Chapter Twenty-Five
Brody
Three months later
“Yeah, for sure I’ll take it,” I told Ezra, who called me early that morning to let me know the Kings wanted to extend my contract and were offering four more years at more than fifteen million a year, guaranteed. “I’d be crazy to say no.”
Laughing, Ezra agreed. “Well, yeah. Obviously, the Super Bowl win and your performance in the playoffs made them realize they need to lock and load you. I can’t guarantee a no-trade clause, though. They’re really stingy with them these days, even for superstars. I’ll get the contract to the lawyers and let them review all the fun stuff, like salary cap and incentives. But you’re gonna end up being one of the highest paid tight ends in the league.”
“Not too shabby for an old man of thirty.”
“And you’re thrifty with the money, that I know. Dev said he monitors all the finances.”
“He’s great like that.” From the glass doors looking out onto the yard, I could see Dev, striding up the path. Every morning, no matter the weather, he took a five-mile walk. Alone. He said it cleared his head and the fresh air helped his recovery.
“I’m glad he’s got something to fall back on when he’s no longer playing.”
“What do you mean?” A chill ran through me. “Why are you sayin’ it like that? Did you hear somethin’?” A second passed without Ezra responding, which was a second too long. “Ezra. Tell me what’s goin’ on.”
“Nothing at the moment. I swear. But I gotta tell you, the Kings don’t want to lose Luke Fontaine after his performance this post-season.”
I grew angry on Dev’s behalf. “So they wanna trade Dev? Are you fuckin’ serious?”
“I’m not saying that’s what’s happening. I promise you I haven’t had any outreach from management, and I wouldn’t lie. He still has time left on his contract, and a lot can happen. But between you and me, he didn’t do himself any favors with that amusement-park trip and getting sick on the roller coasters.” Ezra’s sigh matched my own.
As we’d feared, Dev’s “incident,” as we called it, had made the rounds of the sports news: “ Is the Devil too sick to return? What’s the real story behind Devlin Summers’s injury?” Of course people had taken pictures of him getting sick over the trash bin and cradling his head in his hands, us surrounding him with worried faces. The press was only too eager to plaster them everywhere.
The speculation made us so damn angry, and it hurt Dev to his core. Fallon had done a masterful job of keeping the media at bay by putting out statements from Dev and his physicians. There were carefully timed releases this winter showing Dev up here in the mountains, either snow tubing, or on his walks, fresh-faced and clear-eyed. On his forays into the city for PT or medical exams, he’d always do a little shopping, and again, a positive photo of Dev would pop up, looking fit, skin glowing, always with a smile on his face.
But the bottom line was money and whether he could play with the same fierce intensity he was famous for. Two bad concussions were enough to give the team pause to think, no matter how Dev behaved in the off-season.
“I’m not gonna argue with that, Ezra. I warned him it was too soon. But he’s been doin’ great up here. Resting and following up with his doctor appointments online. He went to the city and had the tests, and they all came back normal.”
“That’s great. I’m sure he has nothing to worry about. Dev’s the best in the league, one of the greatest ever. They know his worth.”
“I hope so,” I grumbled. “The kid was good, but he’s still unproven. A few playoff games and even a Super Bowl win doesn’t make him a replacement for someone like Dev.”
“Exactly my feelings.”
Dev began his return to the house, waving his hands at me. Even from here I could see the joy on his face. He loved living in the mountains during the winter, and I had to admit, as someone who didn’t grow up in cold weather, there was something to be said for getting snowed in with the one person you loved more than anything.
“I’d better go. Thanks for tellin’ me the contract news.”
“Say hi to Dev, and we’ll talk after I’ve reviewed all the paperwork.”
I tossed the phone aside and went to the kitchen to pour Dev a cup of hot coffee. After depositing coat and boots, he came inside, his color high and eyes glowing, cheeks cool but lips warm against mine.
“ Mmm . Thanks. This is the best. Like you.”
“How was the walk?”
“Great. Saw some deer, coyotes, and a fox. I tried to get pictures, but they were too fast for me.”
“You’re becoming a real mountain man,” I joked.
“You know, it’s not such a bad life. No noise and traffic. Even when the weather sucks, it’s still beautiful. I can wear the same clothes, and no one cares.”
“Now wait a minute. I care if you don’t shower and do the laundry.”
He chuckled and sipped the coffee, looking totally relaxed on the sofa. “This is the life. You and me, alone in the middle of nowhere. Just the two of us.”
“Nice, isn’t it?” I sat in the club chair and put my feet up on the ottoman. “Let’s have a fire tonight.”
“Sounds good to me.” He drank more coffee. “Who were you talking to?”
“Ezra. The Kings wanna extend my contract and raise my salary. Probably gonna be some shifting around with the cap, but Ezra thinks it’s a good idea.”
“Yeah? Raise it? By how much?” He set his cup on the rough wooden table between us and sat up, eyes intent.
“Over fifteen million a year.”
I could see his brain working. “Make sure you find out the incentives.”
“Ezra knows.”
“Good.” He picked up his coffee cup again.
I figured I’d test the waters. “You have any thoughts on your contract?”
His brows drew together. “Like what? There’s still a while to go.”
“I know. Just wonderin’.”
But Dev was no dummy. “Did Ezra say anything?”
“No, ’course not. He wouldn’t discuss your contract with me. Anyway, what’s on the agenda for today?”
Still lost in thought, Dev stared into his mug. “I’ve been hearing things.”
“Like what?” I asked guardedly.
He narrowed his eyes. “Like Luke is angling for my spot. Now, I don’t believe that because he’s too nice a kid and wouldn’t cut me off at the knees like that. At least I hope not. But I have a plan.”
“What’re you talking about?” I shifted forward in my chair. “You never mentioned anything.” A little hurt that he was keeping things from me, I frowned. “What’s goin’ on?”
“I just thought of it on my walk in the woods. I was gonna discuss it with you.”
Mollified, I nodded. “Okay. So what’re you thinkin’?”
“I need to show them all that I’m in good shape because I don’t think those little trips to the city are enough. I’m gonna call up my friendly reporters and give them exclusives. Let them interview me on television so people can see how fit I am.” His eyes twinkled. “It’s one of the reasons I’m doing all this walking. I want a nice, healthy glow. I know it’s off-season and time for us to let go a little, but I have something to prove.” He pulled out his phone. “Matter of fact, I’m gonna call them right now.”
I watched and listened as he was put through to the head of the sports department at one of the major sports networks.
“Joe, I’ve got some free time and was wondering if you’d want an exclusive on my off-season recuperation and plans for next year.”
An exuberant voice burst from the tinny speaker. “Yeah? I’m listening.”
As Dev outlined his ideas, a sense of foreboding settled in my chest. As excited as Dev was, I suspected Ezra knew something he wasn’t yet willing to share. And keeping that knowledge from Dev hurt my heart, but my husband would be devastated to hear the team he gave his soul to would so easily trade him.
“So?” Sparkling eyes met mine. He’d ended the call while I sat lost in my head. “What do you think?”
I gave him a thumbs-up. “You’re gonna rock it.”
We hadn’t been together for so many years without knowing each other inside out, and Dev frowned. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing. I swear.” Lying didn’t come easily to me on a good day, and keeping the truth from Dev was going to take Herculean effort, but I’d do anything to protect him from the eventual fall, for as long as I could. “I’m still waitin’ for the coffee to kick in.”
“You sure?” Concern furrowed his brow. “Do you think it’s a bad idea? You’d tell me if you did.”
“No,” I rushed to reassure him. “It’s great. You’re in peak condition, and the fans should see that you’re ready to roll.” My gaze remained steady on his, and Dev nodded.
“Thanks. You’re gonna come with me, right? I need my emotional support Brody.” He leaned in to kiss me.
“You never cease to amaze me. You’re always thinkin’ ahead.”
“I’m always thinking about us. I want us to be set for the rest of our lives whenever we decide to retire.”
Curious because we’d never had this discussion, I left my chair to sit by him. “Is that somethin’ on your mind? Retirin’? I thought you were fightin’ to stay in the game.”
“I am. I love playing football. And when I was younger, I thought it was all I ever wanted.” He chewed his bottom lip. “Then I met you. I don’t wanna wait until I get so badly injured that I have to go out that way. I want to be able to enjoy our lives and not worry about long-term problems. I know I’ve been lucky to avoid something big—and no, I don’t consider the concussions big. But if they offer me a four- or five-year deal? Yeah. I think I’m done after that.”
“What’re you gonna do after?” All of this was a surprise to me.
He ran his foot over mine. “Be Mr. Devlin Summers-Martin. Your husband.”
Would I be ready? Retiring at thirty-five or so wasn’t such a bad gig. We’d already achieved the apex of the sport and had more money than we knew what to do with, so what would I be playing for? And traveling or fishing, doing charity work and simply being with Dev, that sounded pretty damn good to me.
“Not too shabby.”
His smile was a warm hug. “Haven’t you been thinking about what we’re going to do with the rest of our lives?”
“I’m busy with the day-to-day. Keeping my eyes open to the present and what we see right in front of our eyes. You’re the planner.” In our relationship, Dev was always a step ahead, while I lived more in the moment. It was why he was so good with our finances and investments.
He settled into the cushions. “So tell me, since you’re in touch with our surroundings, any rumblings of the Kings wanting to trade me?”
I should’ve known Dev wouldn’t let it go so easily. “I haven’t heard anyone on the Kings say they’re lookin’ for a trade. I swear.”
It wasn’t a lie.
He laid his head on the sofa cushion and stared at the rough ceiling beams. “I just want to leave on my terms. After everything I’ve given them, all the wins and playing my heart out each game, I’d hope they’d give me that.” His lids fluttered shut, and for a second I thought he’d fallen asleep. Then he popped up and jumped to his feet. “Let’s do some practice throws.” He wiggled his hips. “I need to make sure I’ve still got all my moves.”
On my feet, I slipped my arms around his waist and pressed a kiss to his neck. “Trust me. You’ve got it all. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have you.”
“Good thing you’re never gonna have to find out.”
Laughter rumbled from his chest, and I wanted to hold on to this moment for whatever the winds of change might blow into our lives.