As the intercom announced boarding for first-class passengers, I hurried off to the bathroom and changed into my newly acquired outfit. Stripping out of the wet clothes and undies, there was no time to tidy myself up from the amoeba-like sticky mess that found its way to places I didn’t want to think about. I was going to have to free-ball it to San Diego.
Stuffing my suit haphazardly into the bag, I grabbed Allister and rushed out of the stall to board my flight. My new clothes were already stuck to my skin and made walking uncomfortable.
And as if the situation couldn’t get worse, one glance in the mirror reminded me I was a mess in cheap mismatched athletic wear and expensive dress loafers.
Fuck my life. I hoped this wasn’t an omen of what I’d gotten myself into.
With my bag and cat in hand, I marched up to the check-in desk, chin held high, and presented my boarding pass. The lady smiled as she tried to ignore my current state. “Have a good flight.”
Gritting my teeth, I nodded and made my way to my seat. Before sitting down, I shoved my ruined clothing into the overhead bin and placed my cat in his spot. When the flight attendant approached, I beat her to the punch.
“Whisky. Double, please.”
Her smile said she had already been informed of my mishap. “Yes, sir.”
By the time we landed in San Diego, I was marginally relaxed. The plane pulled up to the gate, and the deplaning started. My fellow passengers gave me a wide berth as I collected Allister, my coffee-scented clothes, and made my way to the door.
After exiting the jetway, I followed the signs to baggage claim, ready for this day to be over.
Chapter 5
Carson
Several days before Colin arrived, I approached learning about my new teammate with the same intensity and attention to detail I used to prepare for a game. I dug deep and investigated him as if he were applying for a top-secret government job. And I was right to be concerned. He was a cocky, short-tempered, game-changing hothead.
Article after article touted his unmatched athletic ability, yet this time, rather than a fine and suspension for a few games, the league suspended him for an entire year. He wasn’t the only player fined for a crushing tackle or dangerous contact. Whatever he’d done for them to suspend him for an entire season, it must have been worse.
With every reel, video clip, news article, and meme, it was clear Coach’s intuition was right. I could objectively see how Kearney would make an excellent secondary player if we could deflate his ego. American football was a complex, rule-driven game of finesse, and Colin’s normal style of play would fuck up our system. And that pissed me the hell off.
Three days before we were to leave for Arizona, I charged into baggage claim, fired up after my early morning conversationwith Jayse. It replayed in my mind, no matter how much I tried to end the negative thoughts.
“He’s a goddamn bruiser with a hideous reputation for violence. All the papers say he’s outta control, and that’s why the league gave him the boot. And don’t get me started on the rumors.”
“Fuck,” I’d groaned. “Like what?”
“Barney, a teammate from back home, said he heard from his cousin that Kearney told the press he was only coming here to play until his lawsuit against the league was settled and they were forced to bring him back. Said American football was for pussies, not real men who could take a pounding. And if that weren’t enough shade, he said he was just gonna lay back, show up the Yanks, and prove why rugby players are better athletes.”
Then he paused before throwing gas on the fire.
“I’m warning you now, Carson. This bastard is gonna try to take your job. You wait. The first time something happens, he’ll slip in and take your position as captain away. That’s how cutthroat he is.”
By the time I parked at the airport, I was tempted to turn around and go home. Logically, I knew there was no way Coach had forgone a thorough background check. Mr. Carlisle and the coaching staff wouldn’t sacrifice our team for one international player, would they?
I needed to get myself under control before I embarrassed everyone. It had probably been a bad idea to talk to Jayse about the guy who was replacing him this season, but all information was good information.
Flipping on the AC, I sat and took deep breaths while cold air pelted me in the face. Inhaling measured breaths, my racing heart and anger ebbed enough for me to go inside. Losing my composure in baggage claim would create a PR nightmare.
Grabbing the sign with his name on it, I got out and trudged inside.
After checking the arrivals board for his flight from LA, I headed to the stairs and stood back against the wall to wait. Tucking the sign under my arm, I attempted to kill time by opening my email and cleaning out my inbox.
As I deleted and saved multiple correspondences, Jayse’s words filtered back into my mind. Irritation flared in my gut as I fought with my curiosity about Colin’s behavior, accompanied by my repulsion for him as a human.
But deep down, I knew I was wrong. So. Very. Wrong.
The increased volume of conversations and rolling suitcases filled the lobby as passengers rode down and exited the escalator.
Scanning the first wave, I spotted his head above the rest.
