Page 108 of Striking Heat

“Don’t you think the media will be waiting for you there?” She says the words like I should know this. And maybe I should have, growing up around my dad.

“I’m sure they will, but I won’t talk. And I don’t want you coming to the game with me. The last thing she needs is to see me sitting with you. We don’t need any more misunderstandings.”

“I wasn’t planning on coming with you, Danny. But I could get one of my male associates to go along with me.” She explains it to me like I’m five.

I shake my head. “I’ll be fine. But thanks for calling.” I know she only did because my dad asked her to, but I don’t want to be rude to her. She’s just doing her job.

Jessica wasn’t wrong, though. When I reach the stadium, I see it's a madhouse of fans and reporters. As I’m about to exit my car, August calls me.

“What’s up, man?” I ask him in a way of greeting.

“Well, the article kinda worked because we have a freaking sea of reporters here. There are also more fans as a result,” he says with a chuckle.

“But?” I ask him. I can hear it in his tone. There’s something he’s not saying.

“My dad doesn’t want you in the box tonight. He thinks it would be better if you stayed in the regular seats. So, I got you one down by the team bench that only has three in that row.”

“Thanks. I could have gotten one, but I appreciate you thinking of me.”

He chuckles. “Oh, you’re going to wish I did a bit more than that when you see what a fucking circus it is here. But seriously, I would bring you up here if I could. Dad just thought…”

“I get it. Thanks, though, for what you did.”

We hang up and I look at the stadium, seeing what a circus it looks like on the outside and knowing that I have to go to will call for my ticket. Maybe I should have taken Jessica up on her offer to have someone sitting with me who knew the ins and outs of dealing with the media.

“Hey, bro.” Nick comes out of nowhere and pats me on the shoulder. “I’m going to sit with you today,” he says with a grin. “I thought maybe you could use a friend.”

“Hey, thanks. But you don’t have to do that. Doesn’t your press pass get you seated in any open seat?”

“Yeah, and that’s why I can sit with you,” he tells me, clapping me on the back. “Now let’s get your ticket and get you inside to your girl. Have you talked to her about all this?”

I shake my head. “No, it’s game day. She’s usually pretty quiet on those days. Not much texting or calling. I give her space, and we connect after the game. She said it keeps her in the zone. She had a rough time at the team dinner yesterday. They weren’t exactly happy with all press she’s getting about me.”

“Yeah, I can see that.”

“You can?” I look over at him, confused.

“Can you blame them? They want positive attention, and this isn’t exactly positive. It’s taking away from the game. That’s where they should want the attention, but instead it’s on her and her personal life.”

I nod, getting it now. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“It’s going to be okay. As long as she doesn’t end this, right?”

“I asked her about that, but that’s not what she’s thinking, thankfully.” It’s my turn at the will call window. “Danny Taylor. I’m here to pick up a ticket,” I tell the teller.

“Here you go,” she says, handing me my ticket and moving on to the next customer behind me.

“You're damn right, I checked that. I wanted to make sure that she isn’t leaving me.” I tell him, adding to our previous conversation. Even though Nick hasn’t responded to anything I said.

We’re getting ready to head into the stadium, so I hold my finger over my lips to silence Nick, and he just laughs at me.

“Danny, Danny, can you stop and talk to us for a moment?” a woman yells as I walk past her.

“Danny, has your father reached out to you about all this?”

I shake my head at that one. If they only knew my father, they would know he certainly wouldn’t reach out to me.

“Can you tell us why you’re here? Are you still here to watch her play even though she dumped you?”