Page 38 of Hotshot

“I bet you say that to all your clients.”

“Damn straight.” Adrianne gave her a wide grin. “But you’re following doctor’s orders? I know you have an issue doing that normally.”

Sloane smiled. “I really am. I’m going out of my mind training solo, spending hours on my bike, doing weights, in the hydro pool. But I know it works. I’ve done it before. It doesn’t stop it from sucking big time.”

“Just keep doing what you’re doing, and things will get back to normal.” Adrianne paused. “Talking of which, how’s life otherwise? What have you been up to after you finished moping, which I’m sure you gave your all to. I remember your first big injury: you thought it was the end of the world. I’m not there to hold your hand this time, and you wouldn’t even take my calls.” She balled her fist, pouted, and pressed her fist into her chest. “I’ve got feelings too, you know. But tell me: who talked you out of your black hole this time? Because I know it was someone. You can’t do this on your own. It’s a weakness on your part.”

Sloane laughed at the accuracy. That was the trouble with an agent you’d known for over a decade. She didn’t take any bullshit, and she knew her inside out.

“I’ve had a few people. My physio. My manager. And my performance coach, Ella, has been great. I couldn’t have done this without her. She’s been cheerleading me from the start, and she lives in my building too, so she keeps me topped up with coffee. And cream to go in it, more importantly.”

Sloane smiled when she said ‘cheerleading’. Such an American term, but also, Ella’s term. She realised too late that a smile had taken up residence on her face. Adrianne would notice that. Sloane tried to rearrange her features to a semblance of normal, but feared she was too late. “Did you know this country doesn’t drink their coffee with cream? It’s an absolute scandal.” She was blathering to cover up.

Adrianne didn’t respond right away, simply stared into the camera. All of which made Sloane think she’d definitely said too much. Her agent adjusted her position before she spoke. “Is that a Christmas tree behind you?”

Sloane turned, then nodded. “Ella bought it for me. She thought it might cheer me up.”

A knowing nod. “Seems like she’s really there for your every need.” Another pause. “Is she there foreveryneed?”

“Everything her job dictates,” Sloane replied, sweeping her agent’s unspoken questions under the metaphorical carpet. It was time for a gear change. “Did you see the email about me doing schools outreach while I can’t train? I did my first this week and it went really well. I was worried the kids might not know who I was, but they all did.”

“That’s because you’re a superstar, sweetheart.” Adrianne got up and went out of shot. “I hope you smiled for the selfies and didn’t kick a single ball!” Seconds later, she came back with what Sloane guessed was a fresh coffee.

“Of course. I’m always smiling. You know me.”

“Unless you speak about Jess. What’s going on there? I saw she’s all over her socials with Brit now. She didn’t even take a breath.”

“You know Jess. She can’t stand to be alone or out of the spotlight. She can do whatever the hell she wants as far as I’m concerned.” Sloane was surprised to realise she meant it, too. “All I know for sure is, I’m glad to be out of it.”

“On this issue, I’m in total agreement. Jess could never decide what she wanted. She’ll get rid of Brit soon enough, too.” Her agent sipped her coffee and lasered Sloane with her gaze. She was just as good at doing it remotely as she was in real life. “I take it with getting injured and moping, you haven’t met anybody else yet?”

Ella in those green pants and red-and-white top sailed through Sloane’s mind. She pushed the image away and shook her head. “I’m focused on my recovery, nothing else.”

“I’d believe that if you were a robot, but I have it on good authority you’re not.” Adrianne wagged a finger at Sloane. “Tell me when you’re ready. I know there’s something you’re not saying.”

Damn her.

“But in the meantime, keep doing the promo and keep healing.” Adrianne wrapped her knuckle on her kitchen table. “One more thing: are you coming back for the holidays? I know you weren’t initially, but now you’re not playing a game every few days, is it a possibility? If it is, I’ll start letting the press know you’re available.”

Sloane hadn’t given it any consideration. However, the thought of spending Christmas with her parents and being grilled by the press about her love life didn’t fill her with seasonal cheer. Even though people cared about what she did off the field here, it wasn’t nearly as much as it was in her homeland. She didn’t want to go back to intense scrutiny.

“I don’t think so. I’m still a part of the team and I’m still going to all the home games.” She hadn’t truly allowed herself to think about the holidays too much. If she did, she might feel terribly lonely.

They talked for another half an hour about Sloane’s commitments and contracts, as well as how Adrianne’s son, Todd, was getting on at college. No, Sloane didn’t want to link up with a well-known dog food brand. Yes, she would consider a new, ethical skincare company. Yes to interviews with Vogue and All Out Goals, but only once she’d recovered. “I’m not being photographed on crutches.” Todd, apparently, had his first ever boyfriend. Having known him since he was ten, Sloane glowed like a proud auntie. Whereas Adrianne declared the young man, “not Jewish, but cute. It could be worse.”

Sloane glanced up at her oven to check the time. She had to go. “I have a meeting in 15 minutes that I have to prepare for.”

“Isn’t it Saturday over there? What meeting do you have that I don’t know about? I’m still your agent, right?”

“Yes, you are, but I need to keep some mystery.” Sloane gave Adrianne a wink she knew would infuriate her.

“Something’s going on with you, Sloane. I could tell that as soon as I saw you in that button-down shirt. You never wear those on the weekend. Mark my words. I’m getting it out of you next time.”

“Bye, Adrianne!”

Adrianne raised a hand. “Before you dash off to meet your mystery woman, I have something else for you. A car, to be precise. You don’t have one yet, do you?”

Sloane blinked. “No.”

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