Chapter 1
Layla:
Hello Hayes, I hope you don’t mind me messaging you, but I’m friends with Maverick and Annabelle and she gave me your number. I was hoping we could touch base about the Fall Festival I’m organizing, so I can provide you with some details.
Hayes:
What’s up.
Layla:
First I want to say Thank You so Much for agreeing to do this. I understand you’re very busy and your season starts in a few months, but knowing you’re going to be there to draw a crowd gets me SO excited.
Hayes:
Yup.
Layla:
Yeah, so. Besides the dates that I’ve already emailed to your agent and manager, were there any questions you have?
Hayes:
Nope.
Layla:
Okay, good. Just wanted to make sure you didn’t have any concerns. Schedules can get messy.
Hayes:
I’ll be there.
Layla:
Great. And you’re okay with all the flight information? Do you think you’ll need a driver to pick you up from the airport?
Hayes:
Doubt it.
Layla:
Okay, cool, cool. Um. If you decide you’d like to be picked up, please just shoot me a text and I’ll have it handled.
Hayes:
Gotcha.
Layla:
Right.
Layla:
I’ll send you the information for the Lodge again closer to the event. It’s roughly an hour and a half ride to the airport from Star Lake.
Hayes:
Yup.
Layla:
You don’t have to sound so thrilled . . .
Hayes:
Not much of a texter.
Layla:
Got it. I’m sorry if I’m coming off as annoying. Event planning mode has me feeling intense.
Hayes:
You’re not annoying.
Layla:
Was that a compliment?
Hayes:
No.
Layla:
LOL
Layla:
Well, either way, thank you again. Everyone in the office is excited you’re coming to help us out. Especially since you’re bringing your daughter.
Hayes:
Yup. She’s been counting down the days.
Layla:
That makes me so happy to hear. How old is she again?
Hayes:
Nine. Going on twenty-five.
Layla:
What’s she most excited about?
Hayes:
Trees, woods. Mountains. Swimming.
Layla:
Good news then. Star Lake has plenty of that.
Hayes:
She’ll love it.
Hayes:
She doesn’t usually get this excited about trips—she sees the inside of too many boring hotel rooms. So. Thanks for giving her something to look forward to.
Layla:
You’re welcome. And tell her I’ll make sure she gets the *very best* view of the lake. Perks of knowing the event organizer.
Hayes:
Cool.
Layla:
Perfect. Oh, and just so I cover all my bases—are you bringing a significant other? I want to make sure all your needs are being met.
Hayes:
Didn’t realize event organizers offered that level of customer service.
Layla:
Shit.
Layla:
No!! Not like That. By “all your needs” I meant—do you need more rooms booked? Extra space? Privacy?
Layla:
Ha ha. Delete that from your memory immediately.
Layla:
Setting aside my accidental proposition, do you need additional rooms?
Hayes:
Nope. Just me and my kid.
Layla:
Copy that. Double-checking because the Lodge books up fast during Fall Fest. We’ve got wood-carving demos, a chili cook-off, pie-eating contest, live music on the dock and as you may have heard from Harris: Lumberjacks.
Hayes:
Great. My daughter will eat that shit up.
Layla:
Do either of you have any allergies? Logistical needs? Requests? I can prepare a rider for you if you’d like . . .
Hayes:
I’m not a celebrity—I don’t need a rider.
Layla:
Okay. Just asking . . .
Hayes:
No allergies. No wrangler. I’m in and out with a few dips in the lake. No special snacks unless you want to add sour gummies to the welcome basket. She loves anything blue.
Layla:
Perfect. I should mention that while the lake is big and gorgeous and will have tons of activity . . . the water isn’t going to be warm. Since it’s fall and all.
Hayes:
Kids don’t usually give a shit. She’ll be fine. And for what it’s worth, thanks for thinking about my kid.
Layla:
Of course. What kind of monster ignores a nine-year-old’s need to swim in a lake?
Hayes:
A tired one.
Layla:
Are you tired?
Hayes:
Always.
Layla:
Sorry. I forget that being a professional athlete probably isn’t all it’s cracked up to be or what you see on television.
Hayes:
Naw. It’s mostly ice baths and being told I played like shit and being screamed at.
Layla:
Well, consider this your official Star Lake guarantee: I will tell you what you’re doing right and have you smiling at least once.
Hayes:
Is that part of the customer service package?
Layla:
Gold tier. Comes with a smile!
Layla:
Speaking of packages . . .
Hayes:
Careful now . . .
Layla:
I’m talking about the welcome one we give VIPs! T-shirt, hiking trail map, coupons for the coffee shop and free kayak rental. Your daughter will get her own, obviously.
Hayes:
I’m sure she’ll be open to all of that.
Layla:
A girl after my own heart.
Hayes:
She’s excited because it’s not a hotel in a city where I play and she waits in the green room while I do media.
Layla:
Does she travel with you a lot?
Hayes:
As often as I can bring her along, as long as I can keep an eye on her and not leave her with a caregiver.
Layla:
Awww. Love that.
Layla:
Can I ask a logistical question?
Hayes:
Go ahead.
Layla:
Are you comfortable doing a quick Q&A on the main stage? Nothing invasive. Favorite pre-game meal, advice to kids who want to play sports. That sort of thing. Fun stuff.
Hayes:
I can do that.
Layla:
Random, non-logistical question: what do you do for fun that’s not football?
Hayes:
Build stuff in my garage.
Layla:
Like what—birdhouses?
Hayes:
Shelves. Benches.
Hayes:
I also love yard work. Is that weird?
Layla:
Weird? Only if you name your hedge trimmer.
Hayes:
Negative, hedge trimmer is unnamed.
Layla:
Do you have opinions about mulch??
Hayes:
Dark over red. Clean edge trim. Straight lines when I mow.
Layla:
Be still my beating heart—a man who respects a crisp edge.