Love Match by Monica Seles

incredibly unprofessional. Let me check in and see if we can do something about that.” Travis stood back up.
    â€œTravis, no.”
    He shook her off. “It’s okay, Maya. I’m not going to cause a scene. I’m just going to let them know I’m here.”
    Maya watched as Travis sauntered away. Questions flooded her mind as the old doubts came back in. Was Travis using her for this opportunity? Is that what their friendship was about? She worried that there were already plans for them to be the next big media couple. Traya? Mavis?
    There was no doubt in her mind that Nails liked them together for that reason, but Travis was still an unknown. He had as much right to try out for the campaign as she did. And it wasn’t like they’d be competing against each other. It was kind of nice to have his friendly face around.
    Even looking at him from behind, Maya could tell he was flashing that bright Reed smile on his walk to the reception desk. She couldn’t hear what he said to the receptionist, but the woman looked a lot happier than she had the entire time Maya sat in the lobby. Maya envied his charm. She feared it as well.
    The receptionist picked up her phone and made a quickcall while Travis returned to Maya. By the time he’d reached the leather bench, a door to the right of the reception desk opened and a frantic-looking man hurried out. He introduced himself simply as Steven and told them to follow him.
    â€œI’m so sorry we kept you waiting, Ms. Hart,” Steven said. “And thank you for coming by, too, Mr. Reed. We had a minor crisis this afternoon, but it’s been resolved. Since we’re at the end of the day, I hope you two won’t mind sharing the meeting?”
    â€œNot a problem,” Travis said. “We’re old friends.”
    â€œFine with me,” Maya agreed. So far, their friendship was coming in handy.
    â€œThat’s great, Maya,” Steven said as the camera flashed away. “Now try for a smile that’s a little less … strained.”
    Maya relaxed her smile as much as she could. Her face didn’t feel strained to her. The rest of her body, however, was an uncoordinated mess. She really wished that she’d worn her own clothing. It might not have looked as good as Renee’s, but she would have been more comfortable.
    The problem began at the shoes, then worked its way up to include everything else she had on. Maya simply didn’t know how to move in the outfit. It was easy to blame the clothes, but the truth was, it was the camera. And all the people behind the camera.
    Steven, who she’d come to learn was an executive assistant, worked the camera for the test shots. He was friendly enough, but his frantic nature did nothing to calm her nerves no matter how soothing his words. Steven’s boss and a half-dozenagency executives sat at a long table behind Steven, whispering to one another while she posed.
    The initial interview had gone well. With Travis by her side, it was more like a casual conversation. They were looking for “fresh faces,” which Maya was happy to learn just meant “amateurs.” Models didn’t come much more amateur than her.
    The executives had been engaging when they talked about Maya’s recent tournament and the buzz about Travis on the field. Although Maya was “Maya” through the entire discussion, they kept calling Travis “Reed.” It wasn’t unusual to call a football player by his last name, but it sounded weird since they never called her “Hart.”
    Maya stopped going over the interview in her head and tried to focus on the posing. Steven continued to snap away while he gave instructions. “Try to look like you’re having … you know … fun.”
    Maya tried, but this was the least fun she’d had in her life. Every pose felt faker than the last. Balancing on heels with one arm out toward the camera and a