Page 76 of Best Year Ever
I turn back to the phone. “Is that the issue? I mean, there are a million sexy photo shoots out there with athletes.”
Taylor shakes her head. “Not specifically. But the photos got leaked toHot Stuff, the entertainment and gossip magazine. They just reached out because they are doing an article on you and Landon.”
Nina jumps in, explaining, “Hot Stuffhas a lot more reach than the Social Scoops gossip page which did the article during Wimbledon.”
“Okay,” I say, waiting for them to share more. Landon starts playing with the hem of my shorts, still out of view.
“The reporter is making some suggestions along the lines of the Social Scoops post, but it’s all speculation,” Taylor continues. “The reason we’re calling is because we’d like to put out a denial and share that you and Landon are simply friendly acquaintances who had a positive andprofessionalexperience together on the photo shoot.”
Nina jumps in again. “Hot Stuffhas many more readers and is in grocery stores, airports, places like that, which is why we feel like we should respond this time. Plus the pictures add a new dimension to their article.”
“Yes, exactly,” adds Taylor. “They may be from a sponsor photo shoot, but they’re so sexy that the public is going to jump to their own conclusions.”
Landon pulls his hand back, and I look over to him, wondering what kind of reaction I’ll see from him to what they’re saying. My mind is spinning, and I can feel a panic attack rising. What should we do? What if he freaks out?
Instead, a slow, genuine smile spreads across his face. He shrugs again but then calmly mouths, “You can tell them if you want. Whatever you want to do, babe.”
I turn back to the camera. “So you want to deny it?” I ask Taylor to buy myself more time to think.
“Yes, I don’t think we should let something like this circulate in the mainstream sports and entertainment press when untrue,” Taylor responds.
I look over at Landon, and he is watching me intently. Seeing something on my face, he reaches his hand back out to my leg, resting it there, warm and reassuring.
He’s clearly giving me the choice to decide whether I tell Taylor and Nina the truth.
I swivel back to face them. “There’s only one problem.”
“What?” Taylor says while Nina crinkles her eyes in confusion.
I take the phone and turn it slowly so that Landon is now in view. Taylor or Nina—or both—give a loud “Oh!” on the other side.
“Hi, ladies,” Landon says, grinning and waving with his free hand.
I bring my face back into view. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell either of you, but basically no one knows that we’ve been spending timetogether. Not even Julie or Dad. We wanted to keep it a secret for now. We’re just having fun.”
“Oh my goodness, Rori. How have you kept this a secret?” Nina exclaims.
“It’s actually quite impressive,” Taylor observes.
“We don’t go out and instead hang out at each other’s houses. I’m actually at Landon’s house now,” I explain.
“Well, what do you want to do? Do you want to release a statement that you’re together?” asks Taylor.
I look over at Landon, and we both seem to be thinking the same thing. I shake my head no, and he mouths, “not yet.”
“I don’t think so,” I say in affirmation. “We’re just hanging out when it works for our schedules. Can we keep saying nothing for now?”
“We can, of course,” Taylor acknowledges. “We can stay quiet and see if it dies down.”
Landon finally speaks up, and I turn the phone so they can see him again. “I’m about to go into training camp for three weeks. There will be a couple press sessions during that time, and otherwise I’ll be in lock-down. It’ll either amplify things or make it move quickly out of the media consciousness.”
“When and if you’re ever ready to share, what a ‘Power Couple’ you will make,” Nina says excitedly, making finger quotes as she says the “Power Couple” phrase. Her business mind is obviously processing the revelation in its own way.
“Yes, well, we’re not there,” I say to dismiss any more talk of that nature. My relationship is not going to be fodder for Nina’s machinations.
My relationship. I just said that.
“Landon, I do think that you should share with your representatives,” Taylor adds. “Prep them so we stay in alignment.”
