Anthony
ANTHONY
“THERE’S BEEN AN update in your contract.” Billy said that shit so smooth but her words had me ready to panic. I’d just gotten AP excited about the possibility of our buying a place together and now she was hitting me with this.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that the numbers have changed since you’ve moved up to competing for an active roster spot.”
“So what are the numbers?”
My stomach felt tight and although I knew the business side of things, I wasn’t sure how confident the team was and what they were willing to invest in me.
She pulled up something on her computer before turning the screen around so I could see it.
Billy’s office was like coming to the Wizard of Oz. A lot of magic happened in this place but you still felt apprehensive about being in here despite how nice it was. The place was bright with feminine touches and an area to one side with sofas and several televisions in the room.
“The initial numbers are good. Like really good and I can see the direction they’re trying to get you to go in.” Her smile was making me less worried but I needed her to just tell me what was going on.
“You talking in riddles, Billy, help me out.”
“Hold on, I’ll let Isis go over it with you.
” She called over her newest associate to handle the meeting.
I’d met Isis when she first started working there.
In my old days, I would’ve tried her because she was beautiful as fuck.
She had a big coily fro and was thick as hell.
But my heart belonged to Aphrodite and nobody would take her spot.
“Sorry about that, Anthony. She’s trying to give me more hands-on experience.” Isis walked over apologizing but there was no need.
“It’s no problem. I just want to hear what they had to say.”
“Well, when we spoke about the numbers they were initially talking about getting you the vet minimum with a one-year credit.”
She was saying something else but it sounded like static to me.
Even the rookie minimum was almost three times as much as I had made last year.
We’d worked out the numbers for the house based on what I earned on the contract I’d assumed I’d get earning the league minimum for veteran practice squad players.
This new number meant my guaranteed salary was just over a million dollars so the houses we’d looked at were well within my price range.
The house that Parker offered us was still the frontrunner, but I didn’t want to rush such a large decision.
“Did you hear me, Anthony?”
I snapped back to reality and looked at Isis apologetically. “No. I think my brain broke slightly with the numbers you threw out. Over a million a year isn’t something I expected.”
She smiled sensing my gratitude and I rubbed my face because I was still in disbelief. “Well, if that made you happy then this will be even better.”
My stomach was bubblin’ like Pop Rocks in a Coke. “Thank God I’m sitting down.”
“We negotiated a salary for you of two point one million but with an escalation of six point two million for the year.”
“Another one-year contract?” The numbers were good but again I wanted slightly more security with money. I could easily pay the house off with the salary I had especially if I hit the six point two number this year. I needed to know every target they wanted me to hit in order to reach that number.
“Yep.”
Billy nodded from her seat and I waved for her to elaborate. When she didn’t I had to press for her way of thinking.
“What’s the reasoning behind that?”
“Do you see the leap you just made? From making two thirty to making at minimum two point one.”
“Yeah. I did well on the practice squad and I did good at camp so—”
“That was a training year. I told you last time that we are going to let them play this game and then knock their heads off. I want you to have an incentive to keep working hard and making people eat their words and they need to pay for the privilege of having you on the team.”
Billy’s reasoning was sound and I knew I was being uptight because I wanted to ensure I had everything in order for Aphrodite and me.
I took a deep breath before I reframed my mind and focused on the positives in front of me.
“What are the incentives?”
“A few are easy: making weight. Number of workouts, normal shit. The others, though, are where I think you’ll shine.”
“Go on.”
“The biggest will be on your interceptions and touchdowns.” Isis’ eyes were sparkling but I looked at Billy with a frown but her ass just grinned back at me.
“Touchdowns? Isis, I know you’re Billy’s girl and all—”
“And she wouldn’t hire someone who didn’t know their shit so keep that in mind before you finish what you were going to say.” She checked me quick as fuck without Billy having to defend her and I held up my hands so she knew I was coming in peace.
“I’m just saying, I don’t score touchdowns.”
“You mean to tell me that in the years I’ve watched football I haven’t seen defenses scoring? That I have never watched a pick six happen? Wonder why they made that term if it’s not something they‘d ever seen before.” Isis sarcastically tapped her chin like she was lost in thought.
“You’ve made your point.”
“I’m glad. Now, you’ve got the ability to make over four million dollars in incentives for this year. Combine that with the lack of income tax for the state and you’ve got a substantial income for you and your future.”
“Dang. Buying a house is definitely going to happen before the season starts now.”
Billy looked extremely pleased with that information and I was surprised that Jacoby hadn’t given her the news when he got home from camp. He’d been giving me advice on the house search and said his father’s company could help with any of the work we needed.
“You ball out the way we know you’re going to and yeah, you will need to get out of wherever you are.”
“I appreciate y’all putting this together for me. This is way more than I expected to hear today.”
Isis was grinning as she reached out to shake my hand. “Glad I can be a part of delivering good news to you. You should celebrate it.”
I took her hand but knew I wouldn’t take her advice. “I’ll probably wait until I get that first check in my account before I do anything.”
“Welp, preseason is here so it’s time for you to get that roster spot. You know what’s on the line for you if you do.”
“I’m proud as fuck of you.”
I’d gone straight to Antwan’s telling him about the news Billy had for me.
He wanted to celebrate but I was still keeping myself from getting too excited.
Choo tossed me a cigar and I told him we’d smoke it after the season.
Right now, we were having a drink and grubbing on some food that Grams had.
Rye was at work and AP was at treatment so I had a minute before I could tell her what happened.
“You saying that a lot lately.” I watched as he set his drink on the coffee table before turning to me.
“You been doing a lot of shit that makes me proud. What, I’m supposed to just chill and hate?” He looked at me incredulously making me smile.
“Never that.”
“Damn right. So, what we finna buy?” Antwan rubbed his hands together in anticipation of having a reason to spend money.
“Buy?”
“Yeah, millionaire ass nigga what we ‘bout to buy? You got a contract with the team to make you a seven figga nigga and you want to sit at the house? I swear your ass hung around Silas for too fucking long. You out here being old as shit. Probably listening to jazz and wanting to smoke a pipe and shit.” This fool’s face was balled up like he couldn’t believe I was trying to be responsible.
“Everybody can’t be young and turnt like you. Besides, I’m focused on getting my shit together. There’s plenty of time later for fun. And my ass got enough of that at LSU.”
Choo lifted his brows contemplating my words before he nodded his understanding. “You told your girl?”
“I’ll tell her when I see her. She already thinks I have some type of complex about money with her. My having more of it and getting this contract might make shit weird. Besides, she’s at practice right now so I’ll run her a bath to help her relax before I share the good news.”
“Do you?”
I looked at him feeling like I’d missed part of the conversation. “Do I what?”
“Have a complex remedial ass nigga keep up!”
How this nigga had me laughing while he was insulting me was a talent only Choo possessed.
“Nah. I mean I know she got more money than me and it don’t affect how I feel about her. I like AP for who she is, not what she’s got. You know Jill would probably say she was just with me to play around but I try to keep all of that negativity out of my brain.”
“It’s hard sometimes, though.”
He spoke from experience and I knew those issues with Jill still fucked with him like they did me.
“It is. But thankfully I got people around me who remind me that I’m worthy so I choose to keep their words closer to my heart than the ones that would tear me down.”
“That’s real shit. Talking to that megachurch nigga has been good for you, but we still gone figure out a way for you to blow some cash.”
“I’ll cash out on this house and my girl. That’s all I need.”
He lifted his glass as he nodded his approval. “I’ll drink to that.”
I looked down at the phone trying to understand why this number was on my screen.
I let it go to voicemail hoping that whatever they wanted would be left with the digital gatekeeper but luck wasn’t on my side.
There was too much going on today for me to be putting up with bullshit, but I knew that the calls would only get more and more incessant if I didn’t pick up.
That was the issue with the guilt I still carried and hadn’t been able to absolve myself of: always doing what they wanted because I felt obligated.
That feeling had waned over the years but never fully dissipated.