Page 32 of The Marriage Playbook

He had a book in his hands. Not a regular book, but some sort of album or journal. She stepped into the room and pointed to it. “What’s that?”

“I keep my press clippings in here,” he said with a self-effacing chuckle.

“You keep your press clippings?” She stepped farther into the room. “Really?”

“That probably seems really arrogant, huh?”

“No, that’s not what I was thinking,” she said. “I was thinking…I didn’t realize you cared about things like that. It’s kind of nice to realize that you do. It makes you seem more human.”

“Oh, God. I didn’t realize that I didn’t seem human.”

“You know what I mean.” She laughed. “I just mean that you never struck me as someone who worried about what people thought about you, unless it had consequences. But this makes it seem like you noticed what people were saying even before it got you kicked off the team.”

“Well, they usually had nicer things to say about me than they have lately,” he pointed out. “But…that’s not why I keep it.”

“It’s not? Then why?”

“My mother,” he said. “She gave me this book when I was drafted to the Stingers. She was so excited, so proud of me. I told her I would buy her a house with my first-year salary, but all she wanted was a book of my clippings to put on the mantel. She told me to fill it up and bring it back to her when I had.” He sighed. “I haven’t been able to add anything to it recently, of course.”

“Actually, you can,” Cara told him. “I didn’t tell you yet, but I got an email just before I went to bed. There’s going to be an article on a bunch of affiliated websites tomorrow about our trip to the zoo last weekend. You didn’t tell me you had spoken to a reporter.”

“I didn’t know I had,” Liam admitted. “I talked to a guy outside the monkey cages, but he didn’t tell me who he was. I thought it was just a fan.”

“Well, you did a good job,” Cara told him. “You left him with a good impression. The article is a rave.” She grinned.

“Seriously? You’ve read it?”

“Yes, he sent over a copy to Alastair, and Alastair forwarded it to me,” Cara said. “No one knows I’m a part of your publicity team, of course, but they know Alastair is your publicist. Apparently you told everyone you were just so in love that you forgot to be responsible when it came to your contract. And apparently the press is eating that up.”

“I can be taught,” Liam laughed. “I knew that was what you’d want me to say. And the truth is, it’s not that difficult a story, once you get used to telling it. I actually had a good time telling him about you.”

“You came up with a lot of convincing details,” she said. “I thought it was impressive. All that stuff about how you find me easier to talk to than anyone you’ve ever known. Did you read that in a book or something? It was incredibly convincing.”

“No,” Liam said, holding her gaze. “That part was just the truth. I do find you very easy to talk to, Cara. It was easy for me to describe it because I was just talking about what it’s like to spend time with you.”

Cara looked down at her feet to hide the thrill that shot through her at that.

She didn’t know exactly why it excited her so much. She felt the same way about him. In spite of the fact that things had been contentious between them in the beginning, she had come to find herself really enjoying their time together. And it was nice to know that that was mutual. But that should feel calming. Reassuring. Not invigorating like this.

She swallowed hard. “Whatever the reason, you nailed it,” she told him. “You came up with the perfect narrative, and the reporter ate it up. And there’s more. He interviewed the assistant coach of the Colorado Lions, too.”

Liam slowly lowered the book in his hands. “What did he say?”

“Well, the reporter asked him whether there was any chance of seeing you back on the field now that it had been revealed what your true reasons for leaving were,” Cara said.

“The coaches know there’s something fishy about this,” Liam said. “I’m sure they do.”

“This one didn’t seem to,” Cara said. “He said he was sure the Stingers would reconsider their decision, because it was obvious to everyone that you were a good man who had been put in a bad position. And he also said that the Lions valued a team culture where everyone felt safe to pursue their life goals, and that he was sure the management would want to talk to you if you weren’t going to be continuing to play in Miami.” She grinned. “It’s as good as an offer, Liam. There’s no way they’d go on the record with a statement like that if they weren’t genuinely interested in working with you. I’m sure you’ll be hearing from them soon.”

“So this article really makes me look good?” Liam asked.

“It says you’re a changed man,” Cara said. “That’ll be something to add to your book, I think.”

“Maybe,” Liam said.

“Only maybe?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know how much of this is real.”