Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 102549 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102549 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
“It’s a nerve-racking situation,” I say.
Uncle Damon turns to me and cocks an eyebrow because I’m supposed to be silent while I’m here. I’m his shadow. I’m learning how he does things.
I shrug. “I know you said to be quiet and be invisible, but I’m just empathizing with the guy. Taking this step is a big deal because it’s so hard to know how people are going to react. It’s a statistical fact that when an athlete comes out, ticket sales to their games and social media follows drop, while attention in the media increases.”
“Fuck, really?” Kelley asks. “Maybe I shouldn’t do this. I shouldn’t, should I? I’m making a huge mistake.”
Uncle Damon hangs his head. “And this is why you were supposed to pretend to be invisible.”
“I’m not finished yet,” I say and step closer to Kelley. “But everything I just said? It’s temporary. Because once your story is told, it’s done, and after everyone has talked about it, had their say, they move on. You killed it your rookie season, and now is the time to do it—while you have time off and aren’t in the spotlight where the media can rip into your playing. Then, in a few months when everything has settled down, instead of being the nervous wreck you are, you’ll be free. No more worrying about when the right time is. No more fear over who will find out. This is it. You do this, you get through it any way you can—I’ve heard hiding in a cabin without TV or internet access is a great way to hide for a while—and then when all the news blows over, that’s when you can relax and enjoy your life. Because everyone in the queer community deserves that.”
Kelley’s shoulders sag in relief, color returns to his cheeks, and he manages a smile before turning to my uncle. “If I do have to go hide in the woods, can I at least take your intern with me to talk me down from future panic attacks?”
“We’re ready for you,” someone calls out on set, and Kelley sucks in a deep breath.
He mutters under his breath, “I can do this, I can do this,” and then puts on a confident mask and struts into the studio as if he wasn’t about to walk out two minutes ago.
“That was impressive,” Uncle Damon says to me. “A little too panic-inducing for me, but you might make a great agent yet.”
“Might? Only might?”
Uncle Damon laughs. “Hey, you’re still green, and I haven’t been able to teach you everything I know yet.”
“How long until you let me run on my own?”
“How long until you finish that law degree?”
Ugh. Another year and a half.
Uncle Damon’s hand lands on my shoulder. “I know it might feel like I’m holding you back sometimes, but I’m actually not. If anything, you’ve got more responsibility than any of the other interns.”
I snort. “Yeah, you actually let me talk to the athletes.”
He scowls. “No, I tell you to be invisible like everyone else, but you don’t listen to me.”
“I would never go against your word, Uncle Damon. You’re my favorite fake uncle out of all my fake uncles.”
Uncle Damon turns back to focus on Kelley on set. “So much like your fathers,” he says under his breath.
I grin at him even if I’m not sure he can see it. Being compared to my famous dads in this instance doesn’t get to me like it used to. Growing up and playing football with my brother, we absolutely hated when we’d be compared to the great Marcus Talon and Shane Miller. But being told my attitude is exactly like them, I’ll wear that like a badge of honor because even though they’re embarrassing, they’re two of the best people on the planet.
Uncle Damon represented them both when they were in the NFL, and they were some of his first-ever clients, so they were really close. They still are. I refer to Damon as my uncle because we were raised that way.
We watch while Kelley’s put through different poses, but while an assistant comes out to oil his chest more, my phone dings in my pocket.
“You better not be thinking about taking that phone out here,” Uncle Damon says.
“What if it’s Torey? He might need his agent.” And yeah, I’m still stuck with the entitled football player after scoring him a spot on Chicago’s training squad. I’m sure it had everything to do with his talent and nothing to do with my dad winning a billion Super Bowl championships for the team back in the day.
Uncle Damon had said that I can’t send all my football players to Chicago as easy as that, and one day my clout with the team won’t carry my career, but I think he’s just pissed that I succeeded with my first-ever client without trying very hard.