Page 260 of Well Played

DEFENSES READY

BY TONI DENISE

Grant spent last season riding the bench thanks to an injury. Now that he’s cleared to play again he finds out his team wants him to play in another league to decide if he’s really healthy enough or not. He’s not happy with the situation but agrees because he has no other choice.

Cassie knows she recognizes her new neighbor from somewhere. They get to know each other and develop an easy friendship that grows into something more.

Both know there’s an end date to this relationship but they can’t stop themselves from going along anyway. When Grant gets the call from his agent, he has a choice to make, will it be her or his career?

1

“Why am I even paying you?”Grant raged at his agent. “This isn’t a good transfer for me. This is a hole in the wall team. They haven’t won any championships.”

Patrick, his agent, waited patiently for Grant to calm down. It wasn’t the first time that a client was angry about a transfer. It wasn’t the first time that Grant had done it.

“I know I’ve battled some injuries, but I can still play.”

“No one said you can’t. Use this time to show that you can.”

“This time?” Grant rolled his eyes, his anger finally burning out. “You act like I’m a petulant child, being grounded and getting grounded. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Patrick nodded. “And no one is accusing you of it. You know how this works when you get injured and spend time laid up mid-season. Fact is, you missed almost all of the season and that is why. So yes, consider it being grounded. Go out there, play your best with this team, and show all the other teams that you are worth more than this.”

Grant sighed. This wasn’t what he thought he’d be meeting with Patrick about today. He had expected good news since his injury had been deemed well enough to play again before the start of the season.

Instead, he was being sent down a league while someone else was called up to take his place. The stupid Achilles injury was going to haunt him for the rest of his life. Athletic tape was his best friend right now.

To make matters worse, his girlfriend had broken up with him in the middle of his recovery. While he hadn’t expected to make it to forever with her, he had been shocked at how she would leave him at his lowest and move on to another player in less than a week.

“This will be good for you. It means you can play more with a little less stress on that injury because the caliber of play is lower. You only have to do better than who you’re playing against and we know you can do that with your eyes closed.”

Patrick hyping him up was more annoying than flattering. In the end, that man had a job to do and would say whatever it took to get his players to do what he wanted.

“Is there any other choice?” Grant asked, already knowing the answer.

“Not unless you want to not play.” The only reason Patrick would give that option was because he knew it wasn’t really one he’d take.

“When does training start?” Grant sat back in the chair, resigned to his fate of playing for Bardley FC.

“You’ve already missed a week of it while this was being worked out. I’ve heard they have a hothead for a striker, so all you need to do it play well and not get caught up in anything.”

The warning was clear, no drama. He didn’t want any, anyway. Grant kept his head down and played the game, out of the spotlight with his personal life and in no way did he get involved in other player’s drama. That was their mess, and he didn’t partake.

“Why am I just finding out?” Grant asked, puzzled.

“It wasn’t fully decided until yesterday. You have another week to get down there before you’re expected to report. It’s my understanding that is when the whole team will be there, some report to training early.”

One week to move states away and get a place and then get to work. Not for the first time, he wished he didn’t love playing so much because this was exhausting. He had no real control over his life and could end up in this situation at any time.

“Do you have a place lined up, then?” Grant suspected it may not have been decided yesterday, but he was the only one not aware there was a decision being discussed.

He nodded. “There’s an apartment lined up for you. It’s about a half hour to the stadium. I figured you didn’t want to be too close. It’s in the same town, but on the other end, so you can have some anonymity.”

Well, at least he was getting that, probably more than the team wanted to do for him.

“Movers?” Grant wondered how much had been planned.

He reached into his desk drawer and brought out a business card, handing it over. “They’re waiting for you to call.”

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