The user you are trying to contact has deleted their profile.
Deleted his profile?
My heart sinks.
There’s nothing I can do to get ahold of him—then again, what do I actually need to get ahold of him for? It’s not as if I have anything to apologize for. I wasn’t the one taking photographs of us from the sidewalk. I wasn’t the one who posted the photo online.
I’m not the one living in a fish bowl.
Suddenly, I feel sorry for him.
What a shitty thing having your privacy invaded like that—everyone speculating over what? You standing in the front yard of your brothers’ house with your friend while she helps you move them in?
Something as simple as that, twisted and turned into something negative? Duke Colter and his mystery woman… Duke Colter cheating on New York… Duke this, Duke that. The man clearly cannot catch a break.
I busy myself the entire afternoon, straight up until seven o’clock when Molly texted me a reminder fifteen minutes prior.
Molly:15 MINUTES! Sports channel 305!!!
As if I needed to be told. Ha!
I can’t sit to watch it because I’m a ball of nerves. I can’t stand still either, pacing in the kitchen after clicking on the television on my counter and flipping through the channels to find the right one.
There he is.
Larger than life and…in a suit.
Wearing a recognizably expensive and well-tailored navy-blue suit and rich burgundy tie, he’s seated between Elias Cohen—Molly’s boyfriend—and another man I don’t recognize. They’re at a table in front of a navy Dallas Steers backdrop.
He looks so good.
Hair combed back. He’s had it cut.
His face looks smooth, jawline square—I bet he smells like fresh shower and mountain man.
Heart achingly handsome.
I barely notice that I’m wringing my hands.
“It is with great pleasure,” the man seated to Duke’s left begins. “That the great state of Texas and the Dallas Steers are happy to announce we have acquired Duke Colter from the New York Condors.”He pauses as the crowd in the press room goes wild, speaking above each other, already throwing questions at the three men out of turn.“We are thrilled to have him as a part of this team, and we believe he’s going to be a key asset for us as starting wide receiver.”
Someone moves to speak into the man’s ear—Texas Steer General Manager Bart Adrian—and he nods before speaking again.
“Now we’re going to open the floor up to questions to Mr. Colter’s agent, Eli Cohen.”
The press begins firing off questions at the trio of men. The volume of noise—even through the TV monitors—and camera flashes, must be overwhelming in person.
When will his contract be made public?
“We really can’t say at this time.”
When will he begin training with the team?
“Effective immediately.”
What prompted the change?
Duke leans forward to speak into the microphone on the table.“Personal reasons. I am a Texan born and bred and have a legacy here I would like to continue. Texas is home.”