Chapter Sixteen
Tucker
“Hey man! Long time,” TJ answers.
“Yeah, I know. It’s been a while.”
“How’s that knee? I cannot believe that happened. I thought you might be looking at another Super Bowl win.”
“I’m not so sure we had it in us, but it sucked to let the team down before we could find out.”
“Yeah…I get that. Nothing you could have done though, accidents happen. But your knee is looking damn good out there. Looks like the surgery and rehab is working out for you. The trade seems to have been a good move for Indianapolis. You and Benson are a force.”
“Have you been watching any sports channels?” I joke.
“Don’t listen to those assholes. They love a comeback story just as much as a fatal crash-and-burn. It’s all for ratings. It’s not personal, Tuck.”
It doesn’t feel that way when it’s happening to you.
“How’s retirement treating you?” I change the subject.
“So far so good. We sold the house in Seattle. Bought a thirty-acre farm in Tennessee, near her mom. I wake up every day to feed the ducks on the two-acre pond, mow my massive lawn on a ride on lawn mower, and the try not to get killed by the damn cursed devil llama.”
“Devil llama? What the fuck?” I laugh.
“The owners of the property before us said they were ‘gifting’ us their possessed llama. The thing loves the kids and Sadie but I’m the only one that feeds the fucker, and it charges me every damn time! I should let it starve for a day to remind it not to bite the hand that feeds it.”
I laugh at the thought of TJ Holloway, six foot four inches and 250lbs of pure muscle, running from a shithead llama.
“I might have to come out and witness this for myself.”
“Hey, any time man, we’d love to have you. Got a guest house in the back with your name on it – ‘Casa Evans’. But listen, I gotta feed the little vomit machine baby. Sadie laid out peas for lunch to torture me… so I’m going to have to suit up for this.”
After retirement, Sadie got pregnant with a surprise baby. A little girl. TJ might act tough but that little girl has him wrapped around her finger – tight. “Let’s get to the good shit. Why did you really call?”
“I got fuckin’ girl problems,” I admit.
“Shit, you got someone pregnant…” I hear him yell out to his son in the next room. “Dillion, can you start feeding Arlo, please…
…I know she hates the peas. Just give her the fruit medley your mom put out first. I’ll feed her the peas after my phone call…
…K, thanks bud.”
“No, I didn’t get anyone pregnant. Jesus!” I add as quickly as I hear my opening.
“It’s ok if you did… I know a thing or two about knocking up a girl before you mean to. It worked out for me, though. Best fucking thing that ever happened to me… well after I found out about the kid and got Sadie to take me seriously.”
“Yeah, that’s not the situation. I might sort of wish. A surprise baby might actually make things easier. She knows my reputation, and she doesn’t give a flying fuck that I’m a rich pro footballer. She might fucking hold that against me in this case.”
I hear the creaking of wood floors and then a door shut. I can’t hear the chatter of a house full of littles anymore. He must have found an office or den to blockade himself in. I didn’t realize my love life was so enthralling. It feels like a damn nightmare right now.
“So you’re coming to me for advice on women? Not exactly my strong suit.”
“Hell no! You’d be the last person on my list.” I laugh. TJ’s been out of the dating game since he married Sadie ten years ago. He has no idea what it’s like out there anymore. “I want to know how you made the decision to retire. I know you said it was the kids but what made a two-time Super Bowl champ decide to bow out years earlier than his expiration date?” I ask.
“You’re honestly thinking about retiring?” I can hear the shock in his voice. “Why now? Because of this girl?”
“Mostly.”
“This sounds like a massive mistake. Alright, tell me about her.”
“I’ve known her since I was eight years old…”
“Oh shit… how long have you been in love with this girl? This whole fucking time?”
“No… shit. There was an accident in high school. I realized what she meant to me – had a hell of a time forgetting how much for the last thirteen years.”
“Ok, so tell her.”
“I have. She thinks I’m in capable of a real relationship. She’s seeing someone else. I don’t think they’re serious, but the guy’s an idiot if he doesn’t lock her down,” I tell him.
“What does this have to do with football?” he asks.
“She thinks we can’t do long distance, and she thinks I’m incapable of monogamy.” I sigh. “I fixed the distance… I bought the house across the from her parents.”
“Oh shit man. You’re serious about her.”
Yes, finally, he gets it.
“And that’s what I need her to see.”
“You think giving up your career will seal the deal?”
I pause, trying to think whether or not I can say yes with absolute certainty, but I can’t. If I knew for sure, without a shadow of a doubt that Lexi would agree to be with me if I retired, it would be a done deal. I’d give it all up for her. No questions asked.
Losing football would feel like a death in my world, but being with Lexi, finally, after all these years would be a rebirth. A new chapter and an even better one. I finally understand why TJ retired when he did.
He can sense my hesitation.
“Ok, listen. It seems backwards that a woman wants you to give up the NFL and the massive paychecks and status that come with it. We’re more used to the women, in our line of work, who would gladly kill for WAGS status.”
I laugh to myself at the thought of Lexi as a WAG. She’s not made for sitting idly by in a owners box somewhere. She’s made to build things, design things, make shit happen.
“It just so happens I have a wife that would have been happy no matter what I did for a living if it meant I was home every night. I can sort of relate to this, incredibly unusual, predicament you’re in.”
“So, what do I do?”
“I gave up the NFL my second year.”
Did I just hear that right?
“You did what?”
“I found out Sadie was pregnant. She didn’t want anything to do with me. I thought I had to show her I would be present for her and the baby in order to win her back. She was even more upset with me. She said I would be a hollow shell of the man that she had fallen for. I would have lost something I loved and she was worried I’d become depressed and would later resent her. That’s when she realized she loved me too and would do anything to make it work. The franchise took me back instantly…and so did Sadie.
“Sadie was wrong, though. I could never have resented her. I love her more than I will ever love the game. But I proved that to her with my actions. I don’t know this girl…”
“Lexi Benson,” I interrupt.
“Wait… Benson?”
“Luca Benson’s little sister.”
“Oh fuck. Nice man,” he says with complete sarcasm.
“I know. But I have his blessing.”
“Alright. I’m not going to even touch that.”
“So you think I should retire?” I asked, not loving the answer but I’ll do whatever it takes.
“Hell no. I think you should talk to her about it if you’re serious about giving up the game. Women hate when you make these types of decisions without their input. And since you’ve never had a real relationship, you don’t know shit. Welcome to the club, by the way. None of us seem to know a damn thing if you ask our wives. Just make sure… whatever you’re willing to give or give up, you can handle the follow through. You have more talent than I did, Tucker. You have a lot more career in you than I had left. Make sure that Lexi is worth it.”
“I’ve been without her for thirteen years, years I would give anything to get those years back. She’s worth it. I already bought the ring.”
“You already bought her an engagement ring!? Who the fuck are you?” He sighs. “Alright, well you can’t let that ring go to waste. What else you got to move the spinning bottle in your direction?”
“Bought her childhood dream home.”
“Tucker Evans… wish I’d had you to go to for advice when I was chasing Sadie. Honestly, I’m not sure how I can help you at this point.”
“You did. And you’re right. If I retired without asking Lexi if that’s what’s holding us back, she wouldn’t be happy.”
“If this girl is good enough to make the top running back in the league give up a nineteen-million dollar contract, you gotta bring her out to Tennessee. I have to meet her.”
“Dad!” I hear a child’s voice shout in the background.
“I gotta go man – duty calls. Just don’t forget who you are. You can accomplish anything you set out for. You’re a hell of a man, and I guarantee she already knows that. Remind her.”
“Thanks, TJ.”
“Call more often brother. It was good to hear your voice.”
“Yours too.”
TJ is right. I know what to do and I have an arsenal of weapons to use against her. Mostly, memories. I have to remind her how much we both care about each other and that at the end of the day, there’s nothing we won’t do for each other. Pull each other out of lakes, postpone a life changing trip to the Grand Cayman’s for a football game, push each other out of the way of moving cars. In the end, we’re there for each other when it matters the most.