Page 57 of The Bad Boy's Homecoming
Levi had totake a cold shower to try and wash away how frustrated he was—even though he knew there was no hope of him convincing Missy to give him a shot right now.And he totally understood it was not an ideal time for them to start dating.But for him, it didn’t matter that she was working for his family, they were living in the house he grew up in, he had no job, and might be a dad in six months.Illogically he didn’t care.He wanted Missy.
Once he was cleaned up, he checked on Gran and then left to meet his new agent outside of Atlanta.Hal wanted to talk about all the gossip and how they could manage the PR about the possible baby, and then he needed to go see Declan again.He was putting off calling Sara until he spoke to his agent and his lawyer, in hopes he wouldn’t make the optics worse.
His phone had not stopped blowing up so he turned it off, but as he drove back to the city that had been his home the last nine years all he felt was dread and loathing.There were so many reasons for him to not want to play for Atlanta, but if there was even a chance that Missy would date him then he needed to try to stay as close as possible.
“So now you’re saying you want to play for Atlanta, even though they’re very likely the ones behind these rumors?”Hal said as they settled into his small kitchen to chat.
But before Levi could respond, a young woman with two pigtails, wearing a baggy sweatsuit and furry slippers walked in.She was carrying a gold laptop, big headphones were wrapped around her neck, and her nails were painted wild colors with animal prints.
“Mr.Bad Boy Hart, you’re really living up to that namesake, but my brother told me you don’t want to use that to our advantage in these negotiations?So, we’re going to need to use something else to change the narrative.”
“Um hello, and you are?”Levi said.
The young woman didn’t look a day over fourteen.
“Gina Carpenter.You can call me G.I run point on PR for Carpe Diem enterprises.And you are going to be my greatest masterpiece.”
He couldn’t help but smile at the naive young lady, but when he looked at his new agent, he just looked stoned-faced and nodded.
“She’s like a PR savant; also these young kids just know how to communicate better than us,” Hal said.
“I know what you’re thinking: is she even old enough to understand how you got that nickname?I assure you, I am of legal age,” Gina said, then she looked him up and down.
“What Gina means to say is she graduated valedictorian, has an IQ of 140, and is obsessed with using psychology, trends, and people’s biases against them.Trust me, if anyone can repair or rewrite your image, it’s her.”
Gina just nodded.“But it will require some effort on your part.You can say you’re not a bad boy and then chalk up a few more baby mamas, but that dog won’t hunt long.So you decide, Mr.Hart.Do you want me to create a new persona long enough for you to sign with a new team and then you can go back to your wild ways, or is this a complete rewrite?”
“It was always all fake.I’ve never even cheated on someone, never been in a fistfight.”
“But is this baby yours?This current storyline will dominate the press and your reputation this entire season, unless you can prove it’s not true.”
“I don’t know.”
Gina sighed.“I was afraid of that.Okay so you slept with the woman.How many times?And we need the dates.Then you’ll get a family attorney and request a paternity test.There is a noninvasive test and your attorney can submit a court order.”
Levi sat listening to her and feeling more and more dread.
“This isn’t going to be a quick fix, is it?What if she comes out and says it’s not mine?”
“That is part of the problem.Miss Mama Sara has gone on record saying she’s not sure.”Gina flipped her laptop open and hit play with her spiky nail painted purple with cheetah print and a bumpy video of Sara played.
“This looks like someone she knew recorded her without Sara knowing, and then put it out on social media,” Levi said.
“Emm-hmm, and you can bet they got paid handsomely for this one.You are baseball’s biggest scandal right now.Top player won’t sign his contract because he hates his teammate, or wants more money, or wants the girl and more money.”
“None of that is true.”
“But you refuse to speak to any media so they can fill in all those blanks, make up any story.”
“You’re saying I have to do press?”
“Bingo.The press of our choosing.”
Levi sighed.“I’m betting everything on you two knowing what you’re talking about, and the fact that my brother’s best friend vouched for you.”He looked Hal in the eyes.“Please don’t screw me over.”
Hal lifted his sleeve to show Levi a tattoo.Two arrows formed an X over a sword.“I met Declan in the army and he talked me into going to law school, said I had the gift of arguing people to death.He vouched for you, so don’t you screw me over.This agent business is hard enough, and I refuse to represent dirtbags.”
Levi held out his hand and Hal shook it, then he held it out to Gina.“Alright, tell me what I need to do to either clear my name or take responsibility for this baby.And find me a new team that won’t ask me to play any role other than an all-star baseball player.”
