Page 25 of Home Town Advantage
“Reagan,” she interrupts.
“Look, Reagan, I appreciate this, but I’m trying to fit in around here. I want to blend in with my team. The absolute last thing I want is any special treatment that my teammates aren’t getting. I’m trying to build bonds with them. It’s going exceedingly well. Better than I could have imagined. I’m not rocking the boat by acting like a movie star with a beefy guard following me around. I don’t want to be resented. It’s been an issue for me in the past with teammates.”
She exhales a long breath and looks at Coach Lakshmi, who nods in agreement. “They’re building team chemistry and doing a good job of it. I can’t argue with Sulley’s logic. Of course I want her safe, but I understand where she’s coming from.”
Reagan is quiet for a few moments before standing. “Okay, Sulley, we’ll do it your way. For now.” She points at me. “If anyone, I mean any single fan, attempts to contact you or approach you at your home, I want to know. And if they do, we’re going to have to make some changes. Is that clear?”
I nod. “Yes. That seems fair. I’m sure the hoopla surrounding me will die down soon.”
“I need your word that you’ll tell me right away.”
“I promise.”
I walk back out to my teammates, several of whom are sitting around laughing. “What are you all laughing about?” I ask.
Shay smirks. “Kennedy is low-key funny. I’ve spent the past three years hating her as an opponent, but the black widow is growing on me.”
Kennedy gasps. “Me? I’m a ray of sunshine. I have a tendency to grow on people. And what I said before wasn’t funny, it was true. I’m all for natural selection. Get rid of the morons. Why does a hairdryer need a label telling you not to use it in a shower?Why does an iron need a warning telling you not to iron while wearing the clothing? Let’s weed out the people who would do any of that.”
I giggle. “That’s funny, but her list of red flags remains the most hilarious thing I’ve ever read.”
Layla nods. “Yes, I’ve been thinking about those. I have a new red flag. Presley does it all the time, and it drives me nuts.”
“What is it?” I ask.
She answers, “When he gives me a reasonable solution to a problem instead of babying me like I need. Drives me nuts. Just fucking massage my shoulders and agree with my insanity. Don’t get all logical and rational. That’s not what I need.”
I let out a laugh. “I get that. You know what I realized is a red flag for me? When a guy sets his thermostat above sixty-seven degrees.” I make a look of disgust. “Why are you cold? What man would be cold when it’s sixty-seven degrees? It’s just weird to me. Not very masculine.”
Shay raises an unamused eyebrow. “Try being with small women who have no meat on their bones. They want a house at over seventy-five degrees. It’s stifling.”
Kennedy pulls out her phone and starts scrolling. “Ooh, I’ve got a good one. What about guys, I guess it goes for girls too, Shay, who have headshots when they don’t have a job that requires one. Such a douchey thing to do.”
We all laugh.
She keeps scrolling. “Oh, and what about guys who refer to themselves as alphas or call other guys betas? I’ll be the fucking judge of that, not you.”
She goes on and on with her hysterical list while we all get dressed and then go out to dinner together. I’m loving my new group of friends.
SEVEN
VANCE
“Andrew, you’re on with both me and Vance.”
Tanner motions for me to say hello as we sit in his office on a call with the head of marketing for Gatorade. Tanner, in his three-piece suit, is sitting at his big wooden executive desk. I’m in jeans and a T-shirt, sitting on the other side of his desk for this discussion about a big endorsement opportunity.
I mumble, “Hi, Andrew.” Fuck, I hate this type of shit, but I know I need to strike while the iron is hot. I won’t be this marketable and make this type of money forever. In fact, I’ll be lucky to squeeze another five years out of my career.
Andrew responds, in an annoyingly cheery demeanor, “Hellooooo, Vance McCaffrey. I’m a huge fan. We’re super-duper excited to work with you again. Handsome Harry has moved to another department, so I’ll be your lucky liaison moving forward. And boy are you gonna be superlatively stoked for this next project we’re doing together.”
I roll my eyes while Tanner silently laughs and thenresponds, “We haven’t signed any contracts yet. Tell us what you’re thinking, Andrew.”
“Absolutelyeroo, bodacious buddy boy.” What the fuck is wrong with this guy? “We want the two biggest stars in Philly, side by side, doing their thing. Passing the Gatorade bottle back and forth, if you will. We’ve got some fantabulous special effects to bridge the gap between the sports.”
I suddenly get excited that maybe they want me to do this with Sulley. It would be great to spend a day shooting with her. “Who are you thinking of?” I casually ask.
“Tyrese Maxey,” Andrew responds. “He’s already signed, sealed, and psyched.”
