington City in case you change your mind about anything.” Tony at least had the good sense to look sheepish at the admission.

“Change my mind about what?”

Rick slid over, and Colton sat down next to him even though he really didn’t want to.

“Pretty much anything,” Rick muttered.

Tony shot the younger man a look. Obviously, Rick had been told not to be confrontational.

“Good thing we were so close by. I keep hearing about how you are a hero. Saved some kids from drowning.”

“I’m not a hero.” He caught the waitresses and signaled for a cup of coffee. “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

“Maybe,” Tony said. “But you know this is something we could spin to our advantage.”

Colton took a calming breath. “I’m not interested in spinning anything. These kids are not to be used for us to gain traction with social media.”

“Maybe if you would look at how your social media numbers are dropping, you might listen to reason.” Tony once again shot a look at Rick at the younger man’s words.

“I’ve never been one to pay much attention to those types of numbers—it’s not what I’m about.”

Rick threw up his hands. “Well, not all of us have the assurance of a bank account the size of yours. We don’t come from parents who were already wealthy and famous. So, we sure as fuck check the numbers pretty regularly.”

“Enough, Rick,” Tony said, before turning to Colton. “Asshole here is not making his point in a wise way, but he does still have a point. None of us wants to see you lose your status, partially because it means we’d be out of a job, but also because you worked hard to get to where you are.”

He worked hard because stunts had always been what he loved to do ever since he was a kid here in Oak Creek. And he wouldn’t lie…the perks of fame and having people cheer you on while you did what you loved was something he enjoyed.

But stunts for him had never been about social media views or numbers of likes.

“I’m not going to change who I am in order to be more popular on social media.”

Tony nodded. “Absolutely and we one hundred percent supportthat. Nobody wants you to change who you are. But what we do want is for you to share who you are with the public. For example, if I had been able to film you saving that kid…”

“My interaction with these kids is not for public amusement.” He took the cup of coffee from the waitress and ordered the breakfast special—two eggs, bacon, and hash browns. It hadn’t changed much since when he used to get it as a kid in high school when they’d come here every semester before final exams.

Tony held out his hand in a gesture of peace. “Yeah, I get that. I was just using it as an example. My point is, you don’t have to change who you are—your fans just want a glimpse into your life.”

“Maybe not all of it,” Rick muttered.

Colton crossed his arms over his chest. “What does that mean?”

“Shut the fuck up, Rick.”

Colton shook his head and cut off Tony’s warning. “No, are you referring to something specific?”

Now the younger man looked uncomfortable. “Forget it.”

“No. Is it Oak Creek? Town is too small and you think my fans will be bored? That’s exactly the point I’m trying to make. There are parts of my life not meant to be public. Let my fans see the public parts—the stunts.”

“You know how it is,” Tony said. “The public wants to feel like they know you.”

“And the town isn’t the problem,” Rick said. “Or it’s notjustthe problem.”

“Goddamn it, Rick.” Tony scrubbed a hand down his face.

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