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  He sits stumped. I know he was hoping to bash me a little more, but I make a valid point. He quickly regains his composure, “What about Tristan Huckle of the Seattle Crusaders? You dated that lovely boy for a short time while he was with the Blazers. Was that a publicity stunt?”

  I hold back from cringing. I hate Tristan Huckle. He’s a dirty liar and a cheat. I wished I had never met him, and I imagine Jimmy knows this. But I keep it together, “That was no publicity stunt. Who hasn’t dated Tristan Huckle for a short time? Unfortunately, Tristan has no redeeming qualities for any discerning woman to stick around.”

  “Well, then.” He shuffles his cue cards, knowing that his plan to make fun of me has been obliterated. He’s wondering what he will fill the time in with now, his show is a half hour long. He puts the cards down. “What are your thoughts on Brett’s dong, anyway?”

  “How do you mean?” I ask, pretending not to know.

  “I’d say he’s a pretty big boy.” He grins widely.

  “In comparison to who? You?” I say, teasing.

  The radio producers and assistants erupt in laughter on the other side of the studio glass. One of the producers gives me a thumbs-up, beaming.

  “I’m sure you’ve seen lots of cock, Lexi.” Jimmy smirks.

  “Probably more than you, Jimmy,” I say, bragging. “I do walk in and out of locker rooms to do interviews.”

  “I doubt you’ve seen more than myself.” Jimmy waves his hand. “I’m the sexiest, most charming gay in New York.”

  “No doubt about it.” I tap my finger on the table in front of me, my lips curving. “But most weekends I walk into locker rooms full of naked men. Are you saying you see more than twenty dicks a week?”

  Everyone was in stitches, even Jimmy.

  “Oh my, I think I want your job, Lexi,” Jimmy says into his mic.

  “Many do.” Every friend I have has expressed their jealousy.

  “Then give us the deets, doll. Which guys in the NFL have the biggest ones?”

  Jesus, he’s unbelievable. I knew he’d ask this question. Why did I come? “Christ, you think I have them all visually memorized and ranked?” I ask in disgust. I do have all their body parts memorized and ranked, but that’s beside the point.

  “Well, I know if I were you, I would,” Jimmy says.

  “You should go into the locker rooms and take a few photos. It would last longer.”

  “Could you help me with that? Could you get me a pass in?” he asks jokingly.

  “Well, I don’t want to be unprofessional.”

  “So, if cockgate was an accident, as you say, do you have any regrets? Do you think you should apologize for your lack of professionalism in journalism?”

  I sit and think a moment and wonder how the exposure of Brett Brock’s penis ever became my fault. It seems public media wishes to hold me responsible. “I have no regrets. I’m not sorry for what I saw. I know you don’t regret it either, Jimmy. You liked what I saw, too.”

  “I certainly did!” He giggles in excitement, like a child on Christmas morning.

  “I got something for you Jimmy.” I reach into my bag. “Since I know you’ll never be able to walk in and out of locker rooms. This is as close as you’ll ever get to Brett Brock’s wet cock.”

  “OH MY GOD!” Jimmy screeches, “BRETT BROCK, WET COCK! How has no one thought of that headline yet!”

  I hand him the frame with the picture of my face and the big black censored rectangle next to me. Jimmy gives me a look of confusion. “This isn’t a dick pic, Lexi, it’s your face next to a huge black rectangle.”

  “Yah, I know,” I say, teasingly. “You’re going to have to live through me, Jimmy boy. ‘Cause that is as close as you’re ever going to get to Brett.”

  Chapter 3

  BRETT

  “Hal, this is beyond humiliating.” I take a seat in my agent’s office. “Lexi Driver needs to apologize to me. Publicly. I can’t walk the street without someone making some stupid comment. Yesterday, when I was at the gym, some guy handed me a towel and said, ‘here try to keep this one on.’”

  “You went to a public gym?” Hal cocks his brow as he leans back in his leather chair.

  “I’m tired of all the teasing I’ve been getting from the other players. Hell, I can’t go on the Internet without seeing some stupid meme of my censored, or uncensored, dick pic. This morning, I saw one that had my cock superimposed as Lexi’s microphone with the caption ‘Drive HER loves wet cock’. That stupid Jimmy Schnell interview has everyone calling me ‘wet cock’ instead of Brett Brock?”

  “Seriously? No one has ever called you ‘wet cock’ instead of ‘Brett Brock?’”

  I stare hard at him, “No. Nobody has ever made fun of me, Hal.”

  “Brett, get a grip. Famous people get roasted all the time.”

  “Enough excuses! I’m a professional,” I say, pounding my fist to the desk. “This isn’t funny. I’m trying to be taken seriously as a quarterback. I don’t want to be thought of as Lexi Driver’s cabana boy! If I’m ever going to be first line—”

  “Brett, calm down. A cock shot has never ruined a career. Considering the size of the package, you have nothing to worry about. Plenty of male celebrities survived this one and still work in the entertainment industry. You got your panties in a twist here.”

  “I feel violated,” I say through gritted teeth. “Christ sake, Hal! I have people online debating from my shot whether I have an STD!”

  Hal restrains himself from laughing. “Look on the bright side, your doctor came out to the press and squashed those rumors immediately.”

  “Hal, the subject shouldn’t have been up for debate.”

  Hal stares at me for a long moment, “What do you want me to do?”

  “In the very least you could talk to the network! See if EAN can’t blackmail an apology out of her!”

  “Wait. You’re not looking for a genuine apology?” Hal scrunches up his face.

  “I know I’m not going to get one from her. She made her views very plain on Jimmy’s show.”

  “Ah. You’re looking to save face? What’s done is done, Brett. Act like nothing happened and move on.”

  “I don’t want that woman in the locker room again, Hal. Can you at least make that possible?”

  Hal taps his fingers on the desk for a moment, “You know, Jade Stolt might become the next big thing. Rather than trying to get back at Lexi, I’d be looking to do her a favor.”

  I snigger, “I hear Jade does all the favors.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Hal asks, though the expression on his face suggests he already knows.

  “She’s the type to be with any man that she thinks could further her career. Did you know she slept with one of the studio managers at EAN to get her job? Word has it the guy recorded it to his cell.”

  “What?” Hal chortles. “Which studio manager? I’d love a peek at that.”

  “Steve Guthrie. He does all the new hires and assigns the jobs to the girls.”

  “Huh.” Hal pauses in thought. “You know, if you want to destroy Lexi Driver, why don’t you find out if she gets around as much as Jade? I’m sure you could find some evidence. I’m sure Steve Guthrie isn’t the only one that takes video. Surely Lexi has slept with a few losers?”

  “Already looked into it.” I sigh. “Nothing. Clean. None of the guys have slept with her to help her career or know anyone that has. I’d like to know how the hell she got to where she is.”

  The corners of Hal’s eyes crinkle, “Well she is hot. I’d tap that.”

  “I doubt she’d go for you.”

  “Hey, some chicks dig bald guys.”

  “As far as I know the only bald guy chicks dig is Mr. Clean.”

  “Jackass.” The corners of his mouth turn up. “If she bothers you that much, next time you get a chance, why don’t you play the game of your life and humiliate her in the interview afterward.”

  “Fat chance.” I fold my arms acros
s my chest. “Dion is rarely injured, and I doubt he’ll be traded any time soon.”

  Hal looks back down to the paperwork on his desk, hinting for me to leave. “Good talking to you, Brett, but seriously I should be getting back to work,” he says, his eyes on his papers.

  “Researching new possible clients?” I ask.

  “Yes.”

  “See you then.” I get up and leave his office. It was true. There was no denying that Lexi Driver was a looker. But the situation was ironic. I had spent countless nights picturing Lexi Driver interviewing me on EAN; what questions she’d ask me and the smart answers I’d give. Getting an interview with her would mean big things for my career—Lexi only interviews the best athletes or players that had game-changing moments. Now, I can’t imagine sharing the screen with her. I’ll never live this down.

  Still, how had Lexi Driver become successful in the sports entertainment industry without screwing her way to the top? Hal’s right; Lexi is a gorgeous woman. It’s hard to imagine that no powerful man or athlete has exchanged a favor or interview for sex. As I step into the elevator I realize there is a way to get revenge. The whole world has already seen my dick, why not let them see what it’s capable of? My eyes brighten as my mouth curves.

  Chapter 4

  LEXI

  “I’M AN AWARD-WINNING REPORTER!” I yell at Steve from across his desk. “I sure as hell deserve my pick of the Blazers’ games and practices!”

  Steve sighs, “Sit back down, Lexi.”

  I take my chair again, next to Jade who has a smug look of triumph on her face. She and Steve exchange a glance. Jade’s been after my work since she was hired last season. Looks like she’s finally convinced Steve to hand her the reins.

  “Here’s the thing,” Steve says, “it’s not only that you won’t apologize for the cockgate incident. I think the network wants to start grooming a younger face for the Blazers.”

  My jaw drops in abhorrence, “That’s not right. That’s discrimination.”

  “It’s part of our industry,” Steve says pointedly. “You’ll still get a chance to do interviews throughout the season, but they want to give Jade a chance to do interviews of dramatic upsets and wins after games.”

  Jade presses her fingers to her lips, suppressing a laugh. I turn to Steve, “That’s bullshit, Steve, and you know it. How is Jade going to cover all that on her own? That would mean she would have to go to some practices, and all away and home games! How much of the Blazers will I be covering this season?”

  “Well, actually.” Steve stops, seeing my face redden in anger. “The network feels that since the whole cockgate thing, maybe you shouldn’t cover the Blazers’ games. They haven’t made any firm decisions, but they are considering you for another team. You might have to move to another city.”

  “WHAT? WHAT?” I shout as I jump to my feet. “What happened with that camera wasn’t my fault!”

  “Well, thing is, Lexi, Brett seems to think you’re a bit of a perv,” Steve says.

  Jade cackles haughtily, “I hear he’s not the only player thinking that.”

  “Shut it, Jade,” I say.

  “Your interview with Jimmy Schnell didn’t help matters,” Steve says, “Brett feels that you think it’s all a joke.”

  “That’s not true. I didn’t think it was a joke. I only went on to Jimmy Schnell to clear the air a little. I didn’t want anyone thinking it was a publicity stunt.”

  “Doesn’t matter, Lexi. Brett has specifically requested that you no longer interview him.” Steve clasps his hands together. “Management figures if there’s one player you can’t interview then we should make it easier on ourselves and send Jade.”

  I pause. This meeting feels odd. Why is Jade here? It’s a ruse to get me to say sorry to Brett. I give Steve a dirty look, “Is this the network’s way of forcing me to apologize to Brett on television?”

  Steve looks sideways.

  “Argh! Your face says it all, Steve. Fine! I’ll give Brett his stupid public apology.”

  “Good. The network didn’t want to be forced into cutting your airtime. New York loves you,” Steve says. “I’ll get in touch with Brett’s agent and see if Brett is willing to do an interview with you.”

  I glance over at Jade; her jaw is slack. It’s hit her that the only reason she was invited to this meeting was to incense me to give in to the network demands. She storms out the room in a huff.

  I leave Steve’s office annoyed. I can’t believe how immature Brett is. How was I to blame? Normally, I wouldn’t apologize for something that wasn’t my fault. On the other hand, I can’t let this ruin my career or change my location. It took a lot of work to land my position in New York.

  * * *

  I’ve been given a break. Surprisingly by the one person that has been a thorn in my side for the past week—Brett Brock. He has agreed to allow me to continue to do interviews in the locker room on one condition; he wants to speak to me after Sunday’s game, one-on-one.

  When Steve first told me the news on Saturday, I was ecstatic. After hearing the big news, I prepared myself for what I thought would be another Dion Calloway flop interview. But now I’m not sure what to think. It was an unusual game; Dion’s usual heroics weren’t seen today. He’s out with an injury. It was an opportunity for Brett Brock to show how he can dominate as a quarterback. And God, did he play the game of his career. I wonder if the after-game interview I’m about to have with Brett was something set up by the teams; did the Tigers intend to lose? Was Dion really out with an injury? But then I realize that I’m being an idiot. The billionaire owner of the Tigers wouldn’t have his team lose. Nor would Dion Calloway miss out on a game and a chance to showboat. I need to face the music: Dion’s out, and Brett fought for every inch of the field. This is going to be awkward.

  As I head to the locker room, in a black pencil skirt and a red teardrop blouse, I nervously adjust the cuffs of my sleeves. I had prepared for a lame interview with Dion, I hadn’t thought of interview questions for exciting plays made by the second-line quarterback. Brock had made two impressive touchdowns, both were risky.

  “Lexi!”

  I hear Steve’s voice in my earpiece, “Wh … wh … what?” I say.

  “Where the hell are you? Mike and Jax are already in the locker room! Other hosts will get the interview before you!”

  “Yeah, yeah, I’m almost there, Steve. But I had to fix my mic.”

  Total lie. While Mike and Jax rushed ahead of me, I took a casual stroll to the locker room in my heels. I press my hand against the door and enter.

  Bethany Wilcox, a sports journalist with SNY is standing next to Brett beaming. Oh no. Bethany asks the lamest questions. Nonetheless, tons of mics are being held up around Brett, other networks trying to get in on Brett’s thoughts.

  “We lost the interview.” Mike shrugs. “You’re going to have to hold up your mic.”

  “To Bethany’s lame-ass questions? I don’t think so, Mikey. Our viewers deserve better than that.” I smirk, nudging him with my elbow. “Besides, right now all of America would love to see Brett Brock and Lexi Driver do an interview.”

  Jax nods, “Hell, yeah, they would.”

  “We’ll wait until Bethany finishes, and I’ll make damn sure it becomes interesting.” I stand by a locker and watch Bethany as she continues with her questions.

  “Were you surprised that Dion was out with an injury?” Bethany asks bug-eyed. All the nearby male reporters holding up mics, roll their eyes.

  Ugh. What a shitty question, Brett has been waiting on that opportunity. Does she expect him to admit that?

  “Well, yes and no,” Brett answers. “Dion pushes himself to his limit in every game, and he gives a hundred and ten percent in every practice. He’s had the longest streak of playing games of any quarterback in the NFL, but nobody can expect perfection. It was bound to happen at some point.”

  Wow. That was a good answer for a dumb question.

  Bethany bats her eyes before
she continues, “So, this has been a nice change from the crazy media storm that has been surrounding you these past couple weeks?”

  Everyone in the room goes silent. Bethany’s boom guy groans.

  “Yes.” Brett sighs. “This has been a welcome change.” Brett turns away and spots me from across the room, “Ah, there’s my favorite sports reporter now,” he says drily.

  All the cameras turn to me. I quickly straighten up, regaining my composure.

  “Wow, do cameramen never learn?” I grin. “Whipping those cameras about, watch out ladies, we might get another money shot.”

  Everyone cracks up, except Brett. “Well, Miss Driver, it’s good to see you here,” Brett says sarcastically. “I imagine you would like to give your apologies?”

  He looks sexy as hell raising his brow like that. I casually walk toward him with my mic, signaling Bethany to haul ass. “I would, Brett,” I say, smiling as I approach him. “But today is not about what has been posted all over the Internet and the newspapers. Today is about you as a professional, and your journey to get to this point in your career. Do you feel you proved yourself today on the field?”

  His eyes soften, and I sense that he appreciates that I’m trying to put the stupid cock shot to rest. He pauses a moment before he answers into my mic, “I’m certainly hoping I have. To be honest, I was pretty anxious before getting on the field today.”

  “I suppose you’re hoping for a few repeat performances in the upcoming weeks? How did it feel to finally get the opportunity and play like you did today?”

  “Amazing.” His gorgeous eyes brighten. “I’ve been training hard these past few seasons and Dion has definitely been a great support to me. It’s good to get the opportunity to show him that his time and effort haven’t been wasted on me. I’ve learned a lot from him.”