Chapter 27
JORDAN
Libby and I drive into work together on Monday morning.
The three interviews that have been set up start at eleven a.m., but we both have work to do before that.
Libby wants to go over the notes I’ve made for her so they’re fresh in her mind.
I will sit in the back with Valerie to observe and add my thoughts later, but I don’t want to interrupt.
I’m just her consultant in this situation, not an actual co-owner.
I also need to try and get a hold of the bank contact Mitchell gave me.
When I don’t have an email response from her by ten, I call the number Mitchell sent with the contact.
It goes straight to a voicemail that says she’ll be out of the office this week, but she is responding to emails when she can.
So all I can do is send off another email indicating that I need the information about Mitchell’s deposit as soon as possible and sit back to do more waiting.
And by that I mean going into Libby’s office to prep with her, even though my wife is very distracting.
I suspected that Libby had feelings for me as well before I told her about mine.
Knowing that for sure—being aware that if I wanted to, I could walk across the room and pull her into my arms for a mind-numbing kiss—is a whole other thing.
Because I can’t. Not being able to control myself and my desires is the exact opposite of what I’m trying to show her—the guy I want to prove to her that I am. Someone who respects us both enough not to settle for a physical relationship without the emotional bond.
There’s a tap on the door and Valerie, Libby’s assistant, pokes her head in.
“Libby? Erin is here for the show. They want to get things set up in the lobby and check all the lighting, and she sent me up to get you so they can do a makeup check.” Valerie looks over at me, indicating that I’m included in this.
Libby sets down the iPad she was using and stands. “Okay, let’s go.” She slips her hand into mine as we follow Valerie out of the office.
I glance down at her. We’ve pared down our physical interactions in the last week, but I never stop her when she initiates contact. “You good?” I ask softly.
“Yeah. I still get a little nervous right before we start filming, even though I did this for years.” She leans her head into my arm for a second and then straightens.
“I want so badly to change my image and use this show to do a lot of good, the way my sisters did when we were filming Being the Bennets. I think I’m letting the pressure of my goals get to me.
” She pauses when we reach the elevator to take us down to the lobby.
“But being beside you has a way of calming me.” She holds up our hands. “This okay?” she whispers.
“Every time,” I whisper back. I start to lean over to kiss her but then pull away hurriedly. It’s crazy how quickly acting like a couple became second nature but how hard it is to scale that back.
By the time we reach the bottom floor, Libby’s still holding my hand, but her expression is cool and calm.
One of the production assistants meets us and gives us a rundown of the couple hours they’ll be around today—mostly they focus on Libby.
I’m often an afterthought, which is fine with me.
She’s the star of the show. They explain about the consent they have from the men being interviewed and let Libby glance over them, before we part ways for the makeup check, and to check our mic and cameras.
Then we meet back up in the lobby with Liam and Dan, who’ve come down from their offices.
We all head into the conference room, where we’ll be holding the interviews.
I take a seat in a row of chairs behind the conference table that Libby, Dan, and Liam are sitting on one side of.
Valerie takes the seat beside me. She sets up her phone on a small tripod on the table next to her to record the interviews for me and Libby to go over later together, since we won’t be discussing anything in this room.
“Anyone have thoughts before we start?” Libby asks Liam and Dan as we all settle into our chairs.
“I definitely have a favorite already,” Dan says, “but I don’t want to say now so that we all have open minds.”
“Same here,” Libby echoes, and Liam nods as well.
Valerie finishes setting up the phone and reaches into a plastic bin sitting next to her chair. She hands me a water, grabs several more to set in front of the others, and then sets one on the opposite side of the table, where the interviewee will sit.
She makes eye contact with Libby when she’s done, and Libby nods at her. “Go ahead and send Coach Cooper in. We’re ready.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I slip it out.
Libby
Here goes my first big act as owner of the Denver White Wolves. *crossing-fingers emoji*
Jordan
You’re going to be awesome.
She glances back at me and then flips her phone over on the table as Andrew Cooper walks in, followed by Erin, the show’s assistant director.
The camera guys who are stationed in two opposite corners come to life, and Erin takes a seat in the room to watch the action.
She explained to me once, when I asked her why she was taking notes while we filmed last week, that the notes are about moments she thinks should be in the episode and how they play into that week’s storyline.
Andrew gives her a glance, checks out the two cameras, and then pulls out his chair and sits down, looking as calm as anyone else in the room.
It’s one of the reasons I’ve pulled for Libby to hire him as head coach.
In the few preseason games I’ve watched him coach, he always keeps his head, even in tight or stressful situations.
He definitely yells and gets excited for the guys, but he’s never over the top.
Libby, Liam, and Dan all greet him, and they chat for a few seconds about his family before Libby asks the first question.
“Coach Cooper, can you tell us about why you became a coach? Let us know about what brought you here?”
“Absolutely.” Andrew takes a big breath.
“Honestly, I didn’t go as far as a player as I’d always hoped.
You all know I spent a couple seasons at the pro level but never really saw the ice that much before I was cut and wasn’t re-signed anywhere else.
At first coaching was a way for me to make peace with letting go of my dream, and then I found my purpose in helping other guys achieve the things I couldn’t—or being here for the guys that don’t get called up, year after year. ”
Good answer, I think. Andrew’s about ten years older than me, so I never played with him, but the guys I’ve spoken to who have played with him all had great things to say about him.
“We love that empathy you bring to the team, Andy,” Dan says. “Tell us about your core values as a coach.”
The questions go on for over two hours, with Andrew keeping the same easygoing attitude throughout.
His answers about his philosophy for the White Wolves, how he wants to manage players and the team as a whole when things are rough, his commitment to getting involved in the community—they’re all genuine and impressive.
Everyone in the room is impressed with him.
It’s going to be tough for the other guys that follow.
When the questions are over, he leans across the table to shake hands with his bosses and thanks them for the opportunity before walking out. Libby shares a look with Liam and Dan that says she’s just as impressed as I am.
I send a quick text to Libby before they bring in the next guy.
Jordan
He’s definitely your guy.
Her answering text shows our thoughts are pretty aligned.
Libby
That’s going to be hard to beat.