I went on my own press campaign. My contacts at sports radio and all the major sports news outlets were anxious to hear about my time off. They mostly wanted to know how I bagged Hollywood’s Sweetheart. Unfortunately for them, I wasn’t takingthe bait. Instead, I shared my own charitable ventures. Ones that wouldn’t have started without Ivory’s ideas and guidance. I made sure the whole world knew that she was the backbone behind everything Miller and I have accomplished. Miller and other players even came to our defense on social media. Slowly, the narrative is changing.
My phone pings with an incoming text from Coach. We still some time before workouts start.
COACH
Though I am happy you stepped up for my daughter, I’m still pissed.
Your ass better be in my office first thing Monday morning
PRESTON
I’ll be there.
And I will damn sure step up for her every time.
If I weren’t under contract and expected for training at the end of the month, I would be in L.A with Ivory supporting her and loving her through this massive transition and media shitstorm.
June 22
Monday morning comes too quickly and I’m due in Coach’s office in an hour. Nerves are wracking havoc on my system. I tossed and turned most of the night, and couldn’t stomach more than a protein shake this morning. I need to focus on getting back in shape and earning my place on the team now that I am officially on Coach’s shit list. But Ivory is never far from my thoughts.
Leaving her in the Dallas airport tore me apart. When Iwatched her walk away the first time, it felt like I was being physically punched in the gut. Someone may as well have reached into my chest and ripped out my heart. Ivory running back to me in a panic to give me the words that I had been hoping for eased some of the ache, but it still feels like part of me is missing.
We talk every day either through text or phone but it’s not nearly enough. Who knew spending three months with one person could feel like a lifetime. I certainly didn’t. I also didn’t know that it would be so hard to adjust to sleeping alone again. Ivory was only in my bed for less than two months but the bed feels empty now.
The first night I barely slept. I miss her warmth beside me. I miss waking up to her hair in my mouth either from her head resting on my chest or from me burying my face into her neck from behind. My world has been turned upside down. If this is how I feel less than two weeks in, I don’t know how I will survive the next four months.
“Yo! Are you going to spot me or let me drop the bar on my face?” Miller yells from his position on the bench press in my home gym.
“I don’t know. The bar may improve your mean mug.” Stepping into place at the head of the bench, I ready myself to jump in if Miller can’t handle the weight.
“Asshole,” he huffs, and grabs the bar to begin his reps.
Miller picked me up from the airport and has been a pain in my ass ever since. I missed the guy though so I can’t complain. He’s my only true friend left on the team.
“It’s not like you haven’t been taking full advantage of my gym while I’ve been gone. Who spotted you then?” When we aren’t at the facility, we are typically hanging together at one of our houses.
“Your new daddy, who else?” Miller says after pumping out his tenth rep and sitting up on the bench.
“Dick.” Shaking my head, I switch places with him. Hisribbing is his way of telling me he missed me too. It honestly took him longer to make the jab at my girlfriend’s dad being my coach than I thought it would.
“Don’t you have a meeting with him today?”
“Yep, I need to head there soon.” Grunting, I lift the bar off the rack.
“Come on, Gramps. You can’t be that out of shape.” I’m definitely out of shape after three months off. I tried to do body weight workouts but my arm strength isn’t as good as it was.
I struggle on the last rep and Miller reaches out in case I drop it.
“Fuck,” I breathe out. “Coach is going to have my ass if I show up to training like that.”
“We’ll get you back. No big thing.” Miller claps my shoulder when I sit up. “Want me to come to the stadium with you for your meeting?”
Miller may give me hell but he’s a good friend. He’s always been there for me. Despite this being a closed meeting, Miller would walk his ass into Coach’s office and plop down in the second chair.
“Well it is your fault that I went on the trip.”
“My fault for you meeting the love of your life? I’ll take credit for that.”
