Page 21 of Scoring the Player
“Until the grave. So listen, I got you out of the CBS interview like you requested. As of today, your PR calendar is completely cleared. Well, actually, not quite. I confirmed the column forSports Illustrated, but it’s strictly about your game this season.”
I dap Nick, who’s also heading to his car. “They know no?—”
“No Carter or coming out questions. Just ball.”
“Cool. Thanks.”
“You bet. So…” She clears her throat. “Salem’s a client.”
“Ah.” I unlock my car, then open the door and throw my bag across to the passenger seat.
“One of my clients publicly expressing romantic feelings toward another of my clients is a new one for me. How can I support you?”
Romantic.I shake my head as I tuck in.Is that what that was?
“Yeah.” I stare out the window. “1.8 million views.”
“The video?”
I grunt.
“Hmm. I know that kind of attention is the last thing you want right now.”
My head drops to the headrest, and I close my eyes. I need to eat soon, or I’m gonna pass out. Feels like I’m gonna pass out anyway.
She’s quiet, which means she’s racking her brain to figure out a way to fix this. We can’t. It’s out there now.
“Did you know he was gay?” I ask.
She sighs. “You know I can’t answer that.”
Yeah, I know. I’d have wanted her to answer the same way if someone asked that about me after I came out. She did know. Not at first, but eventually.
“How about this—I can add Salem and the press conference as off-limits in your media clause.”
“Thanks.”
“You know, if you are interested in him, Salem’s a good guy.”
I stab the temperature button to turn up the heat, then open the window.
“Honest to god, the kind of man you can take at his word. And he’s charitable too—not just a throwing-money-at-the-problem type of guy. Like you, he dedicates his time.”
I close the window and switch to the AC.
“You still there?” she asks.
“Yeah.”
“You’re quiet. Have I overstepped?”
I kill the AC, then put the car in drive. “Nah. Just tired.”
“Okay. I emailed you the contract and details for next week. I’ll send over the amended agreements with the updated media clause shortly.”
“Thanks.”
“Oh, hey, I didn’t get your RSVP for my birthday shindig.”
