Chapter 23
CHAPTER 23
Ben
“Have you read this?” David dropped the newspaper onto the kitchen counter.
“No, I read the news like a normal person—online.” I went back to the sandwich I had been making for Asher.
“Well, this is the kind of news that makes headlines in the actual papers,” he said. “Which means, it’s big.”
“What’s the news?”
“Kayla is talking about writing a tell-all about the time she spent with you.”
“What?” I laughed then stopped when I saw the serious expression on David’s face. “You’re full of shit.”
“I’m not.” He picked up the paper again and opened it, walking over to me as he tipped it for me to see the headline. It read: Golden Boy Benjamin Drake’s Rusty Past.
“Why would they give her this kind of attention?” I yanked the paper from his hand and read the words beneath the headline.
“Maybe because you’re such a mystery to them,” David suggested.
“Jesus Christ, David. You’re supposed to make sure this kind of shit doesn’t happen.” I slammed the paper down. “What about Asher? Did she say anything about him?”
“Not yet, but my guess is that will be part of the tell-all. You should have had her sign an NDA.”
“When? When I was fourteen years old and living with my fucking parents? When I was dealing with my brother Ezra’s death? When was I going to make her sign this NDA? I just found out what an NDA is a few years ago!” I threw up my hands and started pacing the kitchen.
“Is everything okay, Daddy?” Asher ran into the kitchen. “Is my sandwich done? My tummy is hungry.”
“Yes, buddy. Everything’s fine.” I took a deep breath and let it out, picking up his plate and setting it down on the small table where he liked to sit. “I put pastrami in it, just like you like.”
“Mommy always puts pastrami.” He took a bite. “And salami.”
“Well, your mother has me beat once again.” I winked at him, then turned to David and whispered, “Tamara is going to kill me.”
“She’s going to kill me too.” David took out his phone. “I’m going to call Idris.”
“You haven’t called him? Isn’t the lawyer the first person you should call when you see something like this?” I paused. “Shit. I have to tell Pilar.”
“I’m sure she already knows about it.”
“All the more reason I should call her.” I picked up the phone and dialed. “I have practice at three today. You’ll take Asher to the playground while I’m there?” I looked at David.
“Of course.” He smiled at Ash. “We’re going to the museum. Right, buddy?”
“Yes, and we’re going for ice cream.”
“Not too much ice cream,” I warned.
“What’s too much ice cream?” Pilar asked in my ear, startling me. I walked out of the kitchen to find a quiet spot. “Nothing. I was talking to David. So, have you seen the news?”
“How could I not?”
“And?”
“And what?” she waited.
“How do you feel about it?”
“I think she’s crazy, and you need to do some serious damage control before it gets out of hand.”
“I’m not asking you for public relations advice, Pilar. I asked how you felt about it.”
She was quiet for a moment. When she spoke again, her voice was almost a whisper, “I don’t love it.”
“Why?” I held my breath. Why was I asking and feeling as if my life depended on the answer she gave?
“For starters, I know this can’t be easy for you. You’ve done such a good job of keeping most of your personal life out of the limelight. I didn’t even know you had a brother before I met you. And, well, I don’t like that she has so much insight to begin with.” She was quiet for a long moment. “I’m jealous.”
“You have nothing to be jealous about,” I said but couldn’t help my smile.
“I feel like I don’t know you, not like she does.”
“You do know me. I want you to know me.” I sighed, suddenly wishing we were having this conversation face-to-face. “Come by the arena later. I have practice at three, but we can do something afterwards.”
“Will I get to watch you practice?”
“Do you want to watch me?”
“I would kill to watch you practice,” she said, a squeak in her voice. I laughed.
“Come by a little before three. I’ll let security know to be on the lookout for a very important fan.”
“Number one fan, you mean.”
“You’re my number one fan?”
“Of course, I am.”
I was smiling so hard, my face hurt. Jesus, I felt like a kid again. I looked over at Asher, who was finishing his lunch. I knew he would come running soon. I needed to tell Pilar about him. I would later today. We hung up, and I spent the rest of my afternoon with Asher until I needed to head to the arena for practice.