Page 11 of Not Before Game Night
Now I froze. She definitely had my attention in a big way. “What? What new magazine?”
Mom smiled and rubbed her hands together. “Prospects. That’s the name I have so far. I want the first issue to cover the players from the two teams with twelve articles on the notable key players that have had various accomplishments and achievements over the last five years. Six from The Centaurs and six from The Gladiators. So, here’s where we get to do exclusives on players like Gilly and Eric. That is all I’m saying by way of guidance because I want you to take the lead on this. I think your expertise will be best placed on a project like this. We can do this exclusive edition and launch it just before Christmas, and then we decide how often we want the publication to run.”
I blinked several times. “Mom, God,wow. That is… just wow.” It was amazing. It really was amazing. I was in my element when I was writing. There was something freeing about it and I loved that Mom was allowing me free reign to use my creativity in whatever way I’d wanted.
“I thought you would like that.”
I nodded. “Yes. I love it.” I did, and I didn’t care what game Cole was playing; he wasn’t going to ruin things for me. I just had to get my head around the part where I’d have to do this exclusive on him. It was just a little article and I’d just have to spend half an hour max on him. No biggie.
“Perfect, it’s all settled, then. Let’s focus on this straightaway, girls. Anyone have any questions?”
We all shook our heads.
“Good. Vanessa, I’ve been in touch with Cole’s PA. She’ll contact you to let you know when he’ll be able to talk. Try to get the ball rolling for that asap. I want the article up on the sports page by the first Friday after the season starts.”
Although I nodded, I was silently cringing. “Sure, I can do that.”
That was all I needed to tell myself. I could do it.
Mom ended the meeting, and I was the first to get up. I figured I’d make a run for it before Mia could get to me.
Fortunately, Mom started talking to Abby about Zack, but I wasn’t so lucky with Mia. I managed to get as far as the foyer when she caught up with me.
She grabbed my arm and practically yanked me to a stop.
“Not so fast, missy.” She winced and looked me over from head to toe. She reminded me of Grandpa when she did that, because he’d make that face too. The kind when he knew you were up to something, or hiding something.
“What? What’s up? I thought I’d get a head start on the magazine so we could talk later,” I replied, trying to change the subject.
She stepped closer into my personal space and pointed her finger at me.
“You little devil. I don’t know who you think you’re fooling, but it’s not me. Vanesa Cartwright, you better tell me right now what happened between you and Cole Buchanan, and don’t give me that bullshit about nothing.”
The thing was, nothing did happen. “Mia, I really don’t want to talk about it.”
“But you are, because I’m not going away. I would assume you slept with him from the way you’re behaving, but I would be wrong, unless you have some strange concept of virginity.” She narrowed her eyes and considered if it really was that. “Is that it? Are you one of these weird people who think that just because you used a condom, you didn’t really have sex?”
I bit the inside of my lip to keep from laughing. “Mia, who thinks that?”
“Like I said,the weird. Are you, Vanessa? Or, maybe you did sleep with him, and it was so bad you pretended it never happened. But I can’t imagine that being true. Look at the man. He looks like he knows his stuff.”
My damn cheeks burned right up just thinking of him. Thank God we were by ourselves because she was talking like we were talking about the weather. Not bothering to keep her voice down or anything. Mia wasn’t the best person for tact or awareness
“Mia,” I scoffed with wide eyes.
“What? I’m just being observant. Vanessa, this isn’t fair. Don’t think I don’t know you prefer Gage over me.” Now she looked hurt, and I felt guilty.
“That’s not true. There’s just some stuff I can’t tell you, or haven’t.”
Her shoulders slumped. “Vanessa, I’m your sister. What good am I if you can’t talk to me? Look how long it took you to tell me you’re still a virgin.”
“It’s not the kind of thing you broadcast.”
“But it’s not broadcasting if you’re just telling me. Plus, you really helped me a lot with Eric. He’s an athlete, just like Cole. I would love to help you too.”
I guess there were some similarities between us. Earlier in the year she had to work with Eric on the date auction we’d done as a fundraiser. However, what happened with her and Eric was not the same as me and Cole, as in there was no me and Cole. Eric and Mia were together prior to the fundraiser and it was very clear they were meant to be together.
“Eric’s not like Cole, Mia. The two are very different men.”
