Chapter 26
Rori
After talking to Landon on the phone and Julie on the flight home, everything hurts a little less. By the time our plane lands in Florida, I’m able to celebrate internally all that I accomplished as opposed to only feeling the loss.
The only lingering frustration is my terrible mental focus during the match.
My gut still burns when I let myself think about how checked out I was. In the Wimbledon final? What the hell, Rori.
As I told Landon, I won’t let it happen again. Period.
One of my first errands this morning is to get a new phone and number. I put the burner in the trash, ready to let go of the last few days.
Once I secure the new phone, I text my team, Dad, Landon, and a few friends the info. Landon gets saved in my new phone again as “NEW YEARS,” so there’s no risk his identity will be exposed to anyone being nosy.
Ten minutes later, my phone buzzes, and I pick up a call from Julie.
“The new rankings are out. Laurine and Iva’s losses really pulled them down because they had so many points from last year. Do you want to hear?”
Like she is going to give me a choice.
“YOU’RE NUMBER FIVE! Number five in the world!”
I wish I could say I had a more dignified response, but I let out a shriek.
“OMG OMG JULIE,” I say in response.
“I know Rori, this is so amazing. You earned this though, you earned this.”
Julie lets me have a moment to digest the news but stays on the line. I breathe through my excitement and let myself process. And then she speaks up again through the phone.
“You know what this means, right?” she asks me.
“What?”
“You need a new goal. You made the Top 5.”
“That’s an easy one,” I say to her.
“I want to win the U.S. Open.”
After I get off the phone with Julie, I text Landon right away.
RORI: Guess what?
RORI: I hit number 5!
Within about thirty seconds, his response comes through.
NEW YEARS: Hell yes!!
NEW YEARS: Top 5 on the planet. Insane.
NEW YEARS: Can you come up here tonight? We’ll celebrate.
RORI: With whipped cream?
NEW YEARS: Woman. Now you gotta come….
NEW YEARS: Actually, I can say with confidence that you will come.
Needless to say, I agree to drive to Orlando.
It’s a shift from earlier this summer, but the reality that I’m facing is that my rhythm with Landon is going to be different than it was a month ago. He’s ramping up for daily team practices, training camp, pre-season games, and then a seventeen-week season, not counting playoffs.
He isn’t going to be able to drive to Tampa every other day now. I’m going to have to trek to Orlando regularly if I want to continue seeing him.
Will he want that? I think the answer is yes, but I don’t want to assume. I guess we should probably talk about it tonight.
Coming up next for me is hard court season, which is in North America.
While the locations are easier in terms of traveling back and forth, the pressure to win is higher.
For my pride, as much as any external pressure.
Not to mention, the fans and the press are that much more intensely focused on me as an American.
So, I don’t consider the next few tournaments easier.
All of the future challenges get pushed aside though once I pull into Landon’s driveway.
As soon as he opens the door to let me into his house, he gives a big whoop and picks me up in his arms.
“Hi, Miss Number Five,” he says, then plants a kiss on my lips.
Landon pulls us into the hallway, closes the door and slowly puts me down. He then kisses me again, a little longer, before breaking the kiss.
“Let me show you the place,” he says, taking my hand.
His house is much bigger than my cottage.
As he shows me around, I can tell he isn’t concerned with the aesthetics of the house.
It isn’t barren, but the colors are all neutral, the furnishings comfortable but lacking character.
The walls largely have muted art prints, together with miscellaneous sports paraphernalia.
Landon catches me looking everything over and explains. “It’s a bachelor pad, I know. I had a little help with decorating from Grace, but I haven’t worried too much about it yet. Still in my rookie contract too, so I didn’t want to spend a ton on expensive furniture.”
Despite the lack of design, the house is comfortable, and I love the amount of light coming in from the windows everywhere.
“You have a lot to work with when you’re ready,” I observe.
After dinner, we cuddle on the couch, watching a new reality show called Camp Puppy Love. It’s about a group of twenty-something dog owners who are looking for love. The twist is their dogs have to be compatible too. Doggy dates are as important as the human dates.
“This show is going to be great, right, Grover?” Landon jokes. “You want to watch with us, little guy?”
Grover pops his head up from where he’s lying on one of Landon’s armchairs. “Grover’s chair,” as he calls it. The pup looks at us with what seems to me to be a dog version of an eye roll and lies his head back down.
I laugh and snuggle into Landon. Just then, a text comes through.
NINA: I’m on the phone with Taylor. Can we call you for a minute?
To have your agent and publicist want to speak to you at the same time means something is up—though not necessarily something bad.
RORI: Sure.
I turn to Landon. “One sec, I need to take a call if that’s okay? Nina and my publicist?”
“Of course babe, do you want privacy?“ he asks, reaching for the remote.
“No, if you don’t mind pausing the show, I can do it here.”
He nods and hits pause as the FaceTime call comes in. When I pick up, Nina and Taylor are both on the line from two different locations. Something’s up.
“Rori, hi, sorry to bug you tonight,” Taylor says.
“It’s okay, you guys have me curious though,” I respond, making sure that only my face is in the frame.
“Well, a couple of things have happened,” Taylor says. “We received the planned campaign images for the Triumph shoot. They look incredible. So that isn’t an issue.”
“Okay, great. And the campaign is still on track to be launched right before the U.S. Open?”
“Yes.” Taylor takes a breath and continues. “They’re focusing on pictures of you and Landon together. With the filters and closely-cropped perspectives used, the photos are incredibly sexy. They’re really playing up the dynamic between you two in the pictures.”
I look over at Landon and he’s listening. He shrugs at her comments, an amused look on his face.
I turn back to the phone. “Is that the issue? I mean, there are a million sexy photo shoots out there with athletes.”
Taylor shakes her head. “Not specifically. But the photos got leaked to Hot Stuff, the entertainment and gossip magazine. They just reached out because they are doing an article on you and Landon.”
Nina jumps in, explaining, “Hot Stuff has a lot more reach than the Social Scoops gossip page which did the article during Wimbledon.”
“Okay,” I say, waiting for them to share more. Landon starts playing with the hem of my shorts, still out of view.
“The reporter is making some suggestions along the lines of the Social Scoops post, but it’s all speculation,” Taylor continues.
“The reason we’re calling is because we’d like to put out a denial and share that you and Landon are simply friendly acquaintances who had a positive and professional experience together on the photo shoot. ”
Nina jumps in again. “Hot Stuff has many more readers and is in grocery stores, airports, places like that, which is why we feel like we should respond this time. Plus the pictures add a new dimension to their article.”
“Yes, exactly,” adds Taylor. “They may be from a sponsor photo shoot, but they’re so sexy that the public is going to jump to their own conclusions.”
Landon pulls his hand back, and I look over to him, wondering what kind of reaction I’ll see from him to what they’re saying. My mind is spinning, and I can feel a panic attack rising. What should we do? What if he freaks out?
Instead, a slow, genuine smile spreads across his face. He shrugs again but then calmly mouths, “You can tell them if you want. Whatever you want to do, babe.”
I turn back to the camera. “So you want to deny it?” I ask Taylor to buy myself more time to think.
“Yes, I don’t think we should let something like this circulate in the mainstream sports and entertainment press when untrue,” Taylor responds.
I look over at Landon, and he is watching me intently. Seeing something on my face, he reaches his hand back out to my leg, resting it there, warm and reassuring.
He’s clearly giving me the choice to decide whether I tell Taylor and Nina the truth.
I swivel back to face them. “There’s only one problem.”
“What?” Taylor says while Nina crinkles her eyes in confusion.
I take the phone and turn it slowly so that Landon is now in view. Taylor or Nina—or both—give a loud “Oh!” on the other side.
“Hi, ladies,” Landon says, grinning and waving with his free hand.
I bring my face back into view. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell either of you, but basically no one knows that we’ve been spending time together. Not even Julie or Dad. We wanted to keep it a secret for now. We’re just having fun.”
“Oh my goodness, Rori. How have you kept this a secret?” Nina exclaims.
“It’s actually quite impressive,” Taylor observes.
“We don’t go out and instead hang out at each other’s houses. I’m actually at Landon’s house now,” I explain.
“Well, what do you want to do? Do you want to release a statement that you’re together?” asks Taylor.
I look over at Landon, and we both seem to be thinking the same thing. I shake my head no, and he mouths, “not yet.”
“I don’t think so,” I say in affirmation. “We’re just hanging out when it works for our schedules. Can we keep saying nothing for now?”
“We can, of course,” Taylor acknowledges. “We can stay quiet and see if it dies down.”
Landon finally speaks up, and I turn the phone so they can see him again.
“I’m about to go into training camp for three weeks.
There will be a couple press sessions during that time, and otherwise I’ll be in lock-down.
It’ll either amplify things or make it move quickly out of the media consciousness. ”
“When and if you’re ever ready to share, what a ‘Power Couple’ you will make,” Nina says excitedly, making finger quotes as she says the “Power Couple” phrase. Her business mind is obviously processing the revelation in its own way.
“Yes, well, we’re not there,” I say to dismiss any more talk of that nature. My relationship is not going to be fodder for Nina’s machinations.
My relationship. I just said that.
“Landon, I do think that you should share with your representatives,” Taylor adds. “Prep them so we stay in alignment.”
“Yes, will do.”
With his agreement, the ladies say goodbye, promising to update me as everything develops.
After we hang up, I turn my whole body to him. He still has his hand on my leg, which had kept me grounded during the last three minutes of that call.
“Landon, this could get crazy right as you’re starting with training camp and mandatory media time. I’m so sorry you’ll have to deal,” I say, genuinely feeling bad.
Maybe he’ll shut down on me given where the article seems headed, I realize with a pulse of fear.
But he puts that worry to rest immediately. “No big deal, Rori, really babe. The media, the attention, wild questions—it’s all part of getting paid so much for what we do. I’ll deflect any question, and keep things focused on football in my press sessions. The team’s PR staff can control that too.”
As if to seal his comments as a promise, he leans towards me and kisses me firmly on the mouth.
He then moves his head back a few inches. “Are you freaking out?”
I kind of am. “A little,” I whisper in acknowledgment. “I’m just not used to the public exposure yet like you are. It’s only been the last year that people have really paid any attention to me.”
He looks into my eyes and nods like he understands. “It’s an adjustment. But I’ve got you, Taylor’s got you, and I think even Nina’s got you.”
I laugh at the last part of his statement. “Oh, Nina.”
Landon’s eyes dance as he smiles. “You could practically see the dollar signs in her head as she thought about the opportunities if we date publicly.”
Landon’s calmness is contagious, and I feel my nerves settling down. I reach up with my hand and touch his cheek.
“Thank you. Thank you for not being scared off by this.”
He shakes his head, leaning into my hand afterwards. “No way, Rori. We have a good thing. We can’t let outside noise affect what we want to do.”
Digesting his comment, I feel momentarily overwhelmed.
Only this man would understand this kind of challenge and how to get past it.
Only this man would be able to handle the press exposure without a beat.
Only this man would face this news without any nerves and be able to help me do the same.
How did I get so lucky to find him?
The next morning, I wake up in Landon’s enormous bed with Grover at my feet but no one next to me. I roll over to the bedside table on my side of the bed and see a note.
“Working out in gym - L”
Landon had shown me a killer gym room during my tour of his house. Neither of us has a formal practice today, so he must’ve wanted to sneak in a workout session early.
I take my time getting put together in the bathroom. My hair’s a frazzled mess between our bedroom activities last night and then rolling around in my sleep. Fifteen minutes with my toiletry bag later, I look back to normal and ready to visit Landon in his gym.
But first, coffee. When I come into the kitchen, Landon has thankfully brewed some already. I notice he’s made my favorite brand, which he must’ve known from coming to my place so often.
I think I know Landon’s love language. This man seems to relish in taking care of me, in all sorts of ways. Despite our lack of labels.
Hearing rap music playing as I approach, I walk with my mug to the gym.
Landon’s on his treadmill. Sigh. What a sight.
He only has a pair of gym shorts on, no shirt.
His skin has a layer of sweat over it, making him glisten.
And with his back facing me, I’m free to admire how incredible his body looks as he runs on the machine.
I walk towards him, and not wanting to startle him, I try to make some noise on my way over. He turns as he hears my footsteps and smiles. Hitting pause on the treadmill, he jumps off as it slows down.
“Hey babe,” he says, giving me a kiss on the forehead. “I had a thought. How about a boat day? You can get a workout in first if you want, but my boat’s been so underused lately. I have just the spot to take you on the water too.”
Who knew he even had a boat? Sounds dreamy.
“Perfect.”