Double Score

Dylan straightened his tie. The butterflies were attacking my stomach. I wasn’t sure why I had agreed to do this.

“Good evening, I’m Chantel Morris. Tonight we have an exclusive interview with Warriors owner Vanessa McCade and Warriors wide receiver Dylan James. They made a startling announcement today that shocked the sports world.” Chantel paused. “At a team press conference the Warriors press director revealed that Vanessa and Dylan are in fact engaged to be married.”

I felt my stomach flip. My mouth went dry. I didn’t know how Dylan could stay calm. I knew I’d already wasted that extra powder the makeup artist had dotted on my nose.

“So, you two…” Chantel turned from the cameras and faced us. “What a story!” She grinned. “Everyone is talking about this engagement. It’s certainly unprecedented in the AFA. What has your day been lik

e since you shared the news?”

Her eyes pressed into me.

I blinked several times. “Everyone has congratulated us. I think they’re excited for us.” I looked at Dylan.

He squeezed my knee. “Oh yeah. The guys are behind us a hundred percent.”

Chantel nodded. “You have to admit this isn’t the most typical relationship. Excuse the expression, but ownership getting into bed with the players’ side of things is unheard of.”

I knew my cheeks were instantly red. She said players and bed in the same sentence. I’d had two players in my bed last night. I was a complete immoral slut of an owner. My knees started to shake. The lights felt hot, not just blinding.

Dylan stepped up while I fought to find words. “I don’t think either of us expected our friendship to lead here.”

“So you two were friends first?” Chantel prodded.

“Oh yeah.” Dylan grinned.

“Do you have friendships with lots of the players?” Chantel raised her eyebrows. “Is that why Isaac Price is with us in studio tonight?” She looked off to the side.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

I was sinking. I couldn’t even get a sentence together. Dylan moved his hand from my knee to around my shoulder.

“Actually, he’s here because I asked him to ride over with me after practice,” Dylan explained. “The Warriors are a family. He’s here to support both of us.”

Chantel flipped a page in her notes, moving right to the next question. She didn’t dwell on conversations. Apparently, she saved that for when the cameras were off. This was her time to pull as much information out of us as possible.

“Are you worried, Vanessa, that the other players on the team will perceive it las you are giving Dylan preferential treatment? He will after all be married to the team’s owner.”

I shook my head. “We have their full support. They’re happy for us.”

“But will Dylan become part-owner? How does that look for the legal arrangement in your marriage?”

I was prepared for this part. Steve had been explicit with how to answer the legal questions.

“The Warriors have been a part of my family heritage. Dylan wants to focus on his career. He can’t do that and run the franchise.”

“Yeah,” he added. “I’ll leave the family business in Vanessa’s hands.”

“Does that mean you’re willing to sign a pre-nup to that effect?” she pried.

I was starting to dislike Chantel Morris. Where were the questions about the romantic proposal? Why wasn’t she asking if I wanted to be a June bride?

Dylan’s voice deepened. “I’m willing to do whatever the Warriors need.”

“Does that mean you’re making decisions in your relationship based on the Warriors franchise?”

“No, I didn’t say that.” Dylan clenched his teeth in an awkward smile. “What I’m saying is that we don’t want our engagement to be anything but a good thing for the team. I’ll sign a pre-nup if that makes the team more secure.”

Chantel nodded her head. “That sounds noble of you, Dylan.”