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The next time I see her is the next morning as we prepare for our press conference.
“Usually I’m on the other side of the stage,” Jolene quips as Ellie preps us in a conference room ahead of the announcement of our new podcast.
“Have you mentioned the podcast to your family?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “Have you?”
“I told my dad about it last night,” I admit.
Ellie’s head swings over so both women are staring me down. To say I’m a bit intimidated might be the understatement of the century.
“And?” they say at the same time.
“And he thinks it’s a bad idea. He thinks you’re going to manipulate me or I’m going to say something stupid.” I shrug.
“Well, he’s probably right on at least one of those,” Jolene says, and my heart stops for a second. “Not the manipulation part,” she clarifies.
“And we can fix the something stupid part with damage control,” Ellie says. “We’ll cut anything that doesn’t paint you in a good light. I promise.”
“How can you promise that when Rivera’s producing it?” Jolene asks.
Ellie grins. “Because the contract stated that I have editing rights before anything is published.”
“God, you’re the best,” I say as I breathe a sigh of relief.
“Yeah, I am,” she says, playfully brushing her shoulders as she stands. “I can’t edit what you say in a press conference, so let’s get out there and control our mouths, yes?”
“Yes ma’am,” I say, and Jolene giggles as we make our way toward the press room.
Jack stands at the microphone as we wait backstage for the big introduction. “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m thrilled to be here today to tell you about the launch of an exciting new podcast blending one of our own with an established member of this community. Coach and Correspondent: Aces Wild Vegas Style will be available for streaming anywhere you listen to your podcasts along with YouTube. Combining passions for football and Vegas, the co-hosts will contribute to the community with insightful football discussions as they explore all this city has to offer while raising money to benefit local charities. And now I present to you your new co-hosts, Coach Lincoln Nash and Aces Team Correspondent Jolene Bailey.”
The small group gathered claps as we take the stage, and maybe I was expecting more fanfare, but it makes sense that we’re not getting it.
After all, this does look a bit like I’m playing favorites in the media. To be fair, I am. Jolene is my favorite correspondent. I look out at the reporters in the room, and I can say with confidence that I wouldn’t fuck a single one of them. But the woman on my right…I’d bed her again in a heartbeat.
And maybe I’ll get to after the press conference.
Or not bed her, per se…but I can think of plenty of places we can do it in my office.
And now my dick is hard and I have to stand on this stage and answer questions.
This might be harder than I thought.
Both the dick and co-hosting this podcast with Jolene Bailey.
CHAPTER 20: JOLENE
This is the first time I’ve ever been this nervous in this room, and it’s probably because I’m on the wrong side. I’m not usually the person in the spotlight. Instead, I’m usually interviewing the person in the spotlight.
It’s a weird dynamic made weirder by the fact that Lincoln is acting…weird. His movements are jerky and he’s all stiff and I think he’s nervous, too. But he’s always cool and calm under the pressure of a press conference, so I’m not sure why he’d be nervous.
“Thanks for being here today,” Jack says to the group of reporters who’ve gathered. “I’ll start by saying this idea was proposed by VG-oh-three sports editor Marcus Dean, and we spoke and agreed this could be an incredible opportunity both to raise money benefitting local charities and introducing our new coach to the community. We’re excited for you to get to know him. I’ve been working closely with Lincoln over the last few months, and I can say with certainty that we hired the right man for this position. We’re a short breath away from the start of the season, and you’ll be able to follow along with Lincoln in his first stint in this new era for the Aces. Let’s go ahead and open the floor to questions.”
“Lincoln, Jolene, thrilled for you on this journey,” Kyle from the Vegas Sun begins. “Can you tell us how this podcast will be different from other football podcasts already in publication?”
Lincoln nods at me to field that one.
“It has me,” I say with no modesty whatsoever, and Lincoln laughs. “We’re raising money for charity while simultaneously introducing Lincoln to some of the greatest restaurants and entertainment Vegas has to offer, so we’re highlighting major players in the city. This could be great for the tourism industry, sort of a coach recommendation segment. We’ll interview former Aces players and potentially other local athletes and celebrities, and the focus will be football and Vegas. That’s how we’ll set ourselves apart.”
