Page 10 of The Closed Off Captain

“Yes, but this was the accident kind. I couldn’t get around it.”

I don’t get to prep him at all, and I stand off to the side as they get him ready for the live interview. Gunner’s pretty good, though. He’s been at this a while and knows how to handle himself. Once he’s all ready to go, he steps over to my side. I absently brush a piece of white fuzz off his dark long-sleeved shirt. “Don’t let them trap you into talking about Jenny,” I say quietly and step back. “You look good; you’re good to go.” I do this with all my players—give them a onceover before they go live. Usually, they just nod and turn away. Gunner, however, stares at me a moment, like he’s going to say something; but then he walks over to the desk where the two co-hosts are sitting as he waits to be called up. I step out of the room and walk into the adjoining room where I can watch the interview live. I used to stay in the room, but it’s hard for me to keep my mouth shut when somebody asks a question we’re not prepared for or my player doesn’t answer the way we talked about. I take a drink of water and stare up at the screen as they ask Gunner to join them. I smirk when Gunner takes a seat across from them; he’s so much bigger than both guys. “Okay, Coftman, let’s do this,” I mutter under my breath. It starts out well. They ask him how his season’s going, how long he’s been a captain, what it’s like being a captain. And then it takes a turn.

“You probably know, we’re interviewing six different captains in the league, all from different teams. I think it’s interesting to note that you’re the only one still single. Why is that?”

Gunner handles it like a champ. He shrugs. “Just haven’t settled down yet.”

“Is that because you haven’t found the right woman yet?”

Gunner doesn’t get flustered. “I just haven’t settled down yet,” he says, repeating himself.

One of the guys looks down at his notes. “We have to ask. What’s all this all over social media about a Jenny Prenderson?”

I’m out of the room and into the next room seconds later. I walk close enough to get their attention but not close enough to get in the shot. The camera guys give me a wary glance, and the director comes over to stand next to me. Gunner meets my eyes and tries to communicate...something. I’m not really sure what. The two co-hosts have to know I’m there, but neither of them look at me.

“I’m not going to answer questions about that at this time,” Gunner says, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

“It’s a pretty bold accusation that she’s waving around, though,” the guy on the right pushes. “That you’re the father of her unborn baby and unwilling to do the right thing by her.” I watch as Gunner’s body tightens, and I take a step forward. A hand on my arm pulls me back. I jerk away from the producer, angry at him for not stopping this line of questioning. When I look back at Gunner, he’s staring at me, with...anger. It's just for a moment, and then he turns back to the co-hosts.

“I didn’t think we were going to talk about that today,” he says pointedly. “But since we can’t seem to get away from it, how about I give a proper response to the questions that have been surfacing in the last week or so.”

Oh no.My stomach drops. He’s going to go off-script. I take a step forward, but that annoying hand on my arm pulls me back again. “I have never dated or had any kind of relationship with Jenny Prenderson. I certainly haven’t fathered her baby.”

I close my eyes.He’s going to murder his career.

“But can you prove that?” One of the guys asks, and I grind my teeth. “I mean she’s got the pictures to back up her story, Man.”They’re like dogs on a bone.I can see the moment it hits Gunner that they’re not going to give this up, and neither is anybody else. I hold my breath, wondering how he’s going to respond.

“I don’t need to prove anything,” Gunner says easily, and I take a small breath.He’s going to get out of this just fine. “The fact is I’m dating somebody, and she’s all that matters, not what other people think and not what some crazy woman says about me that’s totally untrue.”

I go still, and then my brain shifts into overdrive.Who’s he going to say? Did he already find a girl? Was he already dating someone? Did one of the wives find somebody for him?

“Actually, she’s more than my girlfriend.” He pauses. “She’s my fiancé.”

I stare at him as I try to keep up with him. I mean this was sort of the plan; I just didn’t know he was going to enact it. As long as he doesn’t have to reveal a name, we might just get out of this unscathed. Or even if he has somebody that’s actually agreed, this could work. I squeeze my hand into a fist and blow into it.Come on. Just finish this, Coftman.

The two cohosts are practically bouncing in their seats; he’s just given them exactly what they want—something new, that literally nobody else in the world knows.Not even his PR agent.

“Okay, Coftman, well now we have to know. We can’t let you leave until you tell us who this mystery girl is. Is she somebody new in your life?”

“No.”

The other guy leans forward. “Oh, this is good.” He faces the cameras. “If you’re just joining us, Gunner Coftman, captain of the Green Thunder has just revealed that he has a fiancé. We’re dying to know who it is. Send in your guesses.” He turns back to Gunner. “How did you even keep something like this under wraps?”

He shrugs. “We didn’t want to tell everybody; we wanted to keep it private.”

“Who even is she?” They press him for details. But Gunner holds his ground. Finally, they finish this trainwreck and moveon. Gunner stands up and walks away from the set, past the cameras. He stops right in front of the director, who’s still standing close to my elbow.

“If I ever see you put hands on her again, you won’t like what happens.”

My mouth drops open in shock. But before I can say anything, the director does. “Then don’t have her in here for an interview; she’s a liability. She almost walked up there during the interview. Twice.”

“Then you should have let her,” Gunner practically growls at the man. “Don’t manhandle her again.”

“Unbelievable.” The director stalks off.

Gunner steps in front of me and looks down at me. “Are you okay? I saw him grab you by the arm twice, and he wasn’t gentle about it.”

I wave off his concern. “I’m fine. How about you?” I shake my head and keep my voice low. “I can’t believe they went after the Jenny Prenderson thing when I specifically told them not to. And you went with the fiancé angle?” I question. “So, what’s the plan? Who is she? Is she willing to be in this relationship for a few months? Will she sign an NDA?”

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