I brushed a hand across my waves. “I’m straight. Just been dealing with a lot of shit.”
“I heard. These rumors are bullshit though. You know we’re not standing for that. Fuck a trade. You got Shark blood and that isn’t changing.”
“Hell nah, it’s not changing. Once the ocean claims you, it never lets go. This is our ocean, fam.” Taven McClain, our starting receiver, circled a finger in the air, acknowledging the locker room.
“Talk that shit, McClain. You’re family, Land, and we’re not going to let them fuck you over. We don’t just wear the same jersey. We carry each other. We’re carrying you with this. Fuck all that talk,” Dedric stated.
“’Preciate that.” I nodded and McClain extended a fist to me which I met with mine.
“You know we got you.”
“All this behind a pussy that never met a dick she didn’t like. Nah, that’s not how this is going down.”
I frowned. “You know?”
“Hell yeah we know. They couldn’t keep something like that quiet. Especially considering how fucking bogus it is. Karl is gonna have to shut that down or it’s going to be a bad look for the team. If players can’t trust that the owner stands on businessand instead allows their personal feelings to get involved in business decisions, the team suffers,” Dedric stated.
“The team is with you on this and the owners know,” McClain stated.
“We are, and hopefully once this shit is behind you, maybe you’ll stop fucking for sport. Find someone solid to hold you down, fam. I told you that wild behavior was going to catch up with you, Land. This situation with Mia is too close to home,” Dedric said with a smirk. “Get a gotdamn wife, or at least a girlfriend, so we can focus on redeeming ourselves next season instead of trying to keep you suited up.”
“I’m working on it.”
The first thought I had was Somee. In the past it would have been fuck settling down. I wasn’t even mad about the idea of her being consistent in my life.
“I damn sure hope so,” he muttered.
“Parks, let’s go.” Coach appeared in the locker room long enough to bark his demand, then was gone.
“Let me get this shit over with.” I dapped both Dedric and McClain before heading toward Coach’s office. The final decision about me remaining a Shark was up to management, but knowing my team was standing behind me felt really fucking good.
Chapter 12
Somee
Mom: Why is administration at your job telling me you’re on an extended leave from school and won’t be returning until summer enrichment classes begin? Where are you? What is going on Somee?
Shit!
I stared at the text from my mother for at least five minutes before I decided how to respond. I was twenty-eight years old but at the moment I felt like a child. My mother loved me with all her heart, and although she always asserted that she wanted me to be my own person and pursue my individual goals and dreams, what she really meant was within the scope of what she approved.
There was no way in hell my mother would understand my choice to fly out here with Rylee as a logically sound decision. Exhaling a fortifying breath, I typed out my message and hit send.
Me: Everything is fine. You don’t need to worry.
The bubbles appeared and I felt the angry text pounded out on her side even though there were hundreds of miles of distance between us.
They started and stopped before a video call came through instead.
I cringed and watched it populate on my screen, knowing I wasn’t going to answer. Text, I could do, but seeing her face expressing her anger and disappointment, I could not.
Once the call ended, I typed another text.
Me: I can’t talk right now. I’ll call you later.
Mom: Where the hell are you? What do you mean you can’t talk?
Me: I’m in Crescent Falls.
