Thirty-Eight
D amn it, Georgia!”
“I’m watching it. The good news is that at most he only has social media personalities there. The sports writers aren’t giving it any attention, it will eventually die.”
“It’s click-bait. It won’t die. It’s going to go on until the next big story leaks.”
“He’s an idiot.”
“I know that, and you know that, but future clients don’t know that yet.” He tossed his toothbrush, toothpaste, and razor into his Dopp kit and threw it on top of his clothes in the open suitcase on his bed. “I could have driven home in the time it’s taken to get a flight.”
“There are only a few flights in and out and they’re all sold out.”
He didn’t believe her, but he wasn’t willing to call out her lie. “Well tell them to kick someone off. I’ve flown enough with them to hit the Platinum premier Jubilee diamond ranking, or whatever it’s called.”
“Let’s not add entitled asshole to this week’s headlines.”
A knock on his door interrupted his tirade. He had slapped the do not disturb card on the handle the night before, but apparently no one cared. He yanked the door open then stomped his way back to the sitting room, not even checking to see who was on the other side of the door. “What!”
“Well, I got some bad news, good news, more bad news, and then some more good news.” The familiar voice jerked Scott out from his melt-down. “I think.”
“Georgia, why is Arlen here?” Scott asked both the man, now sprawled on his couch, and the woman on the other end of the phone.
“Bad news number one first. My stint in rehab got out.” Arlen entered the room and threw himself down on the couch.
“How’d it get out? Georgia, why is Arlen here?”
“I’m as in the dark as you are about why he’s there.”
“I don’t know, but it’s out. Good news is that rehab trumps a twenty-two-year-old fidiot having a mid-life crisis and committing career suicide.” Arlen behaved as though his appearance at Iron Creek was no big deal.
Scott’s shoulders dropped and his head fell back until he could stare at the ceiling if his eyes had been open. “And the more bad news?”
“Oh. Yeah. My retirement’s out too.”
“How? Only the coach, GM, and president know! And they aren’t going to leak it. Georgia!”
“Scott, take a deep breath.” Georgia’s calm voice came through the speaker.
“Oh, I told them.”
“You did what? We had a statement worked out. We had the timing planned. Everything was set in place for this to go off without a hitch.”
“This is the more good news though. All anyone is going to talk about is my retirement. It’s going to be the only headline for weeks.” Arlen twisted around until he was lying down with his legs stretched out and the couch groaned. “The lady at the front desk might have shared I was here. So, there’s a good chance some of the media’s gonna follow me here. Not sure if that qualifies as good or bad news.”
“Bad.” Both Georgia and Scott answered at the same time.
“Well then. On a lighter note, the girls love the water slide here. Took me forever to get them out of the pool.”
“The girls are there too? Please tell me Madden stayed at home.” The hope in Georgia’s voice couldn’t be mistaken for anything else.
“Of course he didn’t. Tell me you could say no to those two girls.”
“The hotel doesn’t even allow dogs!” Scott had no idea why he was focusing on the dog’s presence when there were so many other fires in need of extinguishing.
“They do when you offer them a lot of money.”
“Of course they do.” Scott said. “OK, first, how did the rehab story get out?”
No one spoke for one excruciatingly long minute.
Georgia’s quiet voice finally broke through the silence. “I think we know how. Scott, I never thought I’d be saying this to you, but it’s time to break the glass.”
Scott rubbed his hand over his face. “What do you recommend, Georgia.”
“Bend over, grab hold of your ankles, and pray.”