Page 49 of Lessons in Forgiving
When he got up, the leg that had been in constant motion before, finally stilled. Henry cleared his throat, and I could tell he was trying his very best to stay calm. To not let the apparent change of plan get to his head. “I feel like there should’ve been a third party consulted on that,” he said flatly, stoic mask twitching just once. “Don’t you think?”
“That’s what we’re doing now.” Marty’s eyes fixed on Henry, unrelenting.
His pitch lowered when he answered, under his breath, “Before bringing the idea to her.”
I could hear him loud and clear, though.
“Sorry.” An awkward chuckle accompanied the word, and it drew the two men out of their competitive staring. All eyes on me. “I just—whothinkswhatis a good idea?”
“The New York Blue Eagles.” Marty said, like I should know what was going on, when I had no idea. Like I must’ve missed an email that held an outline with all the points I wasn’t getting. “Henry’s team. Officially, once he finally signs the remaining contracts.”
His tone insinuated there was more to his words—something he wasn’t saying. Henry’s deep breath told me he knew what it was. “Which is why he’s flying down. To New York.” Marty seemed to consider his next words, then his gaze settled on me again. “Hopefully with you in tow.”
Eddie jumped in, and in no uncertain terms explained the situation. “You’re joining Henry for his weekend in New York.”As with everything about this profile, he’d made sure it wasn’t a question.
I was going, whether I wanted to or not. Whether Henry wanted me to or not.
Eddie cleared his throat. “You won’t have to worry about anything. I spoke to Alfie’s—Mr. Dunbridge, and the paper will be happy to cover your expenses over the next three days.”
Happywas probably an overstatement, but I’m sure he’d worked his magic on Alfie’s dad.
Henry’s head fell back with a deep sigh, like he, too, had given up.
Clearly, he wasn’t a fan of the idea. Ofme. Which must’ve at least partly been due to the fact I’d be throwing off his entire plan. And so spontaneously—
“Wait,” I thought out loud, Eddie’s words only now really sinking in. “The next three days?As in, we’re leaving tomorrow?”
“The flight’s at nine,” Henry offered unhelpfully, with about as much enthusiasm in his voice as I’d brought along to do the entire profile in the first place.
“I spoke to PR, and they agree that it would make a great addition to the profile. To not only mention the Blue Eagles, but for Paula to really be there. See the amenities, be in the stadium. Henry in our colors. You get me?” Marty looked back at me. “No worries. We’re not trying to tell youwhatto write.” He winked, which made the entire statement seem meaningless. “Like Mr. Smith said, we’ve arranged everything. All you have to do is say yes. Your choice.”
One glance at Eddie told me it wasn’t. And anyway, what was it I’d vowed?
My throat worked, and I kept my eyes away from Henry, if only to ignore how little he wanted me in New York with him, and how much it secretly hurt.
“I’m in.”All in.
Henry seemed about ten seconds away from spontaneous combustion before he left through the door. Marty gave me an apologetic look.
“I’d love to talk more,” he said, already following his newest defender. “But it seems my client is running away from me.”
And gone.
Which left me with Eddie to deal with. “Fantastic choice,” he said. The smile on his face told me it hadn’t been mine.
“Was it?” I laughed drily. “Because it seems Henry thinks very differently, and as the subject of this profile, shouldn’t he decide what he’s comfortable with?”
Eddie shook his head. “Trust me, Paula.” And it almost seemed sincere, the way his eyes met mine—the look in them. “His manager and I agreed it’s for the best. We anticipated the reaction, but it’ll make your profile better. Shine. Where else will you see him in his element like that? When else are you going to get a close-up look at the MLS draft like that?”
I knew he was right.
“But—”
“As for Henry.” He cut me off. “He knows what he signed up for, and he was very sure he wanted it.”
“The profile, yes! But not—”
“You.” The word reverberated off the walls. “He was very sure he wanted this profile and everything else that comes with it.”
