Page 17 of Scoring Truth
Me: He just text me and I told him I was done with him because I thought it was you three! Why would you post my number?
Taylor: Yay! He called! That’s a good sign!
Me: Not when I wasn’t expecting it! What if he was a killer?
Mia: He’s a killer QB. I’d let him rough me up
Suzanne:
Closing out their chat, I open Jameson’s.
Me: I’m so sorry. I was responding in another chat and thought I was still in their box
Jameson: I’m not a murderer, I promise.
Me: I imagine it would make it hard to get a contract that way
The phone rings, and my heart speeds up seeing his name blink across the screen.
“Hello?”
“So, you’ve been checking up on me?” His voice floats through the phone and is so captivating that it makes me melt onto the couch.
“OMG! No! I mean, yes, well, I mean, I Googled you and saw you in articles talking about your big contract and, oh my god, I don’t mean big like that. I mean, the article mentioned it was big. But it didn’t say how big. I don’t know how big you are. I mean…”
I hear him chuckling. “I’m going to shut up now.”
“No, please, I’d like to hear you keep talking about how big you think I am.”
His teasing laughter slips across the phone, and it makes me wish he was sitting next to me.
“Laugh it up, pretty boy. I’ll cancel our contract!”
He laughs harder. “And you think I’m pretty! Big and pretty. Damn, I should have signed up for this Rent-a-Date thing years ago!”
I laugh along with him, but it quickly turns to a groan. “I still can’t believe they signed me up without telling me. I’m so embarrassed.”
“Don’t be embarrassed. You didn’t know. I signed myself up. Who looks desperate now?”
We quiet down.
“It’s not desperate. You’re a high-profile guy. I’m sure it’s hard to meet people.”
My thoughts wander, and I’m left thinking he only wants to date me because I don’t know who he is. He doesn’t really wantme; he just wants someone who doesn’t knowhim.
“It is hard. I won’t lie. But not for the reason you think.” I hear him take a breath and let it out. “I had a steady girlfriend in high school. When I was heading to college, there was a lot of talk about me going pro. She didn’t want toshare me, and she didn’t want the attention. To me, that was a real ride or die because she was with me prior to anything, and she didn’t want the stuff that came along with fame.”
“That sounds like a good thing, no?”
“Yes, but she didn’t want to support me, either. She didn’t want me to play. She wanted to stay home and be famous in our small town. That wasn’t what I wanted out of life. I didn’t bust my ass to stay home. I could remain humble. I told her nothing would change. I’d buy her a house wherever I signed, and I would always come home. She didn’t want me gone for even the few weeks we travel for away games. I knew then she wasn’t the one.”
“If she was the one, she’d want the best for you.”
“Absolutely.”
“So, what about you? Why are you looking to rent love?” He laughs easily, and once again, the sound soothes my nerves.
“If you haven’t noticed, I’m kind of a hot mess.”
