Page 4 of Playing for Possession
“Isn’t it late to be drinking?”
“It’s fine. I’m going out tonight.”
“Tonight? You’ll be shattered tomorrow.”
He strummed an energetic riff. “The night is still young.”
It definitely wasn’t. Pointless to argue with him. Ollie was as stubborn as Dad. But I couldn’t help worry. He’d had so many late nights this past month. Dad had introduced him to some of the Calverdale United guys and they were a bad influence. At least this tour would be a break from all that. With any luck, he’d be too busy to party.
“Could you talk to management? Tell them you don’t like being on camera?”
My heart pounded. “It’s not that easy.”
“Nobody can make you do something you don’t want to do. If you can come back from an ACL tear, you can do anything. Nine months, Joanie. You’ve worked your butt off with that hot physio for nine months. You’re stronger than any of us. You can speak up for yourself on this.”
“You think Josh is hot?”
He let out a small laugh. “I wouldn’t kick him out of bed for eating toast.”
I could never find a physiotherapist attractive. They were all secretly sadists. Josh had caused me no end of pain with his rehab program.
Ollie offered me the bottle of champagne. “This is a mindset thing. Plead your case with your manager. Go in there with positive self-talk and manifest what you want to come out of the meeting.”
I waved the bottle away. My bloodstream was already part painkillers and anti-inflammatories. No need to add booze to the mix. “Don’t. Please. You sound like Dad.”
“Dad’s right. Even a broken clock is accurate twice a day. A positive mindset will take you wherever you want to go.”
Maybe, if you didn’t have Claire for a manager. Goodness only knew how to deal with this woman. A sinking feeling made my body heavy.
I looked up to find Ollie watching me with a shrewd expression. “Look, if you’re really that bothered, tell them Dad forbids you to do it. Throw his name around. They won’t argue with that.”
I bristled with indignation. He couldn’t be serious? No way I’d get Dad involved. He was already too interested in everything I did. I’d never play up to the role of Mortimer Fox’s spoiled daughter. How could Ollie even suggest something so absurd? A surge of heat and determination made my heart race.
“Dad? Seriously? Forget it. I’ll handle it. You’re right. This is nothing compared to the past nine months. I’ll march right into Claire’s office and tell her that I’m not the right choice for this. If I put across a good case, she’ll see sense.”
“Good idea. You do that.” Smugness invaded his smile. “March right in there and do your thing. I’m rooting for you. Team Joanie all the way.”
I frowned.Wait a minute.My brother had played me like a fiddle. He wasn’t serious. “Did you just use Dad to trigger me?”
He chuckled. “It worked, didn’t it? I know it’s hard for you to speak up, but you’ve got this. You’re stronger than you think.”
A pang pulled at my heart. The past nine months had been the loneliest of my life. I hadn’t set foot on a pitch. My sisters were never around. Ollie wasn’t around much either, but when he was, he was great company. Ollie was the only person who understood me. My safe person.
“I’m going to miss you.” I rested a hand on his shoulder. “Please don’t stay out too late tonight. Try to be good.”
“I tried being good once. It wasn’t for me.” His eyes sparkled with humor. “I don’t know how you do it.”
Claire lounged in her chair and arched a skeptical eyebrow. “What can I do for you, Joanie?”
I opened my mouth, but I couldn’t find the words. What had I been thinking, knocking on Claire’s door? I absolutely could not handle this. Maybe when I was all revved up in the recording studio last night, but not with my real-life manager sitting in front of me. How could I speak up for myself without coming across as too demanding? I could be articulate and funny and eloquent, just not when I felt my heart racing like this.
I swallowed past the lump of nerves in my throat. “It’s about the commercial.”
She let out a deep sigh. “What this time?”
Don’t look too pushy.“I’m not the best choice.”
Claire’s lips thinned. “You don’t think I know how to make a good choice?”
