Page 45 of Playbook
After I fire it off to him, I say, “Now, let’s talk?—”
He cuts me off mid-sentence. “Whoa. You made this. No jokes?”
A small laugh slips free. “No jokes.”
“This is incredible. You’re really talented.”
“Thanks.” The compliment is so simple but sounds so genuine. Then I remember who I’m dealing with. Brogan knows just what to say or do when it comes to making women fall at his feet. “So, this weekend…”
We talk logistics for a few minutes. There isn’t really that much to work out. We decide to meet at the restaurant since he has practice just before and I give him an overview of everyone that will be there.
“Chris, you’ve already met,” I say. “My sister, Sierra, and her fiancé, Ben. Plus our parents. A few of their close friends maybe too.”
“Cool. Sounds fun.”
Is he for real? “Going to dinner with a group of complete strangers sounds fun?”
“I know you, and me and Chris are practically BFFs.”
“Ha!” I bark, and then uneasy laughter follows.
“I’ll be fine. I can talk to anyone.”
“Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.”
“Can I see more of your work?”
Thrown by the request, I hesitate. “Why?”
“Because I think it’s interesting. What if your family asks if I’ve seen your work?”
I scoff. “They won’t.” They never ask about my freelance projects.
But I send him over another design anyway, this one completed.
“Badass,” he says when he receives it. “Is this for a cover?”
“No, I think he’s using it for some marketing materials to promote the book.” I’m pretty proud of this particular design. It’s a vampire hunter with magical abilities, and the pose is of her staring off into the distance with a look of determination and purpose. Knives strapped to her pants and blood on her hands.
“I love it. Wait, is your job the reason you have the PO Box? For your legions of fans? Do art fans send panties too?”
“Yes, I have it for work, and no. It’s so I can use it as my business address, mostly.” I can’t help but laugh at the thought of people sendingmepanties.
“You have such a cool job.”
“That feels like a weird compliment from someone who gets paid to play football.”
“You think my job is cool?” he asks.
“Doesn’t everyone?”
“You didn’t seem that impressed the other night.”
“You obviously put a lot of hard work into what you do, and I think that in itself is impressive.”
“Thanks,” he says, then asks, “Highlight of the week?”
“What?”
