Page 58 of High Notes & Hail Marys

Your agent scoffs. Just over his shoulder, the Los Angeles sunshine is blinding. It’s first thing in the morning on the West Coast, but Pete is rocking thatCali-business-casuallook, a tight blue polo open at his tanned collarbones, and his hair a gravity-defying swoop. He makes a dismissive gesture, flashing his Rolex.

“Whynotyou, my friend? You kill me sometimes. Look at the season you just had—nineteen sacks, five forced fumbles? Two interceptions, one for a TD? How many times did you hit a QB last year?”

“Thirty-something,” you mumble.

“Thirty-four,” Peter says, proud as a papa. “Honestly, I have no idea why you didn’t get DPOY. Why are you questioning why they want you?”

“I have great numbers,” you say bluntly. “But I’ve had great numbers in the past.Now, I’m also dating Sterling Grayson. Don’t you think that probably has something to do with it?”

Your agent nods silently, steepling his fingers.

“Okay,” he says. “That’s where the resistance iscoming from.”

“I’m notresisting;I…”

“Kaius,” Peter interrupts briskly. “Stop it. Right now. Are you listening?”

Chastened by his tone, which sounds like he’s scolding a rambunctious toddler, you hush.

“Is there apossibilitythat this company is attracted to your heightened profile, given your current romantic situation? I’m not gonna blow smoke up your ass; yes, there is. But how many years have I represented you?”

You think it’s a rhetorical question, so you don’t answer at first. When he cocks an eyebrow, you roll your eyes.

“I dunno, Pete. How many years have I played in the Association? Whatever that number is, add one. I guess.”

He tilts his head. “This is me letting you get away with being obtuse, my man. I had an amazing spin class this morning and I can’t really feel my legs, but the endorphins are pumping. You know what else got me pumped? Getting a call that one of my favorite clients, who happens to be one of the hardest working brothers I know, is finally getting some national recognition. How many of those chickenshit regional deals have you done? Mama’s Diner and Wally’s Furniture Barn-kinda places?This is yourtime, Kai. This is your moment. You need to seize it.”

“Don’t call me abrother, Pete. It’s embarrassing for you,” is all you say in reply.

He snorts. “I’m going to have Sherri email you the paperwork. You can DocuSign all of it. A nice lady from the yogurt company wants to meet you ASAP. Her name is Kady Staunton. Shall I have her arrange a flight, or will you be flying private via Grayling Airlines?”

Your mind automatically flashes to the hellhole that was the airport at Christmas, and your resolve wavers.

“I’ll talk to Ster,” you mutter.

Peter claps his hands obnoxiously. “Atta boy! That’s what I like to hear. You got five more minutes?”

You look out the driver’s side window of your car at the still cars in the parking garage, thinking hungrily about the lunch you’d promised yourself at Shake Shack, to be eaten before you do some shopping. It’s noon on a Tuesday, and you are pretty sure you can manage a Publix trip without being recognized.If you could just freakin’ eat first.

“I’ve already given you, like, ten,” you bitch.

“You have five minutes,” he decides for you. “We’renot going to talk about the rise in homophobic search engine hits, because today’s a good day. Today issucha good day, in fact, that it’s the perfect time to talk about your contract. Time’s ticking away until free agency starts, Kai. You still stuck on staying in Miami?”

“I told you I wasn’t changing my mind.”

Petertsks.

“The legal tampering period is about to start. Between you, me, and the lamppost, I’ve already had severalextremelydiscreet andveryunofficial inquiries.”

“From whom, exactly?”

“You know I can’t answer that. They didn’t actually happen, you know? That would beillegaltampering.”

You shake your head. “Then what is the point of this conversation, exactly? Tell whoever isnotillegally tampering to wait until they can tamper legally. Then we can talk. But I’m sticking with Miami.”

“All I’m saying, Kaius, is that you could be leaving a lot of money on the table. I think that, evaluating the market for your position, you could be looking at 95, 97 million. Miami’s not going to match that. They’re stacked, and they don’t need you as much as you want them. As close as they’ve been to aring, they could stick a promising rookie in your spot and still get there.”

“Miami’s been good to me,” you argue. “And maybe I want to be there when they get that ring. You ever think about that?”

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