Page 12 of Game Plan
I shrugged with one shoulder. "At least I didn't compare myself to Thor." I only did that in the mirror. I wouldn’t be stupid enough to do that in front of Becca.
"Not in public," she said, shooting my words back at me. "What about in private?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" She seemed bitter about something, but I enjoyed the banter. Other than Mary, few women were so real. She always was, except for these past few minutes.
"Not if you were the last guy on Earth," she replied, eyes hard. She seemed to mean it.
"Ouch." I rubbed my cheek as though she punched me. Truthfully, it stung a little. Not the rejection, just the stone cold look on her face. For some reason, she really seemed not to like me.
"Should we finish the interview?" I suggested. "I have a feeling there are things you wanted to know, but didn't feel comfortable asking." I spread my arms. "Ask me anything." No guarantees I would answer, but I would give her the chance to try.
She hesitated, then put the phone back on the table and restarted the voice recording.
"How do you feel, going into the new season?" she asked.
Not exactly a hard hitting question, but the kind I expected for aNational Dailyarticle. The answer was one I'd given so often, I could recite it word for word.
"I'm feeling confident in the team this year. We have the best lineup we've ever had. We're hungry and ready."
"Even after Coach Franks’ resignation?" she asked, her face expressionless.
I frowned. "How did you know about that? We only just found out."
"So did I." She gave me a sly smile. "Rumours have circulated for some time now."
I sat back and ran a hand over my hair. I wanted to kick myself. At the end of the day, she was a journalist. She'd be looking for the angle, the scoop, to take to the world to further her career. I should’ve known a member of the press would’ve gotten a leak.
"Turn off the recording," I said softly.
For a moment I thought she'd refuse, but she pressed the pause button and looked expectant.
"This is off the record until after the press conference," I said firmly. "If you don't agree, then this interview is over."
She nodded. "Fine. I can keep a secret, as long as what you tell me is exclusive."
I huffed out a sigh and rubbed my temples for a moment. I wasn't sure I could trust her, but by the time she published anything I was about to say, the press conference would be over.
I put a hand on hers to stop her before she turned the recorder back on. Electricity raced through my palm from the touch, and I wondered if she felt that too.
"Off the record," I said firmly. Typical journalist. Give them an inch…
Her lips twitched, but she slipped her hand from under mine and placed both of them in her lap and turned all of her attention on me. Not in the way she had before, with her Groupie Barbie routine, but with genuine interest and professionalism, even if it was lightly laced with hostility.
I let my eyes unfocused. "Lori Franks has weeks to live."
Becca nodded, her eyes full of sympathy. "I'm sorry."
"What were you expecting to hear?" I asked. "Something juicy? He was caught with someone's wife?"
"Was he?" she asked.
"Of course not," I spat. "He has more integrity than that." I don't know what pissed me off more, the suggestion Coach Franks would cheat, or her apparent disregard for a sick woman. Was she that heartless?
"Of course," she said quickly. "I didn't mean to suggest he doesn't."
"But juicy stories sell better than reality?" I said bitterly.
"Unfortunately." The sides of her mouth turned down.
