Page 29 of Personal Foul

Chapter Fourteen

They spent the weekend getting used to being in each other’s space. He wanted so badly to take her to bed and bury himself so deeply, they wouldn’t know where he ended and she began. The one thing he didn’t want to do, however, was pressure her. Romilly meant too much to him.

On Saturday, he helped her package up her sales and drove her to the post office. That evening they watched a movie. On Sunday, she retreated onto the balcony to paint while he went for a long jog.

Monday morning, he was right back on the practice turf, going through his paces. It was hard work, but he loved it. He thrived on the challenge—the blood, sweat, and tears that made up the fabulous game of football. Once practice was over, he didn’t want to leave, so took to running laps in an effort to clear his head. Things were beginning to get jumbled. His emotions. His ambition. Especially his greed and duplicity. He kept reminding himself to stay the course.

Lost in thought, it startled him when Crew came running up next to him and fell in sync. Kaiden glanced at the quarterback and wondered if he was about to shatter his hope.

“So,” Crew said. “I’ve been throwing the ball at a lot of players the past two weeks.”

“Yep,” he replied.

“Coach brought in a lot of misfits from the cleared waivers and undrafted free-agent world.”

“Misfitsis an interesting word to use.”

“Not sure if you realize this but I was one before the Archers picked me up. Sigworth brought six of us here to audition, his word not mine. I was the lucky bastard that won.”

“Congrats.”

Crew chuckled around his huffing breath. “Thanks. WhenI didn’t get drafted, shit, I thought I was going to end up in prison, or something. My mentor got me into football and I was devastated when I thought I let him down.”

“Then definitely congrats. The only thing I ever wanted to do in my life was play football.”

“Same,” Crew said and held out his fist. Kaiden bumped it with his. “Sometimes, you get overlooked even though you might be the best player in the league. Or you don’t get along with the people you’re playing with. I was written off because I wasn’t drafted, and yet here I am. The quarterback for the newest NFL team.”

Kaiden wondered where Crew’s story was heading. Then a whistle rang out and both he and Crew stopped running.

“Demay!” Coach yelled. “My office.”

“Fuck,” Kaiden muttered. Now he understood the story. He didn’t gel and now he was being cut before he even made it to training camp. As he turned to head toward the back offices, Crew patted him on the back. Dick. He thought they’d been on friendly terms. With a heavy heart he trudged toward the demise of his career.

Coach Sigworth sat behind his desk and glanced up when Kaiden got there. “Close the door.”

After following the instruction, he sat down in the chair in front of the large metal desk. Coach leaned back in his chair and stared at him. Kaiden maintained eye contact because he refused to cower from the crushing disappointment bubbling up.

“I want to thank you for showing up every day and giving a hundred percent.”

Unable to say anything, Kaiden only nodded.

“But, and I can’t stress this enough, you’re going to have to give a hundred and ten percent during training camp.”

Kaiden blinked, not sure if he heard correctly. “Uh. What?”

Coach snickered and held out his hand. “We’re buying your contract, Kaiden. Welcome to the Archers.”

It took a moment for his brain to catch up, and when it did, he shot forward to grab the handshake.

“Seriously? You’re not fucking with me?”

“Didn’t Crew tell you?”

“Nah, he left that little bit out. I was scared shitless when I came in here.”

“I could tell.” Coach let go and Kaiden sat back, his heart racing like a Thoroughbred. “Now, remember, no bad behavior. Like we said, kiss babies and puppies, or whatever else you’ve got planned. Understood?”

“Loud and clear.”

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