I’m running on the adrenaline of our last game as I drive through the streets of New York. It was another fantastic win and the boys are pumped. We are another step closer to the Super Bowl. Since I’ve become starting quarterback, we have been undefeated. Of course, the team has plans to celebrate tonight, and I’ve decided to take Lexi along. Unfortunately, she wasn’t at the game to interview me afterward. I wasn’t happy with it, but Jade interviewed me. Which is curious since Lexi covers all the home games. But she texted me to let me know that Jade was doing it instead. It was a dry interview. She asked me questions I had already answered in previous interviews with Lexi or Shonda. It must be aggravating for Lexi to have to work with someone so unoriginal. Since Jade hadn’t bothered to do an interview with well-prepped questions, I gave her the same answers I had given Shonda and Lexi—with little enthusiasm. It’s annoying to answer the same question twice; the Blazers’ circumstances haven’t changed, nor would my answers.

I arrive at Lexi’s apartment at nine. When I arrive, she’s still getting ready. She opens the door in a silk kimono. “Hope you don’t mind. I’m running a little late.”

“No problem, sports bunny.” I enter the apartment, closing the door behind me. I stare at her cleavage slightly peeking out of her kimono as she pulls some things out of the kitchen cupboards. I feel myself go half-mast.

“Make yourself at home, Brett.” She points to some chips she’s put on the counter. “Have some chips. I’ll probably be another fifteen, twenty minutes.” But there’s only one snack I want; I check out her backside as she sashays toward her bedroom. The way the satin accentuates her bottom makes my mind delve into dirty thoughts. Though we’ve made plans, I’m wishing I could come up with a reason to convince her to stay at her place.

“So, you weren’t there to interview me today after the game,” I call out to her. “I have to say, I was disappointed.”

“I know. Sorry about that. Anne set up a last-minute meeting with me concerning something with Sports Fanatic Magazine.”

“Oh? What is it?” I ask.

“It’s a bit much,” she hollers back. “But there’s a letter on the counter there. They want to feature me in their magazine. Anne and I had to have a long talk about it. Steve’s pushing me to do it, too.”

“You don’t mind if I read the letter?” I ask, as if I could hold myself back. I’m curious what they want my girl for.

“No, that’s fine,” she calls.

I find the letter sitting next to a blender and begin to read through it. They do want to feature her. Not only do they want to do a story, but they also want her to pose in a swimsuit for their infamous swimsuit issue.

I hold my breath for a moment. I can be a little jealous; I completely understand that Lexi has her fans. But, to my knowledge she hasn’t done anything like this before, “Uh, so are you going to do the article?” I timidly call out.

“Well,” she says with a heavy sigh. “I want to do the interview. It would be great publicity. But I don’t feel comfortable posing in a swimsuit for all the world to see. I’m sure you’ve seen the barely-there swimsuits they put the girls in.”

“Anne thinks you should do it?” I ask.

“Yes,” she says reentering the room in a sexy backless black dress. “Sports Fanatic has been asked to feature me by their fans for a few years now. They’ve asked me in the past. I’ve always said ‘no.’ But Anne has thought for some time now that I should do it. We ran through the pros and cons this afternoon.” She slumps on her couch and crosses her arms. “I’m surprised they still want me to do it. I consider myself a little old for that now.”

I chortle, “Lexi, seriously, how old are you?”

“Twenty-eight. I know that doesn’t sound old by most standards, but if I were a model, my career would be over. If I were an actress, my popularity would be waning right now. If I were a musician, they would be deciding if I was the flavor of the year or the decade.”

I nod in understanding, “So, what about sports journalism? When does a female journalist's career come to an end?”

“Come on, Brett. You know the rest of the girls are four or five years younger than me.”

I sit on the couch next to her, “You still do a better job than them. Didn’t Steve beg you to do more away games because Jade was screwing up?”

“I feel like Anne wants me to do this because she thinks it will keep my career going,” she says. “You know, get more followers.”

“What do you want to do?” I ask, interested in knowing why she’s not keen on the idea.

She scowls. “I didn’t get into sports journalism to be a swimsuit model. The idea that a bunch of guys are going to be having these photos and checking me out is kind of creepy.”

“True. But even being on air, guys are checking you out,” I say, playing devil’s advocate.

“I know. But this is in a different context. Fans are going to check me out and rate me. Jade’s done it. But some of the criticism she got was unwarranted.”

I chuckle, “Thought you didn’t like Jade so much.”

“I don’t. But just because someone decides to pose in a swimsuit doesn’t mean the world is obliged to put that woman down in every way thinkable. Even if it’s true, some of the comments made were cruel and mean-spirited.”

“So, you don’t think you’ll do it?” I ask with a hint of relief.

“I don’t know. Anne’s riding me on this one. I think she believes if I do it, it will make her job easier. Other than getting more fans, she thinks she could get me some promotions with different products if I were a pinup girl.”

My teeth grind together. I don’t like that Lexi is being encouraged to do something she isn’t comfortable with. I know that Anne is doing her job, like Hal does with me, but a part of me dislikes how Anne is treating her. “So, for Anne, what this is actually about is getting you more work? Keeping you in the limelight?”

“Exactly. She says she’s amazed I’ve done so well for so long,” she says, with a slightly embarrassed face.

“But, compared to the other reporters, your interviews are quality. I mean, every guy is checking out the hot sports reporter on television, but when a cuter younger version comes along, many older reporters are forgotten by networks,” I point out. “But you stay in contact with your fans and are a true journalist. I think that’s why you’ve lasted so long. You’re not just some cutie, standing in front of a camera, getting her fifteen minutes of fame until the next doll comes along.”

Lexi has a sweet simper on her face. I’ve melted her heart. Good one, Brock. She leans in and gives me a slow intoxicating kiss with her sumptuous lips.

“Can’t blame them for wanting you, though,” I whisper after her lips part from mine. “You’re a bombshell.”

“Thing is, I know Anne’s right. A worried looks falls on her face as her warm body pulls away from me. “How do I make sure my influence lasts? Steve has been trying to push Jade to the network instead of me. If she improves her skills, I may not get my choice of games.”

The thought hits me like a lightning bolt. We should go public with our relationship. That might give her some staying power. I’m almost scared to mention it. I hope the idea doesn’t offend her. “Uh, Lexi, I’m about to propose something, but please don’t take any offense. If you don’t want to do it, I’ll completely understand. It is early in our relationship.” I can see Lexi’s eyes widen. Shit, I used the word ‘propose.’ Ugh. “Let’s go public,” I say quickly, squashing the fearful look on her face.

Her fretful face is replaced with an expression of relief. “You mean, go public with our relationship, right?”

“Yes. I mean, I know it’s a bit early to say anything. But I think this is a pretty honest relationship … and it might last for some time.”

Her mouth curves into a sweet simper. “Well, we do make a good pair. But even if we come out now, we’ll have to keep a buzz going until next season. How are we going to do that? And do we want to do that?” She stops and looks up into my eyes with sincerity, “I like ‘us,’ I don’t want to ruin what’s happening between us by letting the public in on it.”

Wow. That was a different reason than Izzy gave me. Whenever I told Izzy that I wanted to take the relationship public, she’d go on about how it wouldn’t be good for her career. She believed that she was better off ‘looking available.’ Later, I realized the only reason she didn’t want to, was because she wanted me and any other guy she could have on the side. Naturally, going public would have upset all her boyfriends. “Well, I suppose we got some things to discuss. But maybe now isn’t the time,” she says, rubbing my arm. “We should get going.”

“I do want to continue this conversation though, Lexi.”

“Well, we will be leaving for Ohio soon, we’ll have plenty of time to talk about it then. By the way, I saw your Thin Skin ad today.”

“And … what do you think?” I ask, my eyes boring into hers.

Her cheeks become rosy. “It was … um … nice. Very enticing.”

I watch Lexi talking to Anne in the VIP section as Hal and I stand by the bar ordering drinks. The rest of the Blazers are scattered about the VIP section too, avoiding the frenzy of fans in the main part of the club. “Were you able to get a hold of anyone in Chicago?” I ask, turning to Hal.

Hal grumbles, “I called the cab company. I called the hotel, the stadium, the caretakers for Millennium Park several times in the past two weeks. No one has it.”

The bartender sets down three drinks in front of us. I hand him a bill, then hand Hal his glass. “Here’s the deal, Hal. There’s more than text messages on there. Lexi and I have had a little fun.”

Hal spits his drink out on me, “Are you serious? Do you know how much overtime I would have to put in if that comes out? I’ve already wore myself out over the cockgate thing!”

“Sorry, Hal.” I wipe his drink off my crisp white dress shirt with a napkin. “But there is nothing on the phone that shows Lexi’s face.”

“Huh, sure, the American public won’t like to think that you are taking videos of women like that. Jesus, Brett. Does Lexi know?” he asks, taking another gulp.

I look down, a gnawing feeling in my heart. “I don’t see any point in worrying her unless it becomes public. I mean, what good is it for her to be fearful of what might happen.”

Hal sighs. “You’d rather her hear it from you, Brett. How did you explain your new phone and number?”

“I told her there were some issues with my old phone, so I upgraded to another company.”

Hal squints in confusion, “So, what will you say when you find the phone again?”

“I’ll delete everything I’ve put on there and get rid of the phone. I don’t want to go through this kind of panic again.”

“Well, we shouldn’t sweat it too much. I’d imagine if it had gotten into the wrong hands it would be all over the Internet and the news by now.”

“True.”

“Enough of this talk.” Hal finishes his drink and puts it on the bar. “You should be with the rest of the team, celebrating your win. You going to cover the tab tonight?”

“I’m not making what Dion makes yet, Hal,” I say, joking.

Hal gives me a look, “No one liked that Dion never covered a tab, though he made the most on the team. You’ve won their favor these past several weeks. Seal the deal, Brett. Make sure these boys want you to lead the team next year. Cover the tabs for the next few weeks and up until the Bowl if you can make it.”

I know Hal is right. When Dion comes back next season, I need to have all the players and coaches rooting for me to play first string. “You’re right, Hal. You don’t think it will go into tens of thousands, do you?”

“It could, but if you paid tonight, I’m sure the guys wouldn't forget it. I’ll circulate about the crowd and let them know you’re paying.”

The corners of my eyes crinkle, “Ah, so it doesn’t look like I’m buying their favor?”

“That’s right, baller.” Hal smiles.

I turn to the bartender, “Hey bar! Put all the players of the Blazers on my tab!”

“No problem, Brett,” the bartender shouts. “That’s generous of you!”

I purse my lips. I want to ask what the tab is at now, but I know it’ll ruin the rest of my night.