Page 68 of Mad Love
The press conference is painful. I knew it would be.
I try to keep it short and simple.
“Due to tragic circumstances, I’ve kept the news of my son quiet. His mother died in a car accident in February, and out of respect for her family and this time of grieving, I’d ask that the attention be kept off of them. Becoming a dad is not without challenges, but my son has quickly become the light of my life.I never thought I could love anything more than my family and football, but this little boy has crept into my heart. Now I know what all my friends meant when they said having kids would change my life in the best way. It’s a love like I’ve never known.”
The questions start as soon as I pause.
“Who is the woman you’ve been seen with recently?”
“Were you in a relationship with your child’s mother?”
I take a deep breath.
“No, I was not in a relationship with his mother. The woman I’ve been seen with recently is my child’s aunt, his mom’s sister. We’re raising him together.”
“Are you romantically involved with her?”
Joan lifts her hand and I’ve never been so grateful for my publicist. She flew in from California for this and to think I almost tried to talk her out of coming. She’s about five feet and a hundred pounds soaking wet, and she can put the fear of God into even the most aggressive reporters.
“That’s all we have time for today. Thank you,” she says.
The questions keep coming as I walk out of the room and I don’t relax until we’re back in the car. Joan had her driver pick me up at the house so we could discuss what I could and couldn’t say at the press conference.
“That went as well as it could possibly go,” she says. “You know you just fueled everyone’s curiosity by keeping it a secret.”
“I’m just now starting to feel human again since finding out I had a son. The exhaustion is no joke, and I was in shock. Trust me, the last thing I was trying to do was fuel curiosity.”
“I know.” She sighs and pats my hand before lifting her huge black-framed glasses to peer at me. “Just listen to me next time, okay?”
“Okay.”
“I’m not sure it was a good idea to say you weren’t in a relationship with Sasha,” she says. “You went off the scriptthere.” She takes off her glasses and looks out the window. “Unless there’s something you want to tell me about this other girl, her sister. What is her name?”
“Sadie.”
She turns to face me. “Andareyou in a romantic relationship with her?”
I think about kissing her last night, watching her fall apart, and it just makes me crave more of her. “No.”
She makes a face and points at me with her glasses. “That was too long of a pause for me to believe you.”
My head falls back against the headrest and I groan. “We’re not.” It still sounds weak, so I add, “But she could be someone who makes me want to be.”
I turn my head sideways when Joan nudges me in the arm. Her eyes are bright and she’s smiling, which is rare. I roll my eyes and turn my head away from her again.
“This is a first, right?” she asks.
I don’t respond.
“You definitely did the right thing with what you said then. Still a touchy situation but less so. People could even wonder if Sasha was a surrogate for you and Sadie if we stay quiet about the details.”
I lift my head and glare at her. “No, we’re not going to lie about it. I don’t even know if anything more will develop with me and Sadie…but Sasha is Caleb’s mother. It would hurt her family if I tried to make it seem like anything other than that.”
“Okay, okay, got it,” she says, raising her hands. “Just keep your mouth shut on the details, okay? And for God’s sake, use protection.”
“I did…I always do. Things can still happen, as we’ve seen.” I straighten my tie, ready to get this suit off and ready to be done with this conversation.
“Easy, big guy. I’m on your side,” Joan says, patting my arm.