Page 2 of Stalked By the Recruiter

“Montoya,” he started to warn, but I raised a hand.

“I’m not the monster you think I am. I can see why you would think that. I do, with the whole thing between my sister and me. I’m not proud of how I let Betty down. I really am not.”

“That’s none of my business.”

“It’s not, yet you’re judging me by it,” I pointed out. “Now, don’t get me wrong. I get it. I came here like a fucking wrecking ball trying to grab players, and the way I behaved with Hemi wasn’t cool.”

“Trying to blackmail, you mean?” Red didn’t mince words.

“Whatever. I regret that. I’m trying to change. For my sister and my relationship with her,” I shared honestly. “Crank Dominguez would do great in the NFL.”

“He will,” Red agreed, and for a moment I thought maybe Bridges would throw me a bone and talk to him. “When he’s done with school.”

“He just decided to double major,” I shared. My eye twitched like it always did when I got irritated or stressed. “That means he’s just added another year of college.”

“And?”

“And I would appreciate your help to talk to him. Look, Red, I like you. Believe it or not, I respect you. I know your story, like you know mine,” I reminded him as gently as I could manage. We had both been pulled from the game. Where Red Bridges had been injured and that had been all she wrote, I’d had to quitbecause my parents had died in a car accident, and I’d had to stop everything to raise my little sister.

I’d taken a job at the university and slowly moved my way up the ladder until I became head coach. When Betty started at U of D, I’d felt it was time for me to try my luck at working for the NFL and left to recruit for the pros.

“Red, you, of all people, know how fickle Lady Luck can be.”

“Hmm,” he grunted.

“Crank is healthy. He’s fucking fast and big, and the way he can read the field is uncanny.”

“He does have a good eye,” Bridges agreed.

“The Rams want him. I want him to go pro. I think we can draft him in the third, maybe second round.” I shared shit I had no business sharing.

“He has big plans for his future, Andres.” Bridges shrugged, and I knew no matter what I said, I was hitting a dead end.

“Dr. Crank? You think people are going to go see a doctor named Crank? This isn’tThe Emperor’s New Groove.” I sighed.

“That was Kronk,” he corrected, and I rolled my eyes.

“The NFL has had one of those, too,” I argued.

“He’s a good kid. Like you said, it’s within your right to go talk to him. Which, seeing as you know about the fact he’s decided to double major, I have a feeling you already have.”

“The kid likes school.” I made a face, and the asshole laughed. Holy shit, Red Bridges was really in love if he was laughing and crap!

“I get it. I loved playing football, but classes?” He shrugged. “It wasn’t my thing.” I nodded and then tilted my head.

“Yet you became a high school teacher,” I pointed out, and Red chuckled. Again

“It wasn’t that bad,” he mumbled.

“Maybe. Either way, I think Crank would be a great addition to—" Red’s hand rose and he shook his head.

“Gotta tell you, if you’re here trying to talk me into somehow convincing him to enter the draft and put his education on hold, I’m sorry to tell you, you’re wasting your breath,” he shared, and I knew I didn’t have a chance of talking Red into talking to Dominguez.

“But—"

“I get it. Time isn’t always on our side. Shit could happen. But out of all my players, Crank Dominguez is not one I am worried about. The guy is good. On and off the field. Not just physically"—his fingers pointed at his chest then moved to his temple— “but mentally.”

“Red—"

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