The Game Changer (The Perfect Game 2)

Supposed?

“But this just came up, and I wanted you to be the first to read it. ” She handed us each a copy of our magazine with a cover photograph of a girl I didn’t recognize.

“That’s Vanessa,” Jack said as he opened the magazine and flipped to the article.

“Chrystle’s best friend, Vanessa?” I asked and he nodded.

“Read the interview. I think you’ll find it quite illuminating,” Nora insisted.

I skimmed through it before my jaw dropped and I was forced to stop. “Holy shit, Jack. Do you see the part where Vanessa says that Chrystle planned this whole thing from day one?”

I read directly from the magazine copy:

“Chrystle knew every player who got drafted and had the potential to eventually play on our team. She researched Jack and learned everything about him before he even played here. She was obsessed. She knew he was raised by his grandparents, that he had a younger brother, a girlfriend, what kind of car he drove. She found out his parents weren’t in his life, and she said no one could live through that unscathed. Chrystle believed that everyone had a weakness and she was convinced she’d just stumbled upon Jack’s. When I mentioned that he had a girlfriend, she didn’t care. Unless Jack moved to Alabama with his girlfriend, Chrystle considered him fair game. ”

My stomach turned. “Jesus, Jack. ” I looked at him, his eyes still scanning the magazine in his hands.

“And the minute Jack arrived, sans girlfriend, she put her plan in motion. She practically stalked him, waiting for the opportunity to seduce him. She knew where he lived and who he lived with. Some nights she would wait outside their apartment in case they all went out

somewhere. She wanted to follow them and make it look like a coincidence when they all showed up at the same place. She was relentless. I feel like Jack didn’t stand a chance against her. He had no idea what he was up against because most normal people aren’t that manipulative and determined. She wasn’t going to stop until she had what she wanted. And what she wanted was Jack. ”

The interviewer of the magazine asked, “Why? Why Jack?” And Vanessa responded:

“Because he was going to make it all the way to the major leagues and she knew it. Anyone who watched him play and knew anything about baseball knew it. Most of the guys on the team would never get that far, and she once said that she refused to be saddled with any of them. That they were all just loser head cases waiting to happen. She wanted the money, the celebrity, and the lifestyle that went along with being the wife of a major league ballplayer. It really is as simple as that. ”

Reading all of Vanessa’s words horrified me. Anger, sadness, and pain all raced through my body. I wanted to go back in time and protect Jack from this nightmare ever unfolding. No one deserved to be treated this way.

I reached out my hand, placing it on Jack’s thigh as he turned to me, shaking his head. “Unbelievable. ”

Nora clapped her hands together and leaned her chin against them. “The rest of the interview basically talks about how she faked the pregnancy, the miscarriage, and then how she dragged out the annulment. ”

“Oh, I want to read the part about the faked pregnancy,” I said a little too enthusiastically. I scanned the questions and answers, searching for it.

“She got a local doctor to go along with her plans by basically framing him. She told him that she knew he had an affair in the past and she threatened to tell his wife if he didn’t help her. She claimed to have proof and numerous witnesses. The poor guy was terrified of losing his family so he did whatever she asked. He falsified paperwork and prescriptions for her. She came home from that first doctor’s visit with a confirmation of pregnancy, a due date, a calendar, prenatal and extra iron pills, and a chart that showed the baby’s growth in terms of weeks. Anything from the doctor’s office looked completely legit. There’s no way Jack would have known she was lying. None of us did. ”

“She is really a piece of work, that girl,” I breathed out.

Nora leaned over and tapped the magazine meaningfully. “All in all, the article paints an extremely unflattering picture of this Chrystle person and makes you and Jack out to be the victims, without looking stupid. ”

I nodded. “So, with Vanessa’s interview, ours would sort of be redundant?”

“I believe so. My suggestion is that we wait and see how this plays out. I can’t imagine there will be any more questions after people read this interview, but it might not hurt for the two of you to make a joint statement. ” She tapped two of her fingers along the side of her jaw. “Maybe we do a more upbeat article and photo spread on your new apartment, your lives, how happy you two are here in New York. More like a public image, life, and style piece. But there’s no rush. ”

I smiled. “I like that. I think it’s a good idea. ”

Jack barely smiled, possibly still in shock over everything Vanessa’s article revealed. “I do have one question, if you don’t mind, Nora?” Jack asked.

“Of course. ”

“How did you get in touch with Vanessa?”

My eyes grew wide as I realized I hadn’t even thought about that. Nora smiled and looked at me. “This one’s best friend. ”

I narrowed my gaze. “Melissa?”

“She’s a little firecracker that one,” she breathed out. “I think she got Vanessa’s phone number from Jack. ”

Jack tilted his head back in recollection. “She did ask me for her number. But that was months ago. After the annulment. ”