Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Renn
Media Darling
“Hey, brother, how have you been enjoying your first few weeks as the latest star boy in sports news?” Levi said, over the constant sound of the smack of the ball in the Sandy Point batting cages.
Renn had just driven back into town for the weekend before the season started the following week. It’d been a crazy couple of weeks of constant paparazzi, media, and training.
“Honestly it’s enough to make me wonder if I made the right decision.”
Levi laughed. “It’s wild, right, the audacity of how much they think they know about you or are entitled to say about you.”
“I can’t believe you dealt with this for years.”
“Don’t worry, they’ll get tired of you soon enough. Just avoid giving them anything new.”
“Between practice and the PR schedule the team sets up, I don’t see how I’d have time to do much else.
I had to threaten them just to get this trip home so I could help out with the barn rebuild.
” He knew Levi had planned to be home this weekend and it was his first legitimate excuse to come home and see Miranda, who was still not taking his calls.
“Well, you might regret that decision tomorrow when it’s a hundred degrees and you’re helping me install the new barn door. At least we can start at the crack of dawn since the horses won’t be there to get in our way,” Levi said.
“Wait, where are all the horses?”
Levi stopped swinging the bat and moved to the fencing to speak to Renn face to face.
“Miranda moved them all out to her new gig at Dixon Ranch. They left yesterday.”
“What?”
“I figured you knew since every paper said you fell into her love trap. I thought you only agreed to come help because you knew she’d be gone?”
“There was no trap. I only wish it was that easy to get that girl to commit.”
“Interesting. Well, she accepted the job as a wrangler for Dixon, where she’ll help them rebuild their stock and build up her own breeding chops.
Jeremy was really excited to get started with the football team I hear you played for in high school.
And apparently there are better therapy resources for Sara closer to the big city. You didn’t know any of this?”
“No. She said she doesn’t have time for me and my spotlight and doesn’t want to drag me down.”
“That’s code for she doesn’t think she’s good enough for you and she’s too insecure to see how much you care about her.”
“I don’t know … She was pretty distant and convincing.”
“Well, I heard from Wes—who lives with Shelby, who is besties with Miranda—that she’s been heartbroken over you.”
Renn instantly felt like he’d been punched in the gut. He’d planned to see her this weekend and beg her to reconsider long distance again.
“But maybe she’s right, you do need to focus on your games as quarterback, and she does have some baggage.”
“Don’t talk about her like that. I’d be more focused if the media would stop bashing her and worrying about who I’m dating.”
“Oh, I know, I was just trying to see how much you care about her. Sounds like you’re in love but haven’t done anything about it to prove it to her. No wonder she told you to leave her alone.”
“Is this some kind of Jedi mind trick or tough love? Because it sucks. What are you telling me?”
“Your girl thinks you don’t love her and she’s not good enough for you. She was willing to give you up so her tarnished reputation doesn’t hurt yours.”
Renn kicked the dirt. “And I didn’t fight her enough on it. Even though I told her I wanted to have a long-distance relationship, instead I gave her the space she asked for.”
“Yup. But there are other ways to show a girl you care about her. I’d suggest you use that big media spotlight you have to your advantage.”
“You don’t think telling them all to stop talking trash about her will just embarrass her?”
“Not if you make it clear she’s your girl and if they don’t, you’ll crush them. Then I’d go out and dominate the field in your upcoming season opener. Then they’ll have to stop talking trash about your relationship and your game.”
“But Miranda said the press was hurting her business prospects. What if she gets more upset with me?”
“If anything it legitimizes her connection with you, which as of now everyone assumes was just a hookup gone bad. And yet it didn’t stop Dixon from hiring her.”
“You know I think you might be enjoying this big brother thing too much,” Renn said.
“What can I say? I know it all,” Levi said, getting back in his batting stance. “Now go see Gran and be ready to build a barn door at six in the morning.”
“Thanks, Levi.”
“You just remember which brother gives you the best advice.”
After chatting with Levi, Renn called his agent and asked them to book him a few more interviews before the big game.
He wanted to make it clear Miranda was his girl and he didn’t want anyone talking smack about her.
If he took more control over the messaging, then they’d repeat what he said.
He just hoped Levi was right, because he was about to tell the world and Miranda just how much he cared about her.