Page 60 of Fumbling for Perfection

Ben Vanesse, my agent since my senior year in college, meets me in the parking lot.

“Ready, Bankes?” He claps my shoulder and guides me into the building. I’ve seen my share of smarmy agents, but Ben is a good guy. Sure, he’s in it for the paycheck, but he cares about his players too.

“I guess.”

“Don’t tell me after all the favors you asked me to call in that you’ve had a change of heart.”

“No worries, Ben. I’ll sign the contract.”

“Three years and fifteen million isn’t enough to bring even half a grin to that ugly mug of yours?”

I cock a brow at him. “Since when have you known me to jump up and down and do cartwheels before signing a contract?”

“True.” He holds open a door for me. “But you never looked like you were facing death row either.”

Shit. That’s not the impression I want to give my new coach or my new team. I’ve always been the face and voice of reason. A leader on every team I’ve played on from high school to college and in Arizona and San Fran.

My teammates and coaches respect me because I keep drama and personal shit off the field and out of the locker room. Hell, I left all my personal shit in Rhode Island. The reality of the decision I made, the cut I took, and why, slaps me in the face.

“I’m fine.”

As we head down the corridor to the GM’s office, I tamp back my frustration at my life right now and take deep, calming breaths in an attempt to loosen the band around my chest.

Ben gives me a look over before opening the next set of doors. “Ready?”

I nod my head and we step into an impressive office lined with trophies, plaques, and pictures of the team with some of the city’s most famous athletes and stars.

“Best kept secret in football,” Shawn Saunders, the Revolutions’ GM, shakes my hand. “Can’t tell you how excited we are to have you in Boston.”

“Bankes. Good to see you again.” Coach Danny Hayes shakes my hand and tugs me in for a chest bump that turns into a one-arm hug.

He’s a few years past fifty and affectionate with his players. A hard ass on the field, but he’s not the kind of coach who is always on. He and his wife, who I met the last time I was in the city, are down to earth people who treat the players like their sons.

“Glad to be here.”

We make small talk, and I’m grateful for Ben’s dynamic personality. Part of what makes him one of the best agents is his ability to charm the stiffest of the tightwads into an amazing deal for his clients.

This time, his job was easy. I hadn’t been looking for an amazing deal. In a matter of forty-eight hours, my life has changed. I shouldn’t be surprised. It only took minutes after meeting Riley to experience the same life-changing feeling.

Although ten weeks ago, the changes were positive. Or so I thought. They were lies.

“Walker?” Ben nudges my elbow.

I blink over at him, realizing I’d completely zoned out. “Yeah.” I clear my throat. “Excuse me. Would you mind repeating that?”

“Jet lagged?” Coach laughs. “I asked if you were having second thoughts on taking the cut. Since we’re rebuilding the team, you’ll be a big fish in the pond, but we have a lot of weak areas on our defense we’re focusing on. Our running game’s been strong, but with Tozier and Pitts going through knee injury after knee injury, your speed and agility are needed. I only wish we could have offered you more.”

“Easy, Danny. We don’t want to talk Walker out of the deal before he signs the contract.” Saunders pushes the manilla folder across the conference table and Ben opens it, reading through the documents.

As he reads through each page, he passes it to me to read and sign. I trust him, and I don’t care about the money anyway. I pretend to read line by line, and when Ben passes me the next page, I sign where indicated and repeat until we’re done with the contract.

The four of us stand and shake hands.

“I don’t know why you’d settle for the cut, but we’re happy to have you here.”

I shake Danny’s hand. “Life isn’t about money, coach. It doesn’t buy happiness or make dreams come true. Besides, I have more than I can ever imagine spending in my lifetime.”

“No truer words have ever been spoken. Our program needs a guy like you. Welcome to Boston.”

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