Chapter 8 – Jordie #2
“Which is great, but that’s not where the majority of your income is going to come from,” Bubba explains. “You have a good reputation and never get into any trouble, so companies will be begging for you to represent them.”
Carly wiggles her eyebrows. “I’m earning my very modest percentage today because I’ve fielded at least twenty phone calls already.” We all laugh at her because she is very well paid. Her rates are fair, but she makes some serious bank when she negotiates big deals for her clients.
“Who have you heard from so far?” Reno asks.
“Well…” she draws out. “Nike and Adidas are battling it out to see who gets you. Nike wants to do a campaign with you and Bubba.” She shoots finger guns at us. “You know, to play up the brother-sister angle.”
Bubba frowns. “I don’t know. This is Jordie’s time.”
I shake my head. “No, I think that could be cool. People love seeing family stuff. Like when the Manning brothers do commercials together.”
Carly lightly kicks Bubba with the toe of her purple designer stiletto. “She’s already more savvy than you, Ward. Consumers do love that sappy shit.”
He chuffs out a laugh. “Okay, get us the numbers, and we’ll take a look.”
She flips through her phone. “Gatorade is trying to lowball us, but I’ll tell them Jordie will go with Powerade if they don’t get their shit together. They will though,” she says confidently before muttering under her breath. “If they want to keep their balls intact.”
I smile at Reno, who gives me an I told you she’s a fighter and a little bit crazy smirk.
“There’s another one I’m really excited about,” Carly says, scrunching her shoulders in elation. “They’re thrilled to support the new WNFL team, and the money they’re offering is… psheww!” She flicks her fingers at her temples like her brains are squirting out.
“Which company?” I ask, trying to remain cool though I can’t help doing a little butt-wiggling dance.
Carly makes an arc through the air and proclaims, “Hale Cosmetics.”
My previous excitement deflates like a popped balloon. “The makeup company?”
“Makeup, skin care, cologne,” my agent lists, not reading my dismay.
“Oh, I don’t think so,” I tell her. “I don’t even wear makeup that often.”
She gives me a rueful shake of her head, and the hockey players beside me chuckle as if I’m being silly. “I once did a commercial for a soda company, and I don’t even drink the stuff,” Reno says.
“How are you even married to my sister, the Dr Pepper fiend?” I ask.
His lips kick up on one side. “We have… other mutual interests besides soda.”
Bubba gives him a flat glare. “Bruh… just no.”
Reno chuckles, amused with himself for riling up his best friend.
“I’m just saying, you don’t have to regularly use the products in order to do a photo shoot or commercial for them.
As long as it’s a good company that doesn’t go against any of your values, then take that check straight to the bank with a smile on your face. ”
“I don’t think people write checks anymore, old man,” I tease.
He loops a brotherly arm around my shoulders, ignoring my dig.
“I care about you, Jordie, and I want you to be financially secure. You need to take every viable opportunity to pad your bank account. Not to be morbid, but think about what happens if you get injured in your first season and can’t play anymore.
” Reno wets his lips, and his eyes defocus a little.
“A woman needs to be able to support herself and not be dependent on a man for money and food and…”
His voice trails off, and I know he’s thinking of the abusive situation his mother found herself in when she was younger. I lean into him and rest my head on his shoulder. “I’ll think about it. I just don’t understand what makeup has to do with football.”
“Nothing,” Bubba pipes up. “And trucks have nothing to do with hockey, and yet I’ve done three ad campaigns for Ford.”
“Listen to your brothers,” Carly says, and I like that she refers to both of them as my brothers. “Don’t dismiss anything just because it’s not your cup of tea.”
Reno pats my shoulder. “I once did a cologne commercial where I was coming up out of the ocean with dolphins leaping into the air behind me.” His lips crook into a wry grin. “That rarely happens on the hockey rink.”
My agent laughs at that. “I remember that one. The cologne smelled good, but the commercial was ridiculous. You made some serious bank though, probably because you were shirtless.” She turns to me.
“As you may know, Hale Cosmetics is an international company, but they’re based in Houston.
They are thrilled to have one of the new teams in their city.
And not to add any pressure, but the Hales are very good friends with the Harringtons.
You know, the owners of your new team?” She lifts both blonde eyebrows, and I get what she’s saying.
“Having two families with that much power and money supporting the Dragons and the WNFL as a whole is something that can benefit everyone, not just you.”
Those words strike me hard because they ring true.
To have both the Harringtons and the Hales backing us would be good for so many people.
Women’s football has been pretty much ignored for years, but to see powerful people taking a vested interest in us could do wonders.
Not just for football, but for women’s sports as a whole.
“Send me the offer, and I’ll take a look,” I finally say.
Our entire family is in Juliette and Reno’s backyard for a post-draft celebration. The entire yard is decorated in purple and silver.
Juliette sniffles beside me as she watches her husband roll around in the grass with their twins. “You okay, sis?” I ask, and she nods, her gaze still trained on her little family.
“I’m good. Just married to a man with the biggest heart in the world. Even when he comes home exhausted, he takes over kid duty and tells me to go take a bath or write for a while. He loves them so much.”
I tilt my head over onto her shoulder. “He loves you too.”
She wraps an arm around my waist and sighs happily.
“I know. I’m so lucky.” We’re quiet for a while, watching as Reno rolls over to let Ruby and Jace crawl onto his back so he can give them a horsey ride.
Juliette’s voice is soft and thoughtful when she speaks again.
“Don’t ever settle, Jordie. There are good men out there.
You just have to be patient and wait for the right one. ”
“I know, Jules.”
Juliette straightens when Pops walks over with a tray of purple cupcakes, and she grabs one for each of us.
“I never had to worry about Reno only being with me for money since I didn’t have a lot of it before we got married.
” She licks a bit of frosting from the top.
“But you’re going to be a very wealthy woman, Jordie.
You have to be careful not to let some guy take advantage of you. ”
I grin and shake my head in amazement. “It’s crazy that I’m going to be rich. I don’t think I’ve wrapped my head around it yet, but I’ll be careful of nefarious men in dark alleys.”
Juliette laughs. “That’s the problem. They won’t be hiding in alleys. They’ll be wining and dining you out in the open. Just remember, not everyone has good intentions.”
I wonder for a second if she’s talking about Miles, but we’re distracted from our conversation when Billy bites Reno on the ass. The male goat has never bitten one of the kids. In fact, he’s never bitten anyone except “his dad.” And always directly on the butt.
We all watch, amused, as Reno turns and wags his finger at the goofy goat, gently scolding him. It won’t do any good. Billy has a mind of his own.
My cell rings, and when I see who’s calling, my eyes dart around the table to make sure no one can see my screen. I have a privacy protector on my phone, but I’m still paranoid. My family just wouldn’t understand.
When I rise, Juliette looks up at me. “Everything okay, Jordie?”
Guilt surges through my veins as I lie. I feel like I’ve been doing that more recently, and it makes me uncomfortable. I’ve never kept secrets from my sister.
“Yeah, old friend. Probably calling about the draft.” It’s not totally unreasonable since I’ve been fielding calls from former teammates and coaches all day. I step over the bench seat. “I’m just going to find somewhere quieter so I can hear.”
Walking around the side of the house, I answer. “Hey, Mom.”
“Jordie, I just saw the news. Congratulations!”
Warmth infuses me, chasing away the guilt. “Thank you. I’m so excited.”
“Never had any doubt. I’m so proud of you.” There’s a pause. “Do you think you’ll get any endorsement offers?”
I scrunch my shoulders giddily. “I already have some big ones on the table. I just have to go through them.”
“That’s amazing, babe,” she gushes. “You deserve every penny.”
“I appreciate that.”
“Of course, I was calling to congratulate you, but I also wanted to let you know I’ll be in Dallas next week. Would you like to get together?”
I peek around the corner of the house before I answer, like my family can actually hear me with all the noise they make. I pull my head back and lean against the side wall. “Yes, I’d love that.”
“Great, I’ll touch base and let you know when I’ll be there. And, Jordie, I love you so much.”
Closing my eyes, I smile and say, “I love you too, Mom.”
After disconnecting, I pocket my phone and return to my family with mixed feelings and secrets in my heart.
Because they can never, under any circumstances, find out I’ve been in contact with our mother for the past six months.