Page 61 of Wild Catch
Of course, the social media operation started the second I got the green light from Logan. We dropped a couple of videos rehashing the greatest hits—a.k.a. Logan saving the integrity of my head and then from his overeager fans—and I could deal with that well enough.
Dave had a new idea though, and today was the first time we filmed it.
Basically, I went up to a few random players over practice to ask them:if they had a sister, which teammate would you let her date?Nothing too spicy. I even got some funny takes. And one of the guys I approached was Logan.
In the meantime, Dave was also recording from afar. The shtick is to show how the other players are all normal and friendly, whereas Logan acts different toward me.
We must be pretty good actors, actually. Even though the whole thing was orchestrated with everyone’s full knowledge, we look like two college kids flirting between classes.
In the video, I walk up to him while he’s taking a water break. The sun hits me square in the face and he notices. Grabbing my elbow, he steers me toward the shade from the stands. This part wasn’t fake, I recall genuinely thanking him just as I set my phone to record and pointed it at his face. Logan must’ve figured that was the showtime, because he leaned his arm against the fence, lowering his face so I wouldn’t have to raise my phone quite that high.
And I giggled. And tucked my hair behind my ear.
And my boss caught it all on camera.
Groaning, I drop my face on my keyboard and wish I was small enough to run and hide behind my mom.
Okay, I take it back.Heis the good actor. I thought I was acting natural at the time, but now I can clearly see that I was affected. That the little kindness acts here and there, and the fact that a mouthwatering smell clings to him, were definitely affecting me.
And that’s the thing. We’ve only been doing this fake dating thing for about a week, but he’s already treated me so much nicer than Ben did even when we weren’t supposed to be fake. That it was revealed to have been a farce later is a different story—my feelings, my hopes and dreams about him, those had been real.
Ben wouldn’t even take me out in public, though. Dinner always had to be at his place, or somewhere so secluded that now I wonder if he was embarrassed about me. He never protected me from anything, not even from a crack in the sidewalk. And he always hogged the comfy side of his couch, the one with the footrest.
I can’t begin to count the amount of times that Logan Kim, a guy who doesn’t give a flying turd about me, has looked out for me. It’s actually embarrassing.
That’s it. I’m just conflating his chivalry and my desire to be treated as a princess—as Cade calls me—when really all Logan is doing is the bare minimum, and I was settling for crumbs with Ben Williams. That’s the real source of my embarrassment.
My computer chimes with an incoming instant message and I ignore it, still stewing about my performance in that video.
I have to remember that while Logan is a good actor, I am not, and that none of this is real. I’ve been burned enough by guys who act all interested at first and then toss me aside, to fall for a guy who is openly faking. I need to get it together.
Then my phone buzzes and since it’s close to my face, the vibrations are so strident that I jump in my seat. Audrey’s name appears on my screen and while we occasionally contact each other during work hours, it’s still kind of rare.
Answering the call, I greet with, “Hey, everything okay?”
“That’s my question exactly. I thought you’d jump at the chance right away.”
“What chance?” I frown at the blurry reflection of my face over the paused video on my screen.
“You didn’t see my message?”
“Uh, no. Hold on.” I press my phone between my cheek and shoulder, freeing both hands to use the keyboard shortcuts until I get to the messaging system. Audrey’s chat is at the top, unread.
Winters, Audrey [11:03]:
Guess what?? Your best roommate ever just found you an opportunity with SPORTY. Run to my office!
My heart stops.
It kickstarts with a bang.
My voice trembles as I say, “Hope would take offense to that.”
Audrey gasps. “The nerve.” But I can hear the smile in her words. “So, are you coming or not?”
“Be there in as long as my legs can carry me!” I all but shout, ending the call. I barely have enough presence of mind to lock my computer, survival kicking in even through the excitement after I was prankedby my bosswhen I was in my first year.
He pokes his head out of his cubicle. “Where are you running?”
