“Good, ’cause I like her too.” I winked.
“You better.”
We talked for a while longer before my cousin entered the kitchen through the back door. He predicted that his horse Bridget would go into labor today while Versai said Christmas. I didn’t have any input because I didn’t know a damn thing about horses. I was headed back to the house when Duhani asked me to take a ride with him in a few. Shit, that was fine with me.
I had just hopped out of the shower when I got a call. Of course it was Ronny; she didn’t give up too easily. She hadn’t left me alone like I requested, but instead over the past few days had been sending different articles and interviews about me. I paid none of that shit attention, because in the grand scheme of things, it didn’t matter. None of that shit mattered when at the end of the day I had to decide if I was happy with myself or not.
I moved toward the phone, picking it up and putting it on speaker.
“Yeah.”
“Oh my god. I thought you wouldn’t answer.” Ronny sighed into the phone.
“Well, I did. What’s up?”
“Are you any closer to coming home than when we last spoke? They’re saying you dropped off the face of the earth, Hudson.”
“Doesn’t matter, technically I did. What is the team saying?”
“Nothing, besides the same lie that they know where you are and you’re resting up during the holidays.”
I laughed. They knew not to say anything crazy. Shit, I knew too much. I could have buried that team if I wanted to, but I just wanted to be left alone.Shit, was that too much to ask for?
“When are you coming home? Not only am I nervous, but Marty is getting antsy. There is too much happening that we can’t control.”
“That’s life. Now do me a favor and don’t call me again until after the holidays. I’m enjoying my fucking family and staying out of the way. I suggest you do the same.” I hung up before she could finish speaking. My phone was ringing when I went to toss it on the bed, but this time it was my mother, and that call I didn’t have the energy to answer.
By the time I finished dressing to go, Hani was at the door. I gave myself a once over, then moved to the living room to grab my coat. I wasn’t used to this cold at all. I opened the door to leave, then reached on the side of me to cut the lights out. Pulling the door closed behind me, I pulled on my parka. Once I had it zipped all the way up, I pulled the hood over my head and followed Hani.
“I think I’ma get a truck or something to get around out here.” I looked out of the window as he drove. I could feel his eyes after I spoke though.
“That means you plan on sticking around after the holidays, huh?”
I laughed. “Something like that. You good with it?”
“Of course I am. We’re family, but don’t act like you have me in mind with that idea. I peeped you’ve been keeping the company of a certain veterinarian.”
I chuckled. “It’s about more than her. Shit, it’s about finding my sense of belonging outside of football.”
He nodded. “I feel that, but could you turn your back on football?”
I shook my head. “Not really but being here away from everything that makes it a job has made it easy for me to realize it’s not everything to me. I guess I’m saying I don’t have to play in front of millions of people to feel validated anymore.”
“Could you coach?”
I glanced over at him, confusion etched in my features. “Never thought of it that way, but hell yeah.”
“That’s good to hear, so you ain’t looking to turn your back on it. You could probably think about transitioning, I mean, if you stay here.”
The “if you stay here” part was definitely him hovering without hovering.
“Yeah, if I stay, Hani. Now what do you have up your sleeve?”
“Nothing, ’cause I ain’t wearing sleeves.” He pulled the truck into a parking lot.
I glanced up, immediately seeing the sign on the building in front of us—Millers Pointe High School. To the left was a massive football field and several bodies running back and forth. It was cold as hell out here, yet there was no snow on the field and they were out here.
Hani opened the door to get out. He then glanced in my direction. “What, you gonna sit here and stare or get out of the car?”
