Page 80 of Red Zone Realizations
Colin turns, whipped cream can in hand. One look at my face and he’s spraying a huge mouthful and swallowing it. He silently hands me the can and I do the same. He places it backin the fridge and starts pulling ingredients out of the freezer. We still haven’t said a word.
Sighing, he turns from the fridge, arms full of sauces, a vegetable, chicken stock, and more. “You’re being traded.” It’s not a question.
“I was encouraged to see my”—I make air quotes—“market value.”
“Ah.”
I stare at my feet. It takes everything in me to get one word out. “Chicago.”
He nods solemnly. “That blows.”
“Any advice?” I gesture around the kitchen. “That’s what I came for.”
“Don’t wait to tell Audrey.” I’m already kind of procrastinating by being here and not heading directly home. “You owe it to yourself and every tight end in the league to see what you’re worth on the market.” He shrugs. “The managers are going to do whatever they want to do. Ain’t shit you can do about it.”
“It’s times like this when I hate being a puppet with shoulder pads. At the beck and call of some old asshole with billions,” I spit. “Like I don’t have family here. A home. A life! Like it’s so easy to pick all that up, say goodbye to my teammates, and fuck off to some other city to start over again?” Colin nods in understanding. This is his third team. He was a talented quarterback in the Big 10, but not as impressive as everyone thought he would be in the league. He’s not worried about getting traded yet, but any year a great rookie comes through the draft, he could be looking at QB2. Things are still better here than his last team. The crowd booed him in their own stadium.
“Audrey isn’t going to want to leave Houston.”
“Did you ask her?”
I’m quiet for a beat. “No.”
“Maybe you should let her decide for herself.”
“Her whole life is here.” I cover my face with my hands. “I’m not worth giving that up for.”
“Again. You should probably ask her.”
“It will kill me to leave her here, and it will kill me seeing her sad if I take her away.”
His back is turned to me as he sets everything down on the counter. “If she agrees to go with you, then you’re not taking anything from her.” He pauses. “Did you consider she just needs a reason to go? Someone to start over with knowing she’ll be taken care of?”
I feel everything at once. Rage builds in my chest at the Hurricanes for offing me. Tears sting my eyes at the thought of Audrey leaving me.
“I love her,” I choke.
Colin turns toward me, and with two big steps he’s pulling me into a hug. Not a side arm bro hug, but the real deal. This team has been my family, the players, my brothers. Their brotherhood is something I wish I had growing up. Losing them is crushing me from one side, losing Audrey is crushing me from the other. I’m suffocating.
Colin pats my back and then pulls away. “Everything is going to be okay. Don’t worry about things that haven’t happened yet. Just because we won’t be teammates anymore doesn't mean we won’t be best friends. You won’t lose me. The chances of us being on the same team for the rest of our careers was always a long shot. We’ll adapt.”
I take a deep breath. “I needed to hear that.”
“I know.”
I check the clock hanging over his kitchen sink. “I’d betterget going. Audrey is waiting for me. I didn’t tell her I was headed here first. To be honest, I didn’t know I was coming.”
He nods, understanding. We clap hands and embrace. “Go on.”
Without another word, he heads off toward the primary bedroom. Maybe he’s upset about me leaving and doesn’t want to talk about it anymore. Or maybe he’s a man who’s been in a long-term relationship and knows that I’ll stay here all night procrastinating going home and breaking the bad news to Audrey.
Either way, I get the hint.
I head out their back door, calling goodbye as I go, as I head to the only place I can think to go before facing Audrey.
The flower shop door chimes as I walk through. The man behind the counter has dark hair and a large mustache. “Can I help you, son?” The whole place smells like a bomb of expensive perfume went off.
“Yes, sir. I need some flowers.”
