Chapter Four
EVA
The fluorescence of the fourteenth-floor conference room at our headquarters always makes the bright lights of a stadium look like a sunset in paradise.
I should really talk to my dad about this later.
It’s long overdue, and now that I’m working here, I’m going to make it happen.
These lights are bringing on a headache, and they need to go.
I tap my pen against the mahogany table, watching my executive producer, Mario, scroll through a spreadsheet on the massive wall monitor.
I could lay this whole meeting out in my sleep and probably in half the time as Mario, but it’s not my time yet.
So, I sit here like a good minion and take notes like he’s telling me things I don’t already know.
Although I am curious about the direction he wants to take with this week’s interview.
“Okay, people, the ratings for opening week were incredible,” he says, leaning back in his ergonomic chair, rubbing his hands together.
“The network is riding high on the whole Walker University connection in this conference in particular. Audiences apparently love seeing Liam Pitz, Bo Callaway, Silas Arbuckle, and all three Griffith brothers dominating prime-time slots.” He looks at all of us around the table.
“Which brings us to this week. We’re doing a production package ahead of the Titans and Cowboys game.
It’ll be an on-site feature. We have a sit-down interview with Aston Griffith the day before at the team’s training facility. ”
I should have expected this sooner or later, but it doesn’t stop my heart from doing a sharp thud against my ribs. It’s been two weeks since I stood on the sideline, pretending to be unaffected while my skin felt like it was burning from being that close to Aston.
“We’re looking for something deeper than the standard boilerplate,” Mario continues, tapping his Apple Pencil against the table.
“We want Aston to open up about playing in the league with his brothers and what it’s like to be raised in a family among giant, elite athletes.
The fans want to see human-interest pieces in these one-on-one interviews.
They want to know what he’s like off the field. ”
I try to swallow the dry lump in my throat, forcing my professional persona to slip into place like armor.
“I can do that, Mario. I’ll structure the prep with Samantha so we can steer the questions directly into the family dynamic.
Plus, I went to college with a lot of these guys and know the Griffith family pretty well.
We can open with the Dallas matchup since he’ll be playing against Archie and use that as a natural bridge into the rest of the family. ”
“Excellent.” Mario nods, already moving to the next slide. “I didn’t realize you had a connection to the Griffiths. Keep it intimate and get him talking about his twin too. This will really pull in ratings.”
“Understood,” I say, marking a note down on my notepad with a surprisingly steady hand.
As the meeting rolls into travel logistics for other production teams, Aston hijacks my brain again.
I thought by now, the idea of seeing him frequently would stop the butterflies in my belly, that I could cement the unbothered facade I carefully constructed on the field.
The truth is, I’m still a little hurt and frustrated with him.
Every time he pops into my head, I think about waking up alone.
My eyes drift to the window, watching the city traffic below, and another truth slithers in. I’m anxious about seeing him, yes, but beneath my aggravation with him, there’s a traitorous ache.
I wouldn’t mind a repeat.
In fact, if he put me against the wall the way he did at the wedding, I’d no doubt let him fuck me all over again. And that realization irritates me more than his actual ghosting.
“Okay, that’s a wrap,” Mario says, snapping his laptop shut. “Eva, you and Sam will head over to the Titans’ training facility on Thursday morning. Let’s make this interview stand out, yeah?”
“You got it,” I say, gathering my things as everyone starts to leave the room.
But do I “got it”? I guess I’ll find out on Thursday.
The media room inside the Titans’ sprawling practice facility has been transformed.
We cleared out the usual press conference podium, dressing the space in deep team colors with soft, cinematic lighting that mutes the sterile, athletic vibe. Through the double glass doors, you can hear the faint sounds from the weight room and the general buzz that comes with a top-notch NFL team.
The cameras are locked into position, the lenses trained on the chairs positioned in the center of the room and one in a beautiful two-shot.
I stay in the shadows behind camera two, my headset pressed to my ears, a clipboard clutched against my chest. Sam is already in her chair, clipping her microphone to her collar.
Then Aston walks in.
He’s wearing gray track pants and a fitted navy-blue T-shirt with the Titans logo on it that shows off every single muscle he’s worked hard for in the weight room.
His dirty-blond hair is slicked back, and he’s got just the right amount of scruff on his face.
He carries himself into the room in that easy, athletic grace like he owns the building.
He thanks the audio tech who clips the mic to his collar, and as he sits down, his eyes sweep the dim room and land right on me.
A subtle, nearly imperceptible shift crosses his face with a sexy, lingering gaze that makes goose bumps scatter along my forearms. I don’t blink though. I just give a nod to the camera operator and speak into Sam’s earpiece.
“We’re locked, Sam.” I talk low into my mic, even though I could speak loudly without a mic in this room and be heard easily.
I like to keep things intimate for one-on-one interviews, so Sam and I use the earpieces and microphones so the interviewee is never interrupted by production. “Cameras are rolling.”
Sam gives a tiny nod. “Thanks for meeting me today, Aston. Ready to dive in?”
“Glad to be here, Sam. Yep, I’m ready.” He smiles, and I swear his eyes twinkle.
“Okay, let’s get to it then. You have a big weekend ahead. You’re facing the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday, which means you’re lining up across from your oldest brother, Archie, who is an anchor for their offensive line. What’s the mental preparation like when you’re going up against your family?”
Aston leans back, a handsome smile breaking across his face.
“You know, it’s strange, watching film, because I’ve been watching Archie play since I was a young kid.
I look up to him, of course. And his approach to the game—his discipline, his technique—has set the standard.
I have an unbelievable amount of respect for him.
” He pauses, his eyes flicking over to me for a brief second.
“But once the whistle blows on Sunday, he’s just the guy blocking my path to the quarterback.
I love him to death, but I’m still gonna try putting him in the dirt. ”
Sam laughs. The chemistry between them feels smooth and natural.
“Spoken like a true younger brother. Now, your family has become something of a legend in sports. A household that produced three NFL powerhouses and an NHL golden boy. Where does that gene come from? Tell me what it was like to grow up in the Griffith household.”
“It was loud.” Aston laughs, his voice rich and relaxed.
“And competitive. We grew up on a ranch in Texas, which I’m sure you know, so we didn’t have a whole lot of time for sitting around.
Our dad has been a cowboy and a rancher his whole life, so we started doing chores at a young age.
Waking up before dawn, hauling hay, fixing fences.
Dad didn’t care if we’d had a game the night before; the cattle still had to be fed in the morning.
I think that’s where the work ethic for all of us came from.
Our mom and dad didn’t tolerate laziness. ”
“And the athletic pipeline doesn’t seem to be stopping with the four of you,” Sam leads into the transition smoothly. “Your two younger brothers are still at home. Do they plan to follow in your footsteps?”
“Yeah, Austin is a hell of a baseball player,” Aston says, his eyes lighting up with genuine pride.
“He’s got a nasty fastball, so he’ll likely play in college next year.
And the youngest, Jesse, plays football and baseball.
We’re not sure where he’ll end up yet. He’s probably the most athletic out of all of us, but I’d never admit that to his face. ”
I soften a little, listening to him talk about his family. The Griffith family is amazing—fiercely loyal and completely grounded despite the fame and big-money contracts. During my short time around them when I was dating Ace, I saw how protective they were of one another. They’re a tight unit.
“Now, we can’t talk about your family without mentioning your twin,” Sam says, her voice dropping into a more intimate, conversational tone. “Ace is having a spectacular start down in Florida. What’s that bond like, being twins in the same league, playing within the same conference?”
Aston looks over at me, our eyes locking. The relaxed, sprawling posture he’s had this whole interview tightens just a fraction. He keeps his expression controlled for the camera, but I can see the intensity in his eyes.
“Our bond is unbreakable,” Aston says, his voice carrying a weight that goes straight to my chest. He keeps his answers about Ace short, but the sincerity is undeniable.
“We’re twins. We’ve shared everything since the womb.
I praise him every chance I get because I know how hard he works, and he knows how hard I work.
We’re incredibly close; no matter what side of the line we’re on, that’ll never change.
” He watches me the entire time he speaks, almost like he’s testing me.