Chapter Eight
“I WANT TO TELL you a story. Once upon a time there was a boy who really, really loved sports. Every chance he got, he practiced. Good weather. Bad weather. He worked at becoming the best he could be. And you know what? It paid off. He became a superstar.
“But then you know what happened? He stopped working so hard. He started taking his skills for granted. He developed bad habits. He told himself, ‘I’m a superstar. I don’t need to practice that much.
’ For a while, he got away with it. Eventually though, his athletic skill started to slip.
Suddenly, he wasn’t the superstar anymore.
He was just a guy with a lot of bad habits who’d forgotten what was really important. ”
Susan sat in a far row of the indoor facility listening to Lewis tell the youth ambassadors his story.
He’d told her last night that he wanted to use the opportunity to teach the kids what happened when they lost sight of what mattered.
It was impressive, how honest Lewis was being about his own failings.
Heartbreaking too, when you realized how much his partying had cost him.
Thank goodness he’d seen the light before the lifestyle killed him.
Otherwise, the world would be a bleaker place.
Not to mention her bed. She smiled recalling the last few nights.
Since the night Noel was born, the two of them had been engaged in a full-fledged affair, and it was better than she could have imagined.
The way Lewis touched her when they made love made her feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.
It was going to be awfully hard going back to life without him after their fake love affair was over.
Something inside her cracked a little at the thought. They’d attend a few more events, the company party and then say goodbye. Unless, that is, they needed to continue the arrangement a little while longer.
How sad was that? Hoping Lewis’s image didn’t improve enough so she could keep him in her life a few weeks longer.
“He’s doing a marvelous job. Goes to show people love a good redemption story. Even kids.”
A man she didn’t recognize sat down in the seat next to her.
“Michael Ryder,” he said.
So this was the infamous Michael, Lewis’s agent. He looked like a talent agent. His pinstriped suit was very expensive and his hair very styled. He also obviously had a penchant for cigars. The scent clung to his clothes. Trying not to wrinkle her nose, Susan shifted herself a little farther away.
“I have to admit,” he said after they’d shaken hands, “that when Lewis first came up with this crazy scheme, I had my doubts. But it looks like it might have some value after all. He never would have scored an event like this without you.”
On the field, the kids broke out in laughter over something Lewis had said. “He doesn’t need me to help him secure speaking engagements,” Susan replied. “He’s perfectly capable of charming people on his own.”
Ryder smirked. “Spoken like a true loyal girlfriend.”
“Don’t have to be a girlfriend to recognize his abilities.”
“Wow. You’re good. I can see why Lewis was so keen on partnering up with you.”
“Is there something I can do for you, Mr. Ryder?” Susan decided she didn’t like the man. He was too keen on reminding her she wasn’t Lewis’s real girlfriend.
“I came by to tell you that Personal Magazine is interested in doing a story about the two of you. A reporter’s going to sit down with you both next week.”
“Great. Lewis will be thrilled.”
“Yeah. They loved the whole love as the redeemer angle. They’re bringing a photographer to get some shots of you both at Lewis’s apartment. Readers love that homey behind-the-scenes stuff. You have been to his apartment, haven’t you?” he asked in a low voice.
“Yes.” Just the past night, as a matter of fact. Although his tone was so annoying she wouldn’t have admitted if the answer was no.
“Good. Make sure you know where all the glassware and stuff is. We want to ensure you look at home. Know what I mean?”
“Why don’t I leave some intimates on the bathroom floor to really hammer home the message?”
“Funny. Stick to leaving an extra toothbrush.”
“Fine. I’ll make sure to buy one tonight.” She seriously did not like this man. “Unless there’s something else you need to discuss, I’d like to continue watching Lewis.”
Unfortunately though, it looked like she’d missed the end of his talk.
The kids were breaking into groups for some kind of skills training.
While the volunteers played shepherd, Lewis walked to a nearby bench and stripped off his sweatshirt.
Susan’s eyes automatically sought out the strip of skin on his back that came exposed when his shirt pulled up.
He had the most beautiful back. She loved watching the muscles play across his shoulders when he moved his arms. She loved running her hands over those shoulders too.
“Oh, man, you’ve got it bad.”
Hadn’t the agent moved on? Susan slid her gaze sideways. “I beg your pardon?” she asked.
“The look on your face. You look like you’re worshipping the guy.
” Susan rolled her eyes. “Don’t get me wrong,” Ryder said.
“If you look at him like that during the interview, there won’t be a person alive who won’t believe you’re not madly in love.
Problem will be getting him to look at you the same way.
The Lewis I know has trouble remembering girls’ names. ”
So did the Lewis she knew. “That was when he was drinking,” Susan said. “He’s not the same person now.”
“Only, I’m not sure sobriety translates into acting skills. If he were really a one-woman man we wouldn’t be doing this crap.”
The man made a very good, albeit harsh, point. One that settled hard in the pit of her stomach.
“You needn’t worry. Lewis knows how to put on a show when he has to.”
“Good.” The agent started to stand, only to sit back down. “Hey, do yourself a favor, will you? Don’t get too sucked in by our boy.”
“Don’t worry,” Susan replied. “I’m not stupid. I know exactly where I stand with Lewis.”
Besides, his warning was too little, too late. She was already irreparably sucked in.
When Lewis was a kid and played his first game in net, he had been on top of the world.
Sure, it was only a street game, but he remembered how it had felt like he’d won the World Cup.
He’d succeeded and the neighborhood kids liked him.
Over the years, he’d had many moments of victory, but as amazing as they were, none had the pureness of that first game.
Until today.
He lay prone on the turf, the smell of rubber backing tickling his nose. “That’s it,” he said. “I’m done.”
Thirty-six kids faced off with him. Thirty-six kids beat him and scored.
Lewis had to work harder than he’d ever worked to make sure each ball just missed his outstretched hands.
By the tenth or eleventh goal, the kids knew he was letting them win, but they didn’t care.
If the laughter was any indication, they were having too much fun. So was Lewis.
Pushing himself to his knees, he blew the whistle around his neck. “All right. Fun as it’s been, we’ve got to pack it up.” A loud moan filled the facility, pumping him even higher. “What’s with the booing? You’re going to a Christmas party! With cake.”
That got them moving to the sidelines quickly.
A girl, who looked to be around nine years old, approached him. “Mr. Matolo? Can I take a selfie with you?”
“Sure. Give it over and we’ll take a proper one,” he said. How much things had changed. When he was nine, he barely knew what a cell phone was let alone had one stashed in his equipment bag. And when he was playing, he’d been too arrogant to give fans the proper time.
He stayed on his knees so the two of them would be the same height.
Of course, as soon as the others saw what was happening, more came running over with their phones to do the same.
Not all though. Several of the kids looked over and went back to their bags.
Lewis noticed a couple pulling out scraps of paper including one who tore off part of his lunch bag.
Some things hadn’t changed after all. There were still kids going without.
An idea came to him. Cupping his hands into a megaphone, he called into the stands.
“Hey, Susie! Come here for a moment, and bring your phone.” He smiled as she got up and started toward the stairs.
Susan didn’t know it, but she’d been his good luck charm.
Knowing she was in the stands, believing in him, gave him the courage to tell his story.
He loved the way she believed in him. Every time he looked in her direction, an empowering warmth spread through his insides.
Different from the heat of attraction, it made him want to prove her trust wasn’t misplaced.
“Mr. Matolo? Can I have your autograph?” It was the kid with the torn lunch bag bringing him back to the moment at hand.
“Hold on for one minute,” Lewis told him. “I need to make a quick announcement.”
He cupped his hands once again. “If anyone wants to take a picture, but doesn’t have a camera, come get in line. My friend will take the pictures and have Mr. Redmayne send you a copy.” Surely the director wouldn’t mind doing a little extra to make sure the kids were happy.
While waiting for Susan, he signed paper scraps and several of the kids’ T-shirts. He was in the middle of writing on one kid’s shoulder when he noticed a shadow fall across the crowd.
“I owe you an apology,” Graham Montclark said. “I came by because Chris was a nervous wreck over hiring you. You never mentioned you were a motivational speaker when you made your offer the other night.”
“I’m not,” Lewis replied. “I simply told these kids the truth. If it stops one of them from making the same mistakes I made, all the better.”
The other man digested his words. Lewis hoped they’d come out as sincerely as intended. A word from Graham Montclark would be the in he needed.