Marek
“Jasmine claims youforcedher to keep quiet about the pregnancy. And her subsequent miscarriage.”
I hang my head low between my hands, bent over in my desk chair as Glen reviews all the sordid details of Jasmine’s book.
For as much as I loved her once, that emotion is long gone. The words on the pages of her book are not only hurtful, but mostly elaborate fabrications meant to lead the reader down a road leading to mistrust of my judgment and character.
“Jesus, Glen. I never forced her to do anything she didn’t want to do. She makes me out to sound like a motherfucking monster. I never once harmed her physically or verbally in any way. Forced…fucking hell.”
Glen clears his throat. “Of course not. She doesn’t say that you physically hurt her. It’s more of an emotional response to the situation.”
A bark of laughter explodes out my chest. “She doesn’t have to say it. It’s implied. It’s salacious enough that readers will question me. They’ll look at me with a new lens. No more Mr. Nice Guy who’s trying to give them a winning team, but instead an abuser whoforceswomen…that’s what they’ll latch onto.”
Glen scribbles some notes on his notepad as I clench and unclench my fist in silent frustration.
“Look, Marek. I know this is a tough pill to swallow. So let me help you defeat the shit-stirrers and set the record straight. We’ll use the time on Monday at the press conference and—”
“—No fucking way,” I interrupt in an explosive outburst. “I will not use the designated team time to discuss my personal matters. I shouldn’t have to tell you that, Glen.”
He stares at me blankly. “We’ve done it for others on the team. Case in point, Zeke Foster, Morgan Capshaw, and our favorite womanizer and hothead, Jaeger Matlin.”
I motion with my hand. “They’re players. Their behavior off the court matters and we address it so our fans know it won’t impact their play. My history with my ex-wife shouldn’t make a difference in my role as GM.”
“In a perfect world, maybe. But they are sharks. They’re hungry. This is new blood in the water and they’ve got a taste of something new and exciting about you.”
Stewing in anger, I jump to my feet, pacing the floor in my office, hoping that this will all just go away and disappear. I hate the spotlight, especially when it’s a negative one.
I thought my anger and grief had all dried up. I’d left it all behind after Jasmine sold our house and moved. It was done and over with. I was just starting to live again. To feel that there was life to be enjoyed. Harper was my lifeline and brought me back to the surface. And then that fucking idea drowned after she lied to me.
I can’t win with women.
“Okay, how about this? Let’s focus on three things—three good things—about that period in your life. Or, hear me out on this…explain your logic on why you handled the situation the way you did at the time? Fans will be far more understanding if you tell your side and show them that you’re human, Marek. You’re a man who did his very best under the gravity of the circumstances. You may have failed, but you picked yourself back up and moved on.”
I breathe in a deep inhale, exhaling slowly. Maybe Glen has a point. Find the good in something bad.Yada, yada, yada.
Isn’t that what Jasmine was touting the last time she was in this office? She wanted to use her book to help others. What if I use that tactic too?
I walk up behind Glen and clap him on the shoulders. He tosses me a look by tipping his chin back.
“Alright…I can get on board with that. But first, I need to order some goddamn dinner. And you should probably call Kathy to let her know you’re working late again.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.”
“See?” I add with a hint of sarcasm. “I’m already learning lessons from my mistakes and helping others.”
Glen guffaws and takes his phone to step out of the office and call his wife of twenty-six years, as I dial up the pizza delivery service.
Completing my task, I pull up my text messages, wondering if Harper ever responded.
I’d asked her if she was free sometime this weekend to meet up and talk. It’s been a week since I’ve seen her, and I don’t want this to end on a bad note. I need to apologize for freezing her out. I realize I shut down after returning to Spokane and didn’t handle things well. She doesn’t deserve that. I do want to learn from my mistakes in life and communicate what I was feeling when I learned about her misleading me.
Dr. Rush has urged me time and time again to be a man who openly discusses his fears and frustrations with the woman he loves instead of bottling it up and avoiding the conversation entirely in the hope it will just vanish.
I need to tell Harper the truth about my life with Jasmine. Clear the air. Explain why I was so frustrated after I found out about her sister’s illness. Upset that she didn’t tell me what had been going on all that time that she left me in the dark on.
I would have forgiven her oversight immediately had it not been the only thing she’s withheld from me since we met.
She never told me about her close friendship with Jade Russell. The same Jade Russell who owns Seattle Circuit.