No gated or covered parking.
"We just need to talk," I said.
"That's what you assholes always say."
"Man, that season opener against the Raptors was amazing," JD said. "Hundred and seventy-eight yards on 24 carries and three touchdowns. That was a franchise record for a rookie, wasn't it?” Jack knew what he was doing. There was no way this guy could refuse talking about himself and his limited career.
We tried not to grin too hard when Gavin unlatched the deadbolt and pulled open the door. His wary eyes flicked between the two of us.
Gavin was still a big guy, with legs like tree trunks. He would be a hard man to bring down. I bet he still had a little of the old spark in him. Who knows? Lose the attitude, turn it around, work hard. Maybe he could walk on somewhere. But valuable years were drifting away.
"That was impressive," Jack said.
Gavin gave a subtle nod. "Yeah, well, those days are long gone."
"Better to have tasted victory than never to have known it."
"I guess. But that shit doesn't pay the bills now.”
We both gave sympathetic frowns.
“When was the last time you saw Coach Madison?” I asked.
His face twisted with a scowl.
All the pieces were starting to fit.
Gavin was a player who could have been a star. Out of the gate, he showed promise. After that one game, people were pinning the future of the franchise on this kid. Announcers comparedhim to the greats and speculated we were “Witnessing the birth of a star.”
The buzz was unbelievable.
And so was Gavin’s ego.
It had gotten out of control. Confidence and bravado are one thing. This was on another level. It probably would have been tolerable had he lived up to expectations.
But that second game essentially ended his career.
He’d been that sleeper second-round pick the team had nabbed for not much money, comparatively speaking.
Season one was a bust. Surgery. Intense rehab.
Season two was lackluster. Gavin never had the same explosiveness. But the ego remained. Constant clashes with Coach Madison and the press, combined with a reputation for nightlife indulgences, led to the kid getting cut midway through the season.
Just like that, everybody forgot about him.
Now, with his recent arrest for DUI, his CDL had been suspended. He lost his job delivering packages for a big box online retailer. This was after he’d lost the construction gig for showing up drunk on multiple occasions.
Gavin’s life was in free fall.
Just the kind of stressor needed to send someone over the edge. Maybe enough to send them into a homicidal rage.
“Man, fuck that guy!” Gavin said.
It was a common sentiment.
“Still holding a grudge?” I said.
“Damn right. That guy ruined my life. Sabotaged my career.”
