“I never wanted to be a doctor. I’m doing exactly what I always planned. Six years of college and then certifications after and those to maintain have been more than enough.”
“What certifications?” Stephanie, the wife of the other coach asked. “I always wanted to be a nurse, but I sucked in science.”
“I’ve been in several departments over the years. I started in orthopedics, so that’s my first, then family medicine, which gives me a wide range of departments to work in from family practice to pediatrics, to obgyn. I’m in family practice right now. It helps to patch up Jayce when Archer gives him a run for his money and he’s sore and beaten up.”
“She’s not lying,” Jayce said, his eyes wide in mock horror. “I never thought age would catch up to me until I had to entertain a kid for a week who has more energy than I ever thought I had.”
“Kids will do that to you,” Brianna said. “Nino is going to learn that soon enough.”
“Did you make your announcement?” Jayce asked.
“Not yet, but it’s not much of a secret. My contract expired and the offers coming in don’t seem worth it.”
“He promised,” Brianna said. “Right, Nino?”
“It’s got to be hard to give it up,” Brice said. “We’ve worked hard to get here. I’m just starting so can’t even think that.”
“That’s right, and now Jayce doesn’t have to babysit your ass either,” Nino said. “Back in my day, we didn’t need it.”
“Who are you kidding?” Brianna said. “You did your fair share of partying, but you knew your limits and stayed with the right people. The next round isn’t so smart.”
“Are you saying I’m not smart?” Brice asked, frowning.
Oh boy, this wasn’t what she thought the dinner would turn into.
“My wife would never do that,” Nino said. “But what she hears is from me, and you know what I thought of you and your crew. Keep your ass in check along with your buddy Levi and you’ll be fine.”
“He’s too much even for me,” Brice said, letting out a snort. The second year player turned to Jayce. “He still has his dick in a twist over what went down. No one believed it, but his pride struggled to be made a fool. McKayla won’t stop coming around. I’m sure you’re glad you’re gone from that nightmare. I would have been pissed if it were me caught up in that shit, and trust me, some players said the same.”
There were some heads that went down at the table, and Farrah turned to look at Jayce, his face slightly flushed, but DeVone jumped in, “I’m trying to talk Nino into coaching. Giveshim something to do without the wear and tear on his body. Then he can put Brice in his place when he runs his mouth.”
“Coaching isn’t for me,” Nino said. The talk turned to the game and she sat there and listened more than contributed.
It was great to see Jayce at ease, laughing with some old colleagues who seemed to be more friends than she realized. His actions differed from normal too.
After a few hours of food and drink, they left the private room they’d been in in the back. She could see where he would have loved living like that, as it was all the things he’d always boasted he wanted and appeared to have.
“That was fun,” she said when they let themselves into the hotel room.
“It was,” he said. “Nice to see everyone too. I think they tried to get more but last minute is rough.”
“That was more than enough for me,” she said. “And nice to see so many coming out to see you. Can I ask what Brice’s comment was about Levi and you?”
“I figured you’d want to know. It’s nothing major.”
“Then why did everyone get quiet and your face turn red?” If no one reacted that way, she might have just shrugged it off.
“Sit,” he said.
“This isn’t going to be good, is it?”
“It’s not horrible, just not something I like to talk about. The short version is, Levi is a hothead who liked to party and I was tasked with keeping him and Brice in line half the time. I wasn’t their watchdog, but I was called to come get them or know where they were.”
“Which you would have hated if you were doing other work on the road.”
“I did. It played a part in why I left.”
“Watching them outside of games?” she asked.
