Page 18 of Silent Count
“Understood. I’ll do my best to be as natural as possible and not sound robotic.” I chuckle. “I’m used to pressers, so I should be fine.”
“I’m gonna head out, Callaway. See you on the field in a bit.”
I hold my hand out to Casey for a bump.
“Later, man.” I nod at him as he turns to walk out.
Kyler is standing closer to me now, then calls over a girl who is holding a comb and what looks like powder that girls put on their face. “Hair is fine. Brush the nose and forehead.”
I’ve never worn any kind of makeup a day in my life. “Is that necessary?” I ask him.
“It’s just to take the shine off the skin. Once we set the lighting, sometimes, the face can look a little glossy. You don’t need much.” He turns and walks back over to a high chair and sits down. He sets his iPad on his lap and taps on it a few times.
The girl with the makeup walks away, and I shift in my chair until I’m comfortable. I don’t want to come across stiff or awkward on camera. I run my hand through my hair again, brushing it back.
“Let’s get the mics adjusted and get moving. We have forty minutes to get Bo done before his practice. Then we’ll wrap today.” Kyler nods to someone near the big light next to his chair.
I watch as the guy sets a long pole up with the mic attached. He settles it between me and Kyler.
“Check, check,” Kyler says, and another guy standing off to the side in front of a computer monitor gives him a thumbs-up.
Lights dim in the room, making the red lights above our lockers and theWon the ceiling glow bright. There’s a soft light shining near me, but not directly on me. I feel like I’m under a spotlight in a way.
The same guy who adjusted the mic holds a board like you see in the movies. It has my name on it. “Bo Callaway. First interview.” He claps the top piece to the body of the board.
“Introduce yourself first, say where you’re from, then roll into answering the question.” He looks at me, and I nod in understanding. “Bo, you were the number one recruit in the country coming out of your senior year in high school. Tell us why you chose to come to Walker University instead of, let’s say, Ohio State, who recruited you heavily. Or staying in California and playing for USC or UCLA.” Kyler nods at me to start.
“Bo Callaway, San Francisco, California. Number six. Quarterback for the Walker University Stallions.” I shift in my seat and fold my hands in my lap. “Walker was always my top choice. If you want to be legendary, you come to Walker.” I unfold my hands and lift them up slightly. “I mean, the football program’s history speaks for itself. There’s just a standard of excellence that is expected; it’s the culture. When you come into the building and you see all the history lining the halls, no other program in the country compares. You want to be part of that history, be remembered.”
“When you came to Walker, did you know you would be taking over the starting position from Liam Pitz?” he asks pointedly.
“Liam Pitz is an amazing quarterback and my friend. I don’t see the need to discuss that on camera. It has nothing to do withthe upcoming season. Move on to the next question, please.” The question annoys me because what I said is true. Liam is my friend, and honestly, I had to prove myself the same as he did that season.
“Fair.” He shifts his head to the side and looks back at his iPad. “Can you tell us about your relationship with Coach Pettys?”
“When I met Coach Pettys, I knew we would be a good fit. Not only has he had an amazing career, but his coaching style matches what I need to inspire me to be the best quarterback I can be. Not only do I admire him as my coach, but also as a man.” I smile. “He believes in and cares about every athlete on the team. I can’t imagine playing for anyone else.”
Kyler asks me some more questions about the upcoming season, about teams I’m looking forward to playing, but thankfully and surprisingly, he stays away from asking personal questions. As we’re finishing up, he explains that they’ll be following me around campus from time to time and definitely around the team facilities. None of that surprises me, as it was all listed in the packets we were given. Am I looking forward to it? Not really, but also, I know there will be a lot of eyes on me this season, and I need to represent my team positively. I can talk football all day though, so as long as they stay in that lane, we’ll be just fine.
A few hours later, I open the door to my house and hear laughter. Charlie, Noelle, and Chelsea are sitting on the couches, watching some reality show with people on a yacht. I don’t think they’ve noticed me yet, so I just stand there quietly, listening to them.
“Oh my God, he totally slept with Kate. How have they been able to keep it quiet this long?” Charlie slaps her hand on her leg.
“Seriously, Sean is a total player. He slept with Mallory last season,” Chelsea says.
“Yuck. How do they not have a gazillion STDs on those yachts? They all slept with each other at some point or another.” Noelle turns to look at Charlie and sees me. “Oh, hi, Bo! Where’s Casey?”
“Hello, ladies. How’s everyone doing?” I smile and look at Chelsea.
She tucks a piece of her hair behind her ear, smiling.
Charlie turns to face me, still sitting on the couch. “Hey, Bo. If you’re hungry, I made some extra grilled chicken and veggies,even though it’s not my night to cook for everyone.” She winks at me.
“You’re the best, Charlie. I’m starving.” I pat my stomach. “Did you all eat? Should I save some for Casey and Silas too?” I ask, walking toward the kitchen.
“We ate already, but I’m sure my brother and Silas will need to eat when they get home, unless they grab something at the field,” Charlie calls out.
“Okay, thanks.” I grab a plate from the cabinet and set it on the counter, then walk to the fridge and pull the chicken and veggies out.
