Page 69 of Let It Be Me
25
SARAH
“So we’re going to start from top to bottom. Starting with your socials. No one likes to see party picture after party picture on an athlete's feed. I know you both are young, but the fans want some form of para-social connection. And partying every night is not the way to do that.” I run through the rest of my plans with Deon, Michael, and Bryce. How I hope to find them both brand deals that align with their personal interests and if a press release needs to be made I need to be aware of it.
It’s as if time flew by and an hour later they’re both looking at me like I started spouting French.
“I know it’s a lot. Especially on the social media end. I can run them for now until you both hire reputable people to do that. Same with your websites. And when it comes to your brand deals, I’ll be by your side every step of the way.”
They both look at each other and I have to bite my lips closed to keep from laughing. It’s a look that Mason and Nate gave me when I gave them a rundown of my plan and how I operate my business. Deon and Michael look at eachother before he looks at me and is the first to speak up. “Mason’s right. You’re good.”
“Thank you.” I preen because I can’t help it, I love praise for my work. “So you two are playing Sunday at one and I’ll be there. Are either of your families going to be there? I know some publicists don’t like to mix business and personal lives, but me working with you two is as much personal as it is business.”
“Yeah, they’ll both be there,” Michael speaks up.
“Okay, perfect. You two have everything from me and I’ll see you on Sunday.” I stand up and walk them to the door of my office.
The three of them say their goodbyes and I head back to my desk. It felt weird walking into the office after working remotely for the better part of two months. My jeans and sweater combo made me feel out of place in a place where I felt like I belonged prior to meeting Riley. And I’d be lying if I said I missed it around here. But something feels off about being here. I know I would never work for someone else because I know that no other PR agency would make me feel as seen as this one does. Does that mean I’ve let my priorities change? Does that mean I love being a publicist any less than I did a year ago? Maybe it’s me who’s changed and I’m finally accepting that.
Kamryn: What time are you headed over here?
Me: Wrapping things up now. So say thirty minutes?
Kamryn: Okay! See you soon.
I knock out a couple of more emails that need my attentionbefore closing up and peeking my head into Jeff’s office before I leave. “Hey, stranger.”
“Me? You’re the one no longer in the office.”
“You know I love you like a brother I never had. But I love working from my boyfriend’s couch even more,” I brag as I come to sit in the chair in front of his desk.
“So I take it things are going good with Riley?”
“Try fantastic. And thank you for letting me change up my work schedule.”
He waves me away like it’s nothing. But him allowing me to work in Columbus, even though it’s just over an hour away, has helped mine and Riley’s relationship strengthen in a way normal long-distance relationships would have crumbled.
“So what’s new with you? One of the downsides of not being here as much is not being able to bother you.” I chuckle and swat at a pen that Jeff jokingly tosses at me.
“I started seeing someone,” he tells me casually.
“Who?”
“Olivia. She works with your friend, Kamryn.”
“She’s so cute. And you’re robbing the cradle a bit with her,” I tease.
“Shut up before I fire you.”
“Just remind me again how old you are and how old she is.”
If looks could kill, I’d be dead. “I’m forty as you very well know.” I wave my hand out for him to continue. “And Olivia is twenty-five.”
“You know,” I start and hold my hand up to stop him from interjecting. “My best friend and her boyfriend have an age gap. Jeff, I like to tease you. But if what’s happening between you two makes you happy, then you deserve it more than anyone.”
Jeff’s widow status is not something we discuss a lot. Like Kamryn and Emily losing people they loved, it’s not something we need to talk about. And while I know Jeff’s loss was bigger than theirs it was still a loss.
“How do your kids feel about you dating?”
