Page 44 of Bleacher Report
Career on the line.
And then my mind decides to wander without my consent. Movie night, heating pad, being spoiled by a man who’s done more for me in a few hours than all my worthless relationships combined.
I shake the thought away. I’m not going there. Especially not with the infamous serial dater of the Hawkeyes hockey team. The only reason he did what he did last night was to get back in my good graces—that’s all.
I glance over at the kitchen windowsill, surprised to see Sproutacus already out of his box, watered, and ready for the morning—with a French bulldog sticky note that Hunter must have grabbed out of my office after he set Sproutacus up.
Morning plant mom. Have a great day.
-Your son
I laugh out loud… Of course, he would go to that level.
But now it has me wondering. Did Hunter go to all this trouble to cheer me up…or is this some long-game prank that I’m not seeing?
Prank or no prank, this fake thing with Hunter has to work.
Because if it doesn’t...I’m out of time to line someone else up at this point.
I back out of my social media screen, and then I see an email notification from Rebecca.
My stomach dips as I swipe it open.
Subject: Podcast Development Check-In — Deadline Approaching
Peyton,
Just checking in to see how everything is coming along. We only have two months left on our deadline, and the other podcast hosts have submitted their teaser clips.
I know you mentioned that you had the Hunter Reed interview yesterday. We would love to get something on that interview asap.
Daily Sportsjust surpassed you on subscribers, andMobile Mayhemjust got the hot new Seattle Sentinels footballer to spill about his elopement with that pop princess everyone is talking about.
The media is still gossiping about why Bethany Richards is still hanging around. Your interview with Hunter on his past with her and what happened in New Jersey four years ago could be the thing that pushes you over the top.
I’m not supposed to have favorites…but let’s just say, I’m rooting for you.
Rebecca Almasy
Podcast Division Producer
I read the email twice, then once more, hoping it might magically say something different the third time.
It doesn’t.
I’m falling behind.
Rebecca rooting for me is great and all, but at the end of the day, she’s not making the call on her own. It’s the board, which includes her and three other executives. I have to win all of them over, and I have to start by nailing this interview.
I knew the whole point of this insane fake dating arrangement was to secure Hunter’s interview and catapult me to the top of the list. But seeing it in writing, knowing the other two podcasts are already ahead of me…it hits differently now.
My mind races with every worst-case scenario possible. If I don’t land this deal, if I don’t get that interview and hit the one hundred thousand subscriber mark, the network will choose someone else. The rent on this townhouse, the studio equipment, the hours I’ve dumped intoBleacher Report—it’ll all be for nothing.
The anxiety is building so fast I can barely breathe.
I pull up another social media app, more out of habit than curiosity. But as soon as I open it, my feed is a minefield.
There we are—Hunter and me, frozen mid-kiss at the charity auction, splashed across every headline.
