Football and Ballet - Jason Collins Page 0,16

a bunch of the guys would sign up to help with that.”

“You really think you could make something like that happen?” Gretel’s tone was hopeful.

I gave her an emphatic nod. “I really do.”

“Helping out the youth center could be an amazing PR move…” Elana seemed to mull over the idea. “And if the whole team’s involved, there’s no way anyone would turn down that kind of press gold.”

“Yeah, we wouldn’t want anyone turning down press gold,” Patrick’s response was lined with sarcasm.

“I think it’ll work, Hunter,” Elana replied, appearing to ignore Patrick’s additions. “I think we should do it. Gretel, do you think we should do it?”

“I’d be delighted.” Gretel excitedly clasped her hands together.

“Good. Then, just give us a minute to get everything figured out.” Elana smiled. “You can handle asking the guys about it, right, Hunter?”

“Definitely,” I said, looking over at Patrick, his eyes avoiding mine at every turn.

What the hell?

Why was he acting so weird right now? I thought offering to help with the youth center would’ve earned me some points with him, but it seemed like all I’d earned was even more of his resentment.

And as I tried to reconcile with the reality that Patrick was apparently going to hate me, no matter what, I kept my gaze on him, wondering if he’d ever look at me again.

6

Patrick

“You’re getting better at your spins,” I said as I watched Hunter move across the floor, shifting into one turn after another. “Are you still getting dizzy?”

“Yeah but staring at a spot on the wall really helps,” Hunter answered, still moving in circles. “Also, I’m starting to think this is my favorite part. Is it yours, too?”

I inwardly sighed at another one of Hunter’s attempts at small talk, so transparent they were beginning to get on my nerves. “Everything’s my favorite part. That’s why I’m a dancer.” I snapped my fingers before giving my next directions. “Go into a step touch number, just one and two and one and two.”

“Should I be on my toes?”

“No, I just want you to follow the music,” I explained. “We need to get you used to the counts before we move into anything more complicated than this.”

“Okay.” Hunter nodded and took his final spin. After that, he started to move across the room again, this time with one foot following the other as he danced along with the music. “How’s this?”

“You shouldn’t have to ask me. You should be listening to the music, seeing if you match the rhythm of the song.”

“I think I do? But I wouldn’t be against getting a second opinion.”

“You’re doing great, Hunter,” I admitted. “Honestly, it seems you’re really a lot better today. I’m genuinely impressed with your progress.”

“Thanks. The secret is not having an entertainment journalist watching me from the corner.”

“Sure, but that doesn’t explain why your first lesson went so poorly,” I replied.

Hunter smiled over at me before asking, “Hey, why are you being so standoff-ish today?”

“Standoff-ish?”

“Yeah,” Hunter explained. “It’s not like you’re usually a chatterbox or anything, anyway, but today something just feels off. Are you still mad at me about the cameras?”

“I’m not mad at you about the cameras.”

“So, you are mad at me about something?”

“Do you want me to tell you the truth? Or do you want me to treat you like the celebrity you are and cater to what I’m assuming is your super-sized ego?”

“I want you to tell me the truth, Patrick. Always.”

“Fine,” I started. “I don’t like how you turn everything into a PR stunt.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about earlier, when you offered to swoop in and save the youth center,” I went on. “You could’ve just donated a bunch of money or put in a good word for us with another grant program, the same way you did at Madame Gigi’s. But instead, you made it all about you.”

“I’m literally trying to raise money for the youth center.” Hunter scoffed, seemingly in disbelief. “And I’m going to raise way more cash for this place by bringing the other guys in on it.”

“Sure, but would you have done it without the cameras?”

“Patrick, everything I do happens in front of the cameras.”

“Why?”

“Because that’s just how it works, all right?” Hunter sighed. “Because if I don’t make sure someone takes a picture every time I’m even a little decent to someone, people start to make up shit about me. If I try to stay quiet and keep to myself, suddenly I’m an asshole who doesn’t care about anything besides playing