“For Pete’s sake, Doc. I went to college in Ohio.”
She’s completely clueless.
“Was I supposed to know that?”
“Ohio State?”
“Is that a big football university?”
“Uh, yeah.”
My body stiffens as she twirls around the center of the field. Arms outstretched. Head tilted toward the sun.
God, she’s gorgeous.
“Does it bother you that I don’t comprehend how much of a celebrity you are?”
“That question implies that I’m a douchebag and I’m not a douchebag. I’m just surprised. You’re the first woman I’ve met in a very long who doesn’t know who I am and who doesn’t seem to care.”
She stops twirling and stares at me with a serious look on her pretty face.
“I care about who you are, Dak, just not in the way you’re used to. I care about your well being. I want to be able to say to the NFL that you are fine and that you should play again if that’s what you want. You’ve just got to do the work. There’s no skipping the line.”
“No skipping the line?”
“You’ve got to talk about what happened with Hunt McCall sooner or later.”
Every muscle in my body tightens.
“There’s nothing to say.”
“Okay then, tell me what you love about playing football.”
“It’s what I’m good at.”
“That’s what you love about it?” She hikes her sleek skirt up slightly above her knees and takes a seat on the ground, her legs crisscrossed in front of her. “Come sit.”
I stare at her for a moment, but she doesn’t relent and waves me forward.
“Come on.”
I hesitantly walk towards Katrina and take a seat on the grass next to her, crossing my legs in front of me as well. The coolness of the turf seeps through my pants, reminding me of the vulnerability that brought me here today.
“I love the adrenaline rush,” I finally respond, my voice tinged with a mix of passion and guilt. “The feeling of competing, the rush of making a play, the roar of the crowd. It’s like nothing else.”
Katrina nods, her gaze fixed on me, her eyes filled with understanding. “I can see how that would be exhilarating. But what about the game itself? What is it about football that draws you in?”
I take a deep breath, my mind racing with memories and conflicting emotions. “Football is a battlefield. It’s a chance to prove myself, to push my limits, and to lead my team. There’s a camaraderie among the players, a brotherhood that develops through the shared challenges and victories. I love the strategy, the physicality, and the mental toughness it requires.”
Katrina listens attentively, her presence a comforting anchor amidst the whirlwind of emotions inside me.
“It sounds like football means a lot to you, Dak. And it’s clear that you have a deep passion for the game.”
“I do.”
“So why was it so hard for you to step out onto this field today? What happened in Philly with McCall that has you avoiding the very thing that you love you so much?”
The weight of guilt settles heavily on my shoulders, and I find it difficult to meet Katrina’s gaze. The image of McCall lying on the ground, lifeless because of me, haunts my thoughts.
