Page 173 of Chasing Headlines
“I only keep the ones I post, like everyone else.”As far as you know.
“So what's your storyline for this game? Come from behind win for Victory Tech?”
“More or less.” I shrugged and stared at the exit door, willing it to open and have my interviewees appear. “Whywouldn'tthat be the headline?”
“There's any number of angles. But you'd have to be interested in more than the game on the field. And aside from Coop, we're just a bunch of performing monkeys to you.”
My heart thudded in my chest. I glared up at him. “That's not true.”
“They’re like animals who can only fathom their own needs.” My father's face turned a mottled reddish color. “They use people . . .”
I shook my head.I'm not like him.My stomach burned.
“We're painted as heroes when we win, chumps when we lose, and villains when we can't live up to expectations.” He crossed his arms and fixed me with his heavy-lidded gaze. “And then one day someone realizes we're not making headlines anymore, and it's all over.”
“Like Curt.” The words slipped out.
“Your brother was smart. He quit while he was ahead.”
But it cost him his dream.
Tanner checked his fitness tracker. “Give me a better angle on this story.”
“But, I—” Dammit, was he channeling his inner Mrs. P or what?Ugh!“How about the contributions from freshmen? Up and coming, future of Striker baseball kind of thing?” He should like that.Where are those guys?I mentally stamped my foot.
“Marginally better,” he said with a shrug. “What about the mental challenges of starting pitching versus a reliever?”
I rolled my eyes. “Too technical.”Not to mention self-serving. Jerk.
“You could make it interesting.” Tanner's gold-colored eyes gave me some pseudo-smoldery look.As if.
“Really get inside my head.”
“What about 'the comeback kid' and make it about Schorr and rebuilding a legacy of national championship baseball. For Founders’ Day? And the evidence is in the contributions from the freshman three.”
He tipped his head and rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Hm. Hit the Founders’ Day theme? Appeal to a broader audience. Not bad.”
“Schorr's old enough to be part of the festivities.”
He ducked his head as he chuckled.
“So, on the record, then. How has Coach Schorr impacted Tanner Meyers and his baseball career aspirations?”
“Well, I'm here in Texas mostly because of his reputation.” His deep voice drawled. “Some truly great pitchers have emerged from Schorr's program. I hear you may know one of them.”
I pointed at him. “Not putting that in.”
His lips twitched. “I haven't been here that long, but he's already challenging me. I look forward to seeing how far my teammates and I can go.” He tipped his cap. “How'd I do?”
“A pitch perfect quote. Do you like, what, think of these in advance?”
“Sometimes. My mother spent time as a media consultant. The training at home wasn't only about throwing a ball.”
Ah, that makes sense.“Intriguing.” I glanced at the exit doors.What is taking those guys so long?
“Is it? Maybe you should find out more.”
My insides squirmed as I shivered.Everything he does or says is calculated. But Coop, Breslin is—The exit door finally burst open and a half dozen players leapt, jogged, and generally emerged into the evening air.