And it was those types of human interest stories that would make for a great piece. “If you all are interested, when I’m done with Trevor’s story, I’ll take down your numbers and get back to you.”
They all looked to each other, and she got an immediate positive response.
She thought about the Rivers team as well. Liz, who was a sports agent. Alicia, who also worked for the Rivers. Tara, who owned her own company. So many women rich with experience on their own, but who also knew their players and the team so well.
This could be a great interview.
TREVOR WAS DEEP IN CONVERSATION WITH LARRY, George, and the other receivers, talking strategy and potential plans of attack, when Sally came in with the women.
“Okay, gentlemen. Dinner is ready, so it’s time to take a break. We want to eat before the Thursday night game starts, don’t we?”
Larry raised his head. “Yeah, we sure do, honey. Come on, guys.”
Trevor found Haven in the kitchen. She handed him a plate.
“How’s it going?” he asked.
Her lips tilted. “Very well, actually. How about you?”
“Great. We don’t get a chance during practice to have intense meetings like this. It’s helpful to get away from the field and just talk about how we’re going to approach it.”
“Good to know.”
They found a seat at the dining room table. Trevor ate steak, potatoes, and broccoli. And then went back for more.
“Hungry?” Haven asked.
“A little. Worked up an appetite at practice today.”
“And it’s a good thing you burn it all off at practice, too.”
“It’s how I keep my figure.”
She laughed.
“This is all so delicious,” Haven said to Sally, who was sitting on the other side of her.
“Thank you. We try to do this a couple times a season. It’s good for George to have a sit-down with his receivers. And of course, for all of us women to get together somewhere besides the stadium.”
“I told Sally I wanted to do a piece on the women of football,” Haven said to Trevor.
“The women of football? You mean there aren’t enough guys?” Rodney asked her.
“Oh, there are plenty of you. But your women have interesting stories to tell.”
“Indeed we do,” Tania said with a smile.
“That could be a great angle,” Trevor said.
“I think so,” Haven said. “And speaking of interesting stories, when I was reviewing your bio I noticed you have the Greater Tampa literacy project as one of your charities.”
“I do.”
“I made arrangements for you to do a reading with some of their kids next week as part of the interview. You’ll go in and read to a few of the kids. I think it’ll make for a great human interest piece.”
Trevor’s fork stilled on its way to his mouth. “What?”
“Oh, that’s a wonderful idea, Haven,” Allison said. “Several of our guys are invested in this project.”
“Is that right? Maybe some of them could come along and read as well. If you could tell me who they are, I’ll make contact with them and see if they’re interested.”
“I’m sure they will be. All the guys involved with the charity would love to have some focus turned on it. Isn’t that right, Trevor?”
Trevor could barely focus on what Allison and Haven were saying. All he heard was Haven saying they’d film him reading to the kids.
He couldn’t do it.
“Uh, yeah. Sure.”
His throat had gone dry, his dinner now a brick sitting in his stomach.
He had to find a way to get out of this.
The rest of the night passed in a blur until it was time to say their good-byes. They climbed into the car and Trevor was dead silent on the drive back.
“It was fun tonight, wasn’t it?” Haven finally asked.
“Yeah.”
“I really liked all the women. And I have such a fantastic idea for a new story to present to my producer.”
“That’s good.” He gripped the steering wheel, focusing on the road, the cars ahead of him, trying to keep his attention on driving, while at the same time his mind whirled with ways to get out of what Haven had planned for him.
Fortunately, she’d been busy making notes on her phone, so she stopped talking to him.
He needed time alone. He had to think, to figure a way to back out of this. But how was he going to do that without coming across as a dick?
Damn Haven for putting him in this position. Why couldn’t she have asked him first?