Page 26 of The Riskiest Move

“That’s what I’m talking about!” Coach yells as I cross the goal line. “Great route, Cooper. Excellent throw, Rogan.”

I jog back to the huddle, trading high fives with my teammates.

“Nice catch, Coop,” Rogan says with a grin. “Keep running routes like that and we’ll be unstoppable.”

I grin back at him , feeling a surge of pride. “Thanks, man. That felt good.”

Coach calls us in to wrap up practice. As we huddle around him, I notice a few reporters and photographers lined up along the sidelines. I’m still getting used to the constant media presence at practices.

“All right, listen up,” Coach says. “Good work out there today. We’re making progress, but we’ve still got plenty to improve upon. Hit the showers and get some rest. I want you all fresh tomorrow.”

As we break from the huddle, I see one of the reporters waving to get my attention. I hesitate, not sure if I should go over.

Rogan notices my uncertainty and claps me on the shoulder. “Better get used to it. Go say hi. Just keep it brief.”

I nod and then jog over to the sideline where the reporter is waiting. As I approach, I recognize her as Melissa Chen, one of the local sports journalists who covers our team.

“Cooper, great practice out there,” she says with a smile. “Do you have a minute to chat?”

“Sure, what’s up?” I reply, trying to sound casual despite my nerves.

Melissa holds up her recorder. “Mind if I get this on tape?” When I nod, she continues, “There’s been a lot of buzz about your performance so far this season. How are you feeling about your role on the team?”

I take a deep breath, remembering the media training we received. “I’m feeling good. The coaches and my teammates have been really supportive in helping me adjust to the NFL level. I’m just focused on doing my job and contributing however I can to help us win games.”

“You’ve certainly been making an impact,” she says. “Your chemistry with Rogan seems to be developing nicely. Can you talk about how you two are building that connection?”

I nod, choosing my words carefully. “Rogan’s been great to work with. He’s a talented quarterback and a real leader on this team. We put in a lot of extra time after practice to work on our timing and communication. It’s still a work in progress, but I feel like we’re making strides each week.”

Melissa smiles. “That’s great to hear. Now, switching gears a bit, there’s been some chatter on social media about you being spotted at a charity event with a mystery woman. Care to comment on that?”

I’m caught off guard by the question, and try to keep my expression neutral as my heart rate picks up. I hadn’t expected my “relationship” with Scarlett to be a topic of interest so soon.

“Oh, uh, that was my girlfriend, Scarlett,” I say, aiming for a casual tone.

Melissa’s eyes light up with interest. “Oh, really? This is the first we’re hearing about a girlfriend. How did you two meet?”

For a few seconds, I rack my brain, trying to remember the story the two of us agreed on. Being put on the spot makes it difficult to think clearly.

“We met through mutual friends and hit it off from the start.”

“How sweet,” Melissa says, smiling. “And how is she adjusting to dating a professional football player? I’m sure it must be quite a change.”

I laugh, praying it doesn’t sound forced. “She’s been great about it all. Very supportive and understanding of the demands of my schedule.”

Melissa nods, looking satisfied with my answer. “Well, it sounds like things are going well both on and off the field for you. Thanks for taking the time to chat, Cooper. Good luck in Sunday’s game.”

“Thank you, Melissa. Appreciate it,” I say, relieved the questioning is over.

I jog back toward the locker room and quickly shower and change. As I’m gathering my things, Rogan comes over and leans against my locker.

“How’d it go with the reporter?”

I shrug. “Not bad. Mostly questions about practice and the team.”

Rogan raises an eyebrow. “Mostly?”

“She asked about Scarlett.”

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