Page 88 of Roughing the Player
Chapter 23
Brock
FOOTBALL SEASON ROLLS ALONGin a Chicago freezing tundra cold enough to freeze your nuts. We make the playoffs, but lose the conference championship game. Although disappointed, I have no regrets. I know I’ve done my best.
With the season over, I know what’s bound to come. Sure enough, a week after the loss, Coach calls me into his office. Ty Mathews’ doctor has cleared him to play. So come fall, he’ll return to his starting quarterback position. I’m too good to let go, so he’d like to offer me the backup position. I thank the coach for his honesty and tell him I’ll think about it. No sense burning your bridges unless you have a better one to cross. He nods in understanding. After the success I’ve had this year, he knows I can get a better deal.
He comes to his feet and holds out his hand. “You exceeded my expectations, Brock. I knew you had it in you, but I didn’t know if you would come through. You put my doubts to rest. I’d gladly have you on any team of mine.”
“Thanks, Coach. That means a lot to me.”
“Any plans for the off-season?”
I grin. “A honeymoon. Never got to go on one.”
“I’m guessing your wife had something to do with your performance these last few months.”
“That she did.” If it hadn’t been for Ellie, I don’t know if I would have kept to the straight and narrow. Any success I’ve had this year, I owe in large part to her.
I’d promised we’d travel to Fiji, but in the end, we choose Bora Bora in French Polynesia. Team commitments and Ellie’s work responsibilities do not allow us to leave right away. But by early March, our schedules clear up and soon we’re on our way. She’d never traveled out of the country, so the trip is one huge adventure for her. We snorkel with fishes, make love in secluded beach bungalows, swim naked in the Pacific blue waters, and eat several times our body weight. She can’t get over the variety of fresh fruits. After ten days in paradise, we’re reluctant to return home. But Ellie misses Kaylee, and to tell the truth, so do I.
We arrive home exhausted after the long flight but looking forward to whatever life will bring next. Still on Bora Bora time, I wake up the next morning groggy as hell. Ellie’s side of the bed is downright cold. At some point, she’d rolled off the mattress to go on a grocery run. Not sure whether to go for breakfast or lunch, I grab a banana and slap meat on some bread. But I need something more to get through the day. Caffeine. As I’m pouring a fresh cup of java, my phone rings. Marty.
“How was the honeymoon?”
“Wonderful.” I don’t offer more than that. Most of it was x-rated, after all.
“Glad you had a good time. I have news.”
“Oh?” I expect what’s coming, just not the specific details.
“The South Carolina Wolves want you as their starting quarterback.” NFL teams had to wait until mid-March to negotiate for an unrestricted free agent. So no surprise Marty didn’t hear from them until now.
The Wolves are an up-and-coming team. Not good enough to make the playoffs. Yet. Although they have a pretty decent defense, they need to build their offensive line. That’s where I would come in. “What’s their offer?”
“Not high enough. But I can get them to where you want them to be.”
“You sure?”
“Positive. I assume you want me to start negotiations.”
“Yes.” It would be nice to play in Charleston. I’ve missed the South’s hospitality and easy spirit. But I can’t put the cart before the horse. Not only might the deal fall through, but I need to discuss things with Ellie.
“I’ll get the ball rolling then. I’ll keep you posted.”
“Thanks.”
If I know Marty, and I do, the negotiations won’t take long. The Wolves need me. If they don’t make a high enough offer, some other team will. There were enough grumblings during the season about teams wanting me. So wherever I land, I’ll win. The problem will be convincing Ellie to come with me. I had promised our marriage would be temporary. But I never intended it as such. I want her forever.
It’s going to be difficult to pry her away from Chicago, though. She’s planted deep roots here. This house, the first one she’s owned. She won’t give that up easily. Her job. And then there’s Kaylee. Next year she’ll attend the best public high school in the state. But that’s not a factor. I can certainly afford private school tuition for her.
I grab the yellow pad Ellie keeps on the coffee table to jot down some ideas—warmer climate, friendlier neighbors. Educational options I’ll need to research. Charleston’s bound to have some great schools. The job issue can be easily resolved. After all, enough college teams in the South play ball. She could easily work from there recruiting players and such.
My stomach grumbles reminding me it still hasn’t been fed. I drop the pad back on the coffee table, so I can chow down on my food. That’s when I notice a small FedEx envelope from her agency addressed to Ellie with a check peeking out from the edge. Huh. Why would they be FedExing that to her? She normally gets her salary deposited into her bank account. Curious, I take it out. The check’s for $20,000. In the memo portion it says “For extraordinary services rendered.”
What services? As far as I know, Ellie spent the last few months doing background research on college players and working on endorsement deals. Nothing out of the ordinary. She’d done nothing special. Except for one thing.
Me.
