Page 31 of Escape Velocity
Callum scoffs. “To cure world hunger.”
Mason takes off his glasses and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Callum—can wepleasejust be serious about this for a second? I have a job to do, and this is going to get you more attention than you already have. It’ll probably help you get drafted too. So the faster we do this, the easier it’ll be for both of us.”
Callum puts his hands in the air. “It was just a joke.”
Mason rolls his eyes.
“And who says I like the attention I get anyway?” Callum asks pointedly.
Mason scoffs. “Don’t pretend you hate having girls fawn over you and guys wanting to be you. You’ve always loved the adoration since high school. You’re doing what you’ve always wanted to be doing.”
Callum grimaces, but not at Mason.
It’s a little too late for Callum to pretend he’s some kind of misunderstood martyr for the game. He’s worked hard for where he is, and he’s exactly where he’s always wanted to be. Why should be complain?
“Why does it make you so upset that people like me, anyway? You never cared about that stuff.”
Mason shakes his head and pretends like he doesn’t want to answer the question. “We’re not talking about me, Callum. We’re here to talk about you. Now, I’m going to ask you again, why are you playing football?”
Callum’s honey eyes pierce into Mason’s, like he’s doing his own profile on Mason, asking imaginary questions and answering them in his head just by studying him, but Mason is resolute. He’s not going to let Callum get to him. He has a job to do, and if he wants his degree and his parents’ approval, he has to do this.
“Because I have to. I have nothing else going for me.”
Mason lifts an eyebrow at him. “I said to cooperate with me, Callum.”
Callum shakes his head. “It’s true. You know it, I know it. I would be nothing without football.”
Mason sputters. “I can’t put that in the paper.”
Callum smirks. “I’m sure you can re-word it well, just like you did in that other article.”
Mason meets Callum’s eyes, and they seem to have a war with their eyes, saying so many unsaid words. Mason wants to challenge Callum, and Callum wants to spar, but Mason refuses to give him the satisfaction. “Fine,” Mason says, and scribbles in his notebook.
“What’s your favorite thing to do outside of football?”
Callum squints.
Mason smirks. “I can answer this one for you if you want. Make it sound nice and all.”
He’s heard the rumblings around campus about Callum. That he’s a party boy. He likes to have fun and get blackout drunk at frat parties.
Callum sneers at Mason. “I knew you’d try to be all high and mighty about the fact that I like to party. So what? I’m in college.”
Mason puts his hands up. “I was just trying to make things easy for you.”
Indignation paints Callum’s face. “I like… other things, okay?”
Mason raises his eyebrows and nods, his pen ready.
Callum blinks rapidly. “I like—I like to work out. I like to—to read?—”
“About what?” Mason asks, leaning forward.
Callum gulps. “Lots of stuff.”
Mason raises an eyebrow. “Like?”
Callum bites his lip. “Historical stuff.”
