Chapter 6
AVERY
I’m going to need Rawley Battle to be less hot and less damn likeable.
Who is this guy? Is he for real?
Now that we’re just sitting here chatting, not in motion, I’m getting a full view of his stupidly perfect face. He looks like the famous actor from the Marvel movies my brothers used to watch. Not Loki, but the Thor guy. Honestly, he might be hotter, with his square jaw and bright blue eyes.
And while with his looks and background he has every cause to fit the asshole jock mold, it doesn’t describe him one bit.
Instead, his lively eyes dance around a mile a minute, and he seems to always be searching for the next chance to laugh.
He is just showing you his best side.
Whether that’s true or not, I need to refocus on getting through this interview.
“Yeah, let’s start,” I say to Farah before returning my eyes to Rawley. “They told me we’re supposed to alternate questions, and I’ll do the first one?”
“Yes, I guess that’s the plan.” He glances around, and then directs a question at Farah. “Everyone is going to watch us record this?”
Farah’s face is full of understanding. “We can clear out most of the staff. They were excited to catch a glimpse of you two, but there’s no need for them to stick around.”
She shoos everyone out until she and her assistant, Kayla and Aiden, who’d introduced himself earlier because of his connection to Dylan, are the only ones left.
“Now, just a reminder,” Farah says. “You’re asking each other the same thing, back and forth. So follow the scripted questions. They were agreed to by both teams and your personal reps.”
I nod. Okay, let’s do this.
I reach to turn on the recording device, only—Rawley does too. As both of our hands hover over it to push the “record” button, they meet.
And for the first time today, we’re touching, his fingers resting on top of mine.
A sizzling sensation pulses through my hand, up my arm.
Whoa. I can’t help the flash of surprise that I know covers my face.
He looks startled too, pulling his hand back quickly. “Sorry.”
I shake my head, trying to convey no apologies are needed. It was just static electricity, right?
He shifts in his seat. “You take the lead.”
“Yes, okay.” We need to get on track here.
I press the record button on the device. Interview officially started.
Glancing up at him, he gives me an encouraging look. I reach down to the paper in front of me and ask the first question. It’s a softball.
“So, Rawley, congrats on all of your success. What are you looking forward to most about being in the NFL?”
“Well, Avery.” He says my name with a flippant tone, like he’s mocking the formality of this set up, and I relax.
Maybe we can have fun doing this. “I’m most excited to help the Waves’ fans get their first Super Bowl parade in a while.
The team was close last year, and it would be awesome to get it done this season. ”
I have no idea if that’s the response he’d give if it were just him and me, but it’ll sound good for the article.
“Excellent answer,” I say, a hint of a tease in my voice as evidence I picked up what he was putting down. “I will say the same. I would love to be part of the Surge’s first championship year.”
“Make sure you wait for him to ask his questions,” Farah says from a few feet away in a soft but firm voice. “In case we want to release clips of the tape later.”
“Okay, sorry,” Rawley says. Why does he keep apologizing for things when he hasn’t done anything wrong? I was the one who skipped over him asking the question.
He straightens in his chair, glances down at the sheet in front of him, and then looks right at me. “How about you? What are you looking most forward to with the WNBA?”
No need to reinvent the wheel. “I will say the same. I would love to be part of the Surge’s first championship year.”
He smirks, and I can tell he’s holding back a laugh.
I wasn’t trying to be snarky by repeating my answer, but I can see why he’d think so.
Really, the scripted back-and-forth is a ridiculous way for two twenty-one-year-olds to have a conversation.
Whatever. Let’s keep this moving.
Looking down, I remind myself of the next question.
“We both know the road to being a great athlete is not easy.” God, that’s cheesy. “What do you think are the most important characteristics for success at your level?”
Rawley looks like he’s drawing from his memory of the talking points he was given from his team.
“Determination. Being a good teammate. A strong work ethic.”
His expression then flips to his more teasing one. “And a sense of humor, loyalty, and humility.”
I can’t help it, I let out a laugh. “Oh, really?”
“Yeah, all of those.” He winks. “If only to impress you.”
I’d love to joke back at him in response, but of course it’s impossible in this setting. All he gets is an eye roll.
“What about you?” he continues, reading the scripted question. “What do you think is important?”
I mentally go through the answers Kayla gave me. “A will to win, while not losing the love of the game. Emerging stronger from setbacks.”
“Not that you had many of those,” he replies. “We…I mean, Texas…lost in the championship game, as you probably know. I don’t want to feel that way ever again. But you won the NCAAs, what, two times?”
He’s gone off-script. The next question is supposed to be something different, about rookie life. Not that I care.
“Three. I was on the bench my freshman year, but we won it that year too.”
His eyes brighten at my response. “So cool. I wish—”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Farah step forward. “Hey, you two, can we stay on task here?” She’s not rude, but I can tell she’s a little irritated.
Rawley’s face holds an unexpected expression briefly…shame? It’s gone in a blink, before I can pinpoint it exactly.
“Okay, sure thing,” he says, his voice smooth.
I slide my finger to the next question on my sheet.
“Next question then.” I give him a small smile of reassurance. He doesn’t need to feel bad. “What’s the hardest part about being a rookie?”
“I might have a different answer once I start rookie minicamp this weekend,” he responds with a wink.
“But it’s not the football itself. It’s having to build relationships from scratch with your team.
I’m grateful to be with the Waves, where I already have such strong ties, and Coach Houston creates a family-like culture. ”
I notice Aiden give a small nod as Rawley finishes. He must have nailed his expected answer.
“So what’s the hardest part about being a rookie for you, since you’ve already started game play?”
“Most WNBA rookies would probably say the same thing. You go from the NCAA tournament in March, to the draft in early April, to training camp at the end of April. It’s been a whirlwind. One I’ve been planning for, for years, and I’m so excited about this season—but it’s been a lot back-to-back.”
Rawley processes what I just said like it’s new information for him. “Oh yeah, I can’t imagine. So no graduation ceremony even though you’re a senior?”
“Right.”
“That kind of sucks—”
Farah clears her throat, a reminder to keep to the sheets we were given. Rawley catches himself, looking sheepish for a moment again, but I’m starting to get annoyed.
“We’re just having a conversation, isn’t that okay? I mean, can’t you cut out what you don’t want?”
Kayla steps in when she hears my annoyance. “I think Farah’s just trying to make sure we get through the questions.”
Farah has the grace to look apologetic. “I don’t mean to come off as rude. There was just a lot of back-and-forth on the topics covered today with the teams.”
No surprise there, and I don’t envy her managing that.
“I understand.” I push a conciliatory tone into my voice. “Next question. Rawley, other than playing for the Waves, what’s got you most excited about Orlando?”
“Well, that one is easy. Having my family here. Landon, and my sister Grace too.” He twists the corner of his paper between his thumb and index finger. “What excites you the most, other than playing hoops?”
“Starting fresh in a new city. Part of that is being on my own for the first time in a real way, feeling like an adult. I’m also excited to explore Orlando more, go to the amusement parks, hang out at the beaches on the coast. The ocean is different here than in the northeast.” I smile at him.
He starts to say something, but stops himself and dips his head toward the sheet at front of me. My turn.
I read the next question. “You and I both have famous family members—wait, are we really going there in this interview?” Farah nods. I had grumbled about this question to Kayla, but I guess my complaining didn’t matter. “Okay. What’s that been like for you?”
Rawley crinkles his brow. He must think the topic is as cringe as I do.
“One positive is that Landon’s shown me how to navigate intense scrutiny without it impacting your success, and he’s been a role model in how to stay focused on football. And that is my priority: football.”
Good answer.
“How about you? Your family has been in the spotlight your entire life.”
“Yeah, obviously it’s been part of my normal,” I acknowledge. “It’ll be nice to have my dad and the rest of my family come to the games when they can.”
The last sentence was one Kayla requested. “One shout-out to your dad is all we ask.”
I continue with a sentence more from my heart. “Though I’m looking forward to making my own name here too.”
“Okay, number one draft pick.” His voice carries an amused tone. “You’ve left your mark on college basketball, that’s for sure.”
I square my eyes at him. “I want that on the pro level.”
His lips turn up and he gives me a nod. “Hard same.”
Farah doesn’t interrupt our chatter this time. Maybe she’s given up.
We whip through the last two questions, sticking to the planned flow. They are supposed to show off our “normal” side, with innocuous personal questions.
What’s your favorite food?
Him: Anything I make myself. I love to cook.
Me: I’m a New England girl and would eat seafood three times a day if I could. And I need my Dunkin coffee.
What music do you listen to when you work out?
Him: Bad Bunny. I wish I understood more Spanish.
Me: Whatever is playing in the gym, but I’ve been listening to classic Selena Gomez a lot lately otherwise.
Once we get through these final questions, Rawley pushes the paper away from him a couple of inches and turns to Farah. “That’s it? That’s what you need?”
“Yes, all set.”
Thank god. We survived.
“Nice doing business with you, Rawley,” I joke.
After hitting the stop button on the recording device, I stand up and stretch my arms out wide, trying to loosen up my shoulders.
Like it’s in slow motion, I catch Rawley’s eyes unmistakably roll up my body in response, from the bottom of my legs all the way to my face. He has an appreciative look in eyes though, not lecherous, which keeps me from feeling uncomfortable about it.
He can look all he wants.
Except after another moment, he stands too, and does more than that.
“I have one more question. After this bonding experience, have I changed your mind about giving me your number?”
I’m reminded of his impressive physical presence as I’m forced to tilt my head up to catch his gaze.
I debate giving my number to him. He’s an interesting guy, and while I wouldn’t break my rule for him on the dating front, hanging out platonically could be fun.
But in the interest of caution, I stick with: “Never gonna happen, Rook.”
He grins and sweeps his sheet of paper off the table in front of him.
“See you around, Avery.”