“It’s been that long? Why?”
“You start to figure out real quick who’s in it for you and who’s in it for the money and prestige. And I’ve had a hard time finding the former. So I don’t really bother anymore.”
“Wow. I thought you had women lining up.”
“Sometimes women express interest.”
“But you don’t reciprocate? Why not?”
I glance around the kitchen. It’s kitschy. Not my style, with the vintage, wire rooster collection on top of the cupboards and the acorn-shaped spoon rest on the stovetop. She said it wasn’t exactly her décor— it came with the house and since it’s a family-owned house, she decided to keep it. She says it’s growing on her and it’s also growing on me.
I stare at the linoleum floor. “Well, because I think I’m going to be traded.”
Chapter 18
Taysom
Iscrubmyface.If there’s anything I hate worse than losing a football game, it’s talking about getting traded.
“And if it happens,” I continue, “it’s going to be within the next few weeks. There’s always that fear there, but now it’s a huge deal, especially with Casey Riddock in the mix.”
Charlotte’s mouth pulls down in a frown. “I see. I bet that’s hard.” She squeezes my arm and then lets go. “I don’t want you to get traded.”
“There’s this sense of doom every day.”
Her brows knit together, and the warmth from her arm next to mine makes me feel like she cares. “Oh, that’s rough.”
“It comes with the territory. But the fact that I’ve been with the Wolves, my dream team, for six years? That’s unheard of. I was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but got traded that same night to the Wolves. I couldn’t believe my luck. The fact that my friends and family are right here and can watch me play? That I can still see my mom every week while doing what I love? It seemed too good to be true. It still seems too good to be true.”
“So why not date? I still don’t understand. I know it makes things harder, but not impossible.” At my glance, she scratches her ear. “I mean, I’m not wondering because…it’s just…I’m curious.”
The sigh that escapes me does nothing to ease the tightening in my sternum. “My dad traveled about seventy percent of the time for work. It tore up my parents’ marriage. When they divorced when I was little, I swore I wouldn’t have a job that travels, but then I discovered football. It’s the only thing we really have that holds us together. Go figure it’s the thing that we all love but the thing that takes me away from them the most.”
“I’m sorry. I mean, I knew your parents split up when you were young, but I didn’t know why or how hard it’s been.”
I smile faintly. “Not many families are like the Mercers.”
“Hey, we’re not perfect, not by any stretch of the imagination.”
“Yeah, but you were together.” I puff out a breath. “You’re lucky.”
She places her hand on top of mine, her big brown eyes meeting my gaze. “I know. I am.”
Her hand stays put and it anchors me enough that I keep talking. “And I am, too, in a lot of ways. That I get to do what I love? That I get paid a lot of money to do what I love? I don’t take that for granted.”
She swallows hard. “You shouldn’t. You are lucky to be able to do that.”
“What’s the word on the jobs you’ve applied for? Have you heard anything yet?”
“Not a thing.” Her gaze takes in the floor. “Willa has had two interviews already. She hasn’t heard yet if she got them, but at least she’s interviewed. I haven’t heard anything from anyone. Granted, she didn’t have a little baby kitten with the world’s biggest set of lungs show up, either. I got a bit of a late start on the search.”
As if on cue, Miley struts into the kitchen, her tail moving in cadence with her steps, her head held high as she scrunches up her face in an ear-splitting meow. “If you ever change your mind about the job at the Sports Med Institute, just say the word.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.” She blows out a breath. “MJ came in today.”
“And? Is she still good for surgery?”
Charlotte shakes her head. “Yes and no. This particular surgery is risky in the sense that it might not work.” She explains the procedure in detail. I don’t understand much of it, and though I’m used to talk of sports injuries, I still cringe at her description of the way the surgeon has to cut into the femoral head.
