Chapter 5
Eddie
I’m trying to hype myself up for a week of charity events and holiday festivities.
In my experience, charity is just a fancy word for pity in wrapping paper.
My biggest challenge is keeping the ghost of Christmas past at bay.
I take a deep breath, then refocus my attention to the task at hand: picking out what suit to wear. That’s when I hear a knock at the door.
“Come in,” I yell, knowing it’s Roger, who has a key. He was at a meeting with some Mynt management lady and said he’d be back shortly.
The suite they’ve given me is nice, to say the least. I have a living room, kitchenette and a separate bedroom, plus a balcony overlooking the mountains.
When the door clicks open, I call out from the bedroom. “Do I have to wear a tie?” I stare at the three tie options that are laid out on the bed above the three suit options. I hate suits, but I especially hate ties. They make me feel like I’m being choked.
When Roger fails to appear after a few moments, I walk to the living room. Roger is standing in the entryway with his hands behind his back, like a soldier waiting for orders.
Suddenly, a petite woman appears from behind him. I notice she’s wearing a professional suit jacket with a nametag. My gaze lingers on her big, beautiful brown eyes. I’m caught up in their endless depth, knowing full well I’m staring but not sure how to make myself stop.
I almost jump when she yelps, scrunches up her face, shields her eyes and takes cover behind Roger.
What just happened? Did she see a spider? Is there an intruder lurking behind me?
Roger quickly clarifies. “Eddie, hey, um you don't have to wear a tie, but you do need pants.” He points to my legs, and I look down only to realize I’m in my underwear.
Worse yet, my boxer briefs are bright red and have Cheez-Its on them.
Yes you read that correctly. I am in underwear advertising my favorite snack.
The most eccentric of all my boxer briefs by far.
My eyes go wide as I look back up at Roger and the woman shielding herself behind him. Trying to disguise my complete embarrassment, I calmly say, “I’ll be right back.”
I can feel my face burning, and I know my cheeks are fire-engine red. Why did Roger bring a woman into my room? What is going on?
Once in my room, I throw on some black sweatpants. Maybe I’m hallucinating. Is this just a bad dream? Then, I attempt to nonchalantly walk back out into the living room.
The woman is still there, standing next to Roger. We all stare at each other.
Thankfully, Roger cuts through the awkward silence. “Before we decide about your wardrobe, I want to introduce you to Maya Torres.”
The woman reaches out her hand, and her small smile turns into a wide grin. “Hello, Mr. Evans. Nice to meet you. My apologies for coming in unannounced.”
“It’s entirely Roger’s fault,” I reply with a scowl in Roger’s direction.
“Yes, so sorry about that.” Roger stifles a chuckle.
I notice Maya purses her lips together, trying to hold in a smirk.
Roger pipes up again. “Well, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, onto business. Eddie, Maya will be your resort host for the week.”
Maya nods with a smile. Seeing her face light up triggers a tightness in my chest.
At that moment, I register what Roger said. I narrow my eyes and cross my arms in front of my chest. “Wait, host…What exactly does that mean?”
Maya clasps her hands together in front of her waist. “As your Mynt Peak Resort host, I am available for anything you need. I will escort you to and from your events and show you around our amazing venue. I’ve compiled a list of activities in the beautiful city of Winterbrook that you might enjoy.
Anything you’d like to do, I’ll make it happen. ”
I don’t want to do any extra activities. I don’t want to do any of the things listed on the itinerary this week. I was planning to skip as many as possible.
My muscles tense. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
I notice Maya’s expression fall momentarily. In the next instant, her smile returns. She opens her mouth to respond, when I hear Roger’s voice. “Eddie, can I talk to you for a moment?” Roger grasps my shoulder and pushes me toward the bedroom. “We’ll be right back, Maya.”
When we’re in the bedroom, Roger points his finger at me.
“Maya seems like a sweet young woman. She’s just doing her job, which is to accompany you to Mynt to Make a Difference events.
Reach deep down inside that steel heart of yours and find some holiday spirit.
” Then he drops his finger and says, “Please, Eddie. For the sponsorship.”
I run a hand through my hair. It’s rare for Roger to use his tough love persona. It’s the jolt I need though. “You’re right. I’m sorry. This is just…not easy for me.”
“I know.” Roger grips my shoulder. “But you love tennis, and if you want to continue your career, we need this. If it helps, don’t think of it as a vacation, but as a part of training. PR training. Social skills training…with a holiday theme.”
I sigh. “I do love training.”
“That’s the spirit! Come on now, let’s go mingle and jingle!”
This is happening. I’ve got to pull it together. Be a professional. As much as I hate to admit it, PR is a part of the job. Not one I’ve ever excelled at, but maybe this is an area I could try to improve in this week.
Sponsorship. Training. I repeat to myself. Focus on the big picture. Keep your why in mind. Then, I think of my dad’s words to me when I would complain about conditioning or doing my school work. He’d always say, If you want to be a champion, you’ve got to put in the work on and off the court.
I need to succeed in tennis, which means I need to do my best this week. Not just for myself, not for Roger, but for my family too.