Page 26 of A Shot at Love
I groan into my hands in response.
What a beautiful mess I’ve created.
*
I’m lying in bed later that night, racking my brain for great date ideas. A small part of me wants to torture Daniel and take him paintballing or laser-tagging with pre-teens, but I figure Jadea wants something more romantic for our so-called anniversary.
Tired and restless, I open the anniversary post on my phone. It already has over three thousand likes on my page, more than any of my other posts. When I flip to Daniel’s page, I see that he has over 150,000 likes, which makes sense considering our follower ratio. I’m tempted to click on the comment section, but I want to bask in the purity of the picture and not have it potentially ruined.
I scroll through my Instagram and click on Jadea’s most recent story. I’m surprised to see it’s a video of Daniel and me. We’re standing in front of the sign, bickering about the pose. You can hear Daniel’s delight at me picking him up and my overt giggling at his reaction. You watch us stumble and then steady ourselves, laughing even more. Jadea put a caption on it:Thanks @ESPYs for reuniting these Stanford lovebirds. Happy 6 months!
It’s almost too convincing. My heart feels like it might beat out of my rib cage. Why am I holding on to this fantasy? Daniel left and didn’t look back. I should do the same.
For the second time this week, I throw my phone onto my nightstand and try to quiet my mind.
*
The next morning, my phone buzzes endlessly. I finally have to turn off the vibrate feature and go fully mute. There are comments on our Instagram post that make my heart sing when I eventually give in and look at the notifications.
@CandaceParker: You two are a thing? Shut up [fire emoji] [heart emoji].
Candace Parker, three-time MVP of the WNBA, and all around incredible human being, isshippingus. I played against her just twice before she retired, but I’ve always been too shy to say anything more than a lame “Good game”. Belatedly, I remember that Daniel did a deep dive into her career and personal life last year on his show. His social media shows they’ve kept in touch.
@MinaKimes: Finally, Dan! Get it you two!
Now, this is a more interesting response. Mina and Daniel are friends who have collaborated a few times. Has he talked about me? It’s too insane to consider, so I move on.
@PatrickMahomes: Amazing pose dude [cry laughing emoji].
I’ve had very few crushes in my life, but Patrick Mahomes makes that list. And he’s friendly withDaniel. Maybe I should reconsider this platonic thing and just date him to meet all my heroes?
No, Annie, focus!
Daniel’s Instagram reads like a who’s who of A-list sports stars, commentators, and other people in the business. Steph Curry, Venus Williams, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Oksana Masters, Michael Wilbon, and John Oliver, who executive produces Daniel’s show, all wrote something supportive or hilarious on the post. I guess the attention makes sense, as both Daniel and I rarely post such personal things on our social media. His page is almost entirely focused on work, with some sprinkling in of his family wolfhound terrier Dustin. It’s charming, but mostly professional. My page reads more like a ghost town with a few basketball pictures every three months to show proof of life.
The comments and likes are much more subdued on my page, but still higher than any other post I’ve made. Fans are commenting on how cute the photo is and how cute Daniel is and how cute my dress is and just generally emphasizing the cuteness overload. I don’t want to give Jadea too much credit, because she’ll just cheerfully throw it in my face, but her scheme seems to be working. If there is negative feedback about Jack and the team and me, it seems small in comparison to the fun and bubbling happiness surrounding our relationship.
Our fake relationship.
My group chat is also blowing up with my teammates’ responses:
Taherah: Is this real life? Annie, respond to us!!!!
Olabisi: Bitch, how dare you?
Lynn: It was obvious, y’all, did you not see them at practice??
Allyson: The pic [heart-eye emoji]
Jadea: I took it! Isn’t it incredible?!
Olabisi: Where the hell is Annie? Are they still in bed? Get it girl [fire emoji]
Allyson: So, it’s true? They’ve been dating all this time?? Come on, Annie, details!
I feel the guilt that’s been eating merrily in the back of my mind surge to the forefront. I’m already partially lying to Jadea about Daniel. Should I lie to my team about this relationship? Clearly, Jadea expects me to. I understand her point of view, as not all of them could keep this a secret, especially when he’s around us all the time filming.
I finally decide on a neutral, but playful response, one that doesn’t make me feel like throwing up from guilt.
