Page 4 of The Catcher

“50% of that up front,” Lou said, punctuating the sentence by spitting into his can.

I didn’t want to look at Tanner, but I couldn’t help glancing over at him. He was leaning up against the door, his face expressionless.

But I could feel the contempt and dislike radiating off him.

“50% upfront now,” Lou repeated. “Then you can leave anytime, no questions asked.”

“I accept,” I said, before my fear could catch up with my mouth.

“Were there any mitigating circumstances for your steroid usage?” I asked.

We were sitting opposite each other at the table in the meeting room, and if I turned sideways I could see all the shattered glass at the other end. Lou had gone to go find someone to clean it up. I thought I had gotten most of it off, but I still felt an uncomfortable crunching under my feet, and itchy prickling on the back of my neck where the glass had landed.

“What, like a traumatic childhood?” Tanner scoffed. He had taken off his uniform shirt, and was sitting across from me in his dirty white T-shirt. “No luck there. I grew up filthy rich in the Philly suburbs.”

What about your parents?” I suggested. “Maybe they could say what a good boy you were growing up.”

“Nope,” he said. “My father bribed teachers to get me through high school and college and stay in college sports.”

I frowned. “Charming,” I said. “What do they do for work?”

“My father owns an oil company,” he said. “My mother runs a luxury fur company called Sexy Pelts.”

I suppressed a groan. I couldn’t put any them in front of the cameras.

“What about any siblings? A grandma? Rabbi? Anyone to make the fans feel sorry for you?”

“Nope,” Tanner said, not looking at me. I saw his hands reach out across the table for a few pieces of the shattered glass.

“Why did you do steroids?” I asked.

He flicked his eyes over to me and shrugged. “Thought I’d be able to flush them out of my system faster than I did. Everyone does them now and again for a little boost. I just had shit luck.”

I felt nettled at how blasé he was. “Don’t you want to get your endorsements back?” I asked. “Sign a long-term deal?”

Tanner’s eyes narrowed to two angry slits in his face and I saw him turn a big, sharp piece of glass around in his fingers. He was so strangely magnetic. Even though he was across the table from me, my skin prickled in fear just from his proximity. It was the terrifying feeling of unpredictability, that he would do what he wanted.

“I do,” he said, his gaze sharp. “I just don’t think you can do shit.”

I swallowed. Tanner cocked his head, considering me, and I felt flushed and uncomfortable under his gaze. He had such a perfectly chiseled face, his cheekbones looking as sharp and strong as glass themselves.

“Before I tell you my suggestions,” I said, “I have to know if there are any other unpleasant PR surprises out there. Felonies in other countries? Unpaid speeding tickets? Secret babies?”

He laughed, but there was nothing light in his voice. “A secret baby? Fuck that shit. I double-bag it. I don’t want to be tied to some bitch for 18 years.”

“OK,” I swallowed, making a note of it in my notebook. I couldn’t help remembering what my ex Noah had said to me.

Now you want a baby, Emrys? Get a real job and then we’ll talk. I don’t know if I want you losing this tight little ass, either.

A little shower of glass fell onto my paper and I wiped it away carefully.

“I have a lot of suggestions,” I began. “I’ve contacted some charities that would be happy to accept a giant check in return for allowing you to make a little speech on camera.”

“I’ll send a check,” he said, getting up out of his chair, lean and fluid like a panther. “But I’m not going to make a speech.”

“The speech is necessary,” I insisted, eyeing him nervously as he started to stalk around the table. “It will show that you are a good guy who made a mistake.”

“But I’m not a good guy,” Tanner said, and I let out a sudden, panicked yelp as he came up behind me, shoving my rolling chair forward so my belly was jammed against the table. He suddenly extended his arm out, the piece of glass flashing between his fingers, and his hand hovered over my arm. I froze, too frightened to do anything, feeling the hair raise on my neck, goosebumps going down my arm.

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