Page 49 of Game Plan
Dani took a breath, reached into her pocket to reject the call coming through on her phone, and switched it to silent before addressing April again. She looked at her friend for a while, taking in the furrow on her usually calm brow. Dani was formulating a plan; April just had to wait.
“Ok, here’s what we’re going to do, not all of which you’re going to like, but I think it’s our only option.” Dani began.
“We? Our?” April asked, confused.
“Yes. The first thing we’re going to do is have you sign the paperwork to have me take over from your dad as your manager. I should have stepped in as soon as you came out to me.” Dani sat her own bottle down and reached for April’s hands. “This is big, April, whether you think it is or not. Going through something this size, you’re going to need your friends and family around you. If he continues to be your manager, he can’t support you in the way you need him to as your dad. You and I will cope better as best friends as well as client-manager, than you pair ever did asfamilyas well as client-manager.”
“Ok,” April said as she exhaled a long breath that she didn’t realize she’d been holding.
“Next, while you’re Dad had a point about you and Jade needing to be addressed if players and staff are noticing, his opinion on how to do so is the complete opposite of what I would have suggested.” Dani gave April’s hands a squeeze and offered her friend a reassuring smile, “we arenotgoing to hide this beautiful thing you share together under a rug, ok?”
April felt the first flicker of a smile in over a week cross her face, “ok.”
“Now,Suzie,” Dani said with such venom it made April’s shoulders sag, but she couldn’t help acknowledging the flutter she felt in her heart at having Dani on her side. “That piece of work is not forcing you out of a closet, or out of a career, on my watch!” She exhaled sharply, then got up to pace back and forth while April sat and followed her.
“Thank you,” April said, tears in her eyes again.
“No need, not when you hear how we’re going to fix this. But first, we need to get your family here. They need to knoweverything.” Dani said, leaving no room in her tone for April to argue.
Later that evening, Dani, April, her parents, Connor, and Lana all sat around the dining table.
April took a breath, hands sweating and slightly shaky, as she prepared to unveil the plan of action that Dani had worked on all afternoon. She looked at each of them in turn, then dropped her eyes to the glass of water sitting in front of her.
“I’ve called you here tonight because there are a few big changes about to happen which you all need to know about ahead of time,” she paused and took a breath. She felt Dani rest her hand on her knee under the table, encouraging her tocontinue. “Earlier this year, I met the most incredible person, and I’ve completely fallen for them.”
April looked around the table and mostly saw eyes filled with surprise. As her mom went to talk, April gently shook her head to let her know she had to finish what she’d started.
“They are smart, kind, caring, funny, warm, and sexy as hell,” April sniggered as she heard Connor groan at hearing his sister call anyone sexy. She took another breath to steel herself for their response as she continued. "She is also incredible. With the most beautiful heart I’ve ever known in a person.” April couldn’t bring herself to look up at this point, but she felt Lana’s hand squeeze her other knee under the table as Dani kept her hand where it still rested from earlier.
She could do this; she had support.
She looked up and saw her parents holding each other’s hands over the table. Her Dad gave a gentle nod with a small smile, and her mom looked shocked, and maybe a little hurt.
“Was it something we did?” Her mom started. The gasp from everyone around the table implying Imogen wasnottaking this news well.
“Mom!” Connor said in disgust, and in that moment, April truly loved her big brother. “Are you seriously sitting there and rejecting the fact your own daughter has found love, just because ithappenedto be with another woman?”
“No, not like that! I mean, was it something we did that you felt you couldn’t tell us before now?” Imogen asked her daughter.
A lump stuck in April’s throat realizing the power of her mom’s words. “No, it’s all me, Mom.”
She took a moment and cleared her throat before continuing.
“That being said, I know some other players and their own staff have noticed, and this could cause issues for my career.Dad suggested I be seen out with Simon a few times to keep any potential issues at bay for a while.”
“Roland! Tell me you didn’t!” Imogen started on her husband while whipping her hand from his. April cut her off before she could continue.
“It’s ok, Mom. Well, it’s not, but just listen.” April waited until the murmurs at the table quieted before continuing. "I've spoken with Dani and have agreed that she will take over the role of my manager going forward.” She turned toward her dad, “I love you, but with what I’m about to go through I need you to be my dad and be there forme, not be there as my manager and thinking about my career.” She noticed the large exhale of acceptance as he dropped his shoulders and head.
Roland looked up a moment later with a glassy look in his eyes, nodded at April and turned to Dani, “Thank you, I know you’ll do what’s best for our girl.”
“You have my word.” Dani replied with conviction.
“The main issue we’re up against is in the form of Suzie Gibbons.” April noticed her dad visibly bristle at the very name being spoken. “She overheard a private conversation between myself and Jade,” April smiled at being confident enough to say her partner’s name out loud.
“Jade?” Lana asked, “Cleo’s sister?” April smiled and nodded. “Good choice,” Lana added with a wink, and patted her knee under the table.
April sniggered before the weight of the next thing she had to say landed square in her chest again, making her smile fade and fear return in its place.
