41. Nico
forty-one
Nico
My driver pulls up to the players’ entrance at Evaders Stadium and climbs out of the SUV. I climb out of the back seat, and my driver hands me my suitcase before I enter the building and head to the conference room. The team is headed out for a week of away games, but not before team business.
Being on the road, away from Savannah, is not something I’m looking forward to. My stubborn woman still hasn’t agreed to move in with me. She thinks I’m joking, but I’m not. I was serious when I asked.
I love falling asleep with her in my arms every night and waking up to her angelic face in the morning. Every moment she’s not at the hospital and I’m not playing ball, we are together. And I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Because when I look at Savannah, I see forever. So, I can be patient. For her.
The old me would have taken her no to moving in as rejection and cut tail, but that guy doesn’t exist anymore. Savannah has changed my outlook on relationships. I understand her reluctance about moving forward with our relationship, and it has nothing to do with how she feels about me.
It has everything to do with Savannah and her sister. They still haven’t made up, and I know that hurts Savannah. I wish there was something I could do. I hate that this is hurting my girl.
Guess therapy with Dr. Lisbon is paying off.
Gwen pops out from behind a pillar looking stressed and walks right into me, knocking over my suitcase and tripping over her pink-stilettoed feet. I catch her around her biceps and steady her.
“Oh, hey, Nico. Sorry about that.”
“No worries.” I step back, giving her space to smooth down her shirt. She doesn’t look like her normal bubbly and smiley self today. She looks exhausted and maybe a little sad. Alarm bells go off in my head. “Are you okay, G?”
“Yeah. Yup. Fine.” She snaps her fingers and pulls out her cellphone, swiping and tapping. “Oh, since I have you here… I already received the formal contract from Charles Tinsley’s assistant.”
Wow, Charles works fast. I just left his office.
I knew going in I was going to sign with him, but hearing him and his team present their plans for my contract and my eventual retirement has me itching to sign on the dotted line.
It’s obvious to me now that I put too much trust in Damien’s hands, and I shouldn’t have.
“Thanks for letting me know. Pretty soon, you won’t have to deal with me anymore. You’ll be up in the front office, making a splash.”
Gwen gives me a sad smile. “No rush. Turns out I won’t be taking over anytime soon.”
“What? I thought that was the plan?”
When she started working as Cam’s assistant/social media manager, it was with the knowledge that it was a temporary position because she would eventually take over the Evaders public relations and marketing department. Helping me was a side job to prove she has what it takes to do the job.
“Plans change.” Gwen sighs, looking defeated.
“I’m sorry to hear that. While I have you, has there been any word on Damien and his lackeys?”
“Not yet. He’s keeping a low profile. I heard Damien’s second in command was interviewing at MGT Sports.”
“Fuck.”
There is no fucking way I’m going to let that slimeball Kyle continue to have a career after the shit he said.
Who knows what the fuck else he’s done. My gut tells me he had more fingers in the pot at Damien’s company, Strike Sports Agency, than he and Damien will admit.
My lawyer and his PI are digging for dirt as we speak.
We’re waiting until we have all the details before we take Damien to court.
“I may have called a family friend who works there and let him know what a classy guy Kyle is, for you.” Gwen’s reach and stream of contacts know no bounds. It helps that her family is very well respected in the sports community.
“You’re the fucking best. I owe you one.” I pull a surprised Gwen in for a hug and squeeze.
“Didn’t know you were a hugger, Romero.” She laughs.
“I’m not usually.”
“Is your black heart softening now that you have a woman in your life?”
“Maybe.” I shrug. I’ve always been a good guy; I just hide it beneath my rude, cocky attitude.
“I think it is.” She chuckles.
“Whatever.” I roll my eyes at her.
Gwen smiles, looking a little more lighthearted. “Anyway, I’m happy to help. Kyle is a creep and should be blackballed. I’ll let you know if I hear anything else.”
“Thanks. Take care, G,” I call out as Gwen hustles off towards the front office elevators, making me curious about why she won’t be taking over as Chief Marketing Officer.
As I turn, I find Lance leaning against a pillar, glaring at me. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“What was that about?” he grumbles as I walk past him.
He falls in step beside me as we walk through the halls towards the meeting room. “Nothing, you fucking lurker. Ask her yourself.”
“Tried. She doesn’t want to talk to me.” Lance sighs, rubbing his hand over his jawline in thought.
“That’s your fault.” While I understand his predicament, he did this to himself.
“I know,” he grunts.
We fall silent as a group of rookies walks past us.
“She was just telling me about my new contract and intel on Kyle,” I inform him, throwing the poor guy a bone. Lance nods, satisfied with my answer. “Are you ever going to tell us what happened?” I ask as we enter the meeting room.
“The less you know...” He slips his hands into his pockets and slouches, looking like a sad as fuck hunchback.
“Fair. If you ever want to talk—”
“Yeah, I know. Thanks, man.”
“Anytime.” I slap him on the back as we take seats next to the rest of the guys for the team meeting.
The minute coach Anson starts his speech, I zone out, already counting down the minutes until Savanna will be in my bed again.