Page 45 of Catching Our Moment
“Oh. Do you not like him?”
“Her. No, I like her fine enough, but she’s calling about the appointment, and she’s going to want to talk. Only, I don’t want to talk.” He dropped his head back against the headrest. “But if I don’t answer, she will fly her ass out here, and then I’ll have to deal with her in person. And she won’t be happy about it.”
He took in a breath and answered, “Hello, Yaz.”
I pulled up to a stoplight. He was quiet while listening to the muffled, fast talk of his agent. He rubbed his forehead, resting his head back against the headrest. He relayed what the doctors said about his recovery time. “Yes, I realize that’s most of the season.”
A few minutes went by, and besides a grunt of affirmation, he didn’t say anything. “Of course, I realize it’s not ideal, given the status of my contract.”
More mumbling from the phone.
“Yeah, she’s here. We’re driving home,” he said. “She discussed a treatment plan we will be starting with the team at Hopkins.” He listened some more, cutting a quick, sheepish glance at me, making me curious about what was being said. “Yes, the team doctor approved of her credentials. It’s fine. She’s a hard-ass. You’d approve.”
That was a correct assessment. I was going to be extra hard on him after this sulk-fest.
There was a pause from the noise coming from his phone. “Does that mean we are done—” Then more talking. “Guess not.”
“Aw, come on, Yaz?—”
“Yeah, I know I’m not on vacation, but I’m also supposed to be lying low while I recover,” he said.
More from Yaz. Then he tossed up his free hand. “Fine, one interview.” Mumbling. “When?” Mumbling. “I can’t. I am busy after 3:00 on weekdays.”
I put on my blinker to make a turn, shot a look over at him, and shook my head. “You don’t have to cancel plans because of Aaron.”
He put up his hand at me. We were going to have to talk about this new habit of his. He was still listening to Yaz. “Tell you what. Tell them to send me the equipment, and I will do it from here.”
Inaudible mumbling from the phone. “Call TJ. Ask him, or I will.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
The muffled sounds also increased.
“No non-disclosures. These people are family. They don’t need non-disclosures.” Shaw’s irritation was hitting heights I didn’t remember seeing before. “Just send me the specifics. Talk to you later.” He hung up the phone and rubbed his hand through his hair. “God dammit, I can’t get a quiet moment.”
Silence once again descended on the car. I turned on the blinker and made another turn. “Everything okay?” Yes, I realized I was part of the reason he couldn’t get a quiet moment.
“Fine.”
Okay. “Listen, if you have things you need to do, you don’t have to worry about Aaron.”
“It’s not a big deal,” he said. “She—my agent—has an interview lined up with a former teammate of mine who has his own podcast now.” He grumbled to himself. “Why she thinks this is a good idea is beyond me.”
“Okay, well, like I said?—”
“I thought maybe Aaron would like to watch. TJ is a good guy, and Aaron would probably get a kick out of meeting him,” he said. “I need to check on the time and day, but the great thing about technology is that I can do it from home.”
“Um, okay.” I wasn’t sure how to feel about this. We pulled onto our street, and I turned into the alley that led to the garages out back. “Let me think about it.”
“Yaz is going to text me the specifics later.”
I pulled in the garage and turned off the car. “If you don’t want to do it, why did you agree?”
“Because she’s my agent, and I basically have to do whatever she says. If I have any hope of staying in this league, I need to listen to her.” He opened his door while he continued to talk. Except, I thought he was talking more to himself than me. “It’s about image right now as much as physical potential.” As he got out, he added, “Hell, at this point, if I have any hope of a career outside this league, I need to listen to her as well.”
I got out and closed my door. “Well, we have a game plan and can start tomorrow with everything. You finally get your wish—you can start working out,” I said, leading up the back stairs. “Aaron should be home from school soon. Do you want to come over?”
He stood outside the garage and stared at the ground. “Nah. I’m pretty beat. Tell him I’ll catch him tomorrow.”
