Chapter 42 #2
“I do.” I nod. “You're like a completely different person now.”
A thoughtful look settles over his face. “It was a journey.” He stares at his coffee for a moment. “A journey I'm still on.” Then he smiles softly. “And I had a very patient man helping me dismantle those walls one brick at a time.”
“Chance.”
Anthony nods. “As you know, circumstances beyond our control split us apart for a while.” I nod.
There isn't much either of us can say about that.
“But everything Chance showed me loving another man could be...” He pauses.
“That stayed with me. Even when he was gone.” His eyes drift toward the window.
“It gave me the strength to keep tearing those walls down anyway.” A small smile touches his mouth.
“I'm thankful every single day things turned out the way they did.”
I grin. “I'm really happy for you, man.”
His smile widens. “I know.” He gestures to me with his cup. “My point is, whether you know it or not, you've been that person for Spence.”
“You think?”
“Mmhmm.” Anthony chuckles.
“What?”
“Last week he got his coffee out of the break room.”
I stare at him.
He continues. “And had a ten-minute conversation with one of my Account Executives.”
I bark a laugh and put on my best Spence voice. “Spencer Stark does not do casual conversation.”
“Exactly,” he says, still laughing. “She ran into my office afterward in complete shock.”
I bark out a laugh. “Well, if she asked about his new Armani suit, I'm not surprised.”
Anthony smiles. “Could be.”
“He can talk for hours about fashion.” I smile, just thinking about him accosting his coworker with fashion jargon. “It's so cute.”
Anthony slowly sets his coffee down. “You got it bad, my friend.”
“Yep.” No point in denying it.
“Have you guys defined anything?” he asks.
I shake my head. “That's where he's resistant.”
Anthony nods and I continue. “As you know, we started as gym buddies.” A grin spreads across my face. “Then we added benefits.”
He immediately groans. “Oh God.”
“What?”
“I already hate where this is going.”
I laugh. “It was convenient while I was still playing. I got my needs taken care of.” I wiggle my eyebrows. “If you know what I mean.”
Anthony bursts out laughing.
“Anyway, I didn’t have to risk anonymous situations anymore—”
“Nope,” he says, cutting me off.
“What?”
“As your agent, I don't want to know what you risked.”
I snicker. “Yeah, that's probably smart.”
I take another sip of coffee and shrug. “It worked for him, too.”
Anthony nods. “How so?”
I shrug. “Being allergic to human interaction and all.”
That gets another laugh out of him.
“But after my injury...” I say quietly. “Things changed.” My smile softens. “He changed.”
Anthony watches me carefully. “I think his brain's just been a little slow to catch up.”
Anthony leans forward. “Do you know what he wants?”
The answer comes immediately. Without hesitation. Without doubt. “I know he wants me.”
Anthony raises an eyebrow.
I nod firmly. “I know it. I see it every time he looks at me.” Then I sigh. “He's been hurt badly, Anthony.” The joking leaves my voice. “He hasn't told me everything.” A pause. “But what he has told me...” I shake my head. “It's really holding him back.”
Anthony hums thoughtfully. “This is where the patience comes in.”
I glance toward the window. Toward the people moving through the courtyard. “I'll be as patient as he needs.” And I mean it. Every word.
Then I look back at my best friend. And immediately ruin the serious moment. “But he won't kissssss me, Anthony.”
Anthony's eyes go wide. “What?”
“I'm dying here.”
“Wait, seriously?”
I slump lower in my chair. “Seriously.” I drag a hand through my hair. “Like I said. Big things to overcome.”
Anthony stares at me for a full three seconds before leaning forward. “You know what I think?”
“Hm?”
A grin spreads across his face. “I think if there's anyone on earth tenacious enough to win that kiss. To break down that final brick holding his heart hostage...” My smile starts growing. “...it's Ryan Buterbaugh.”
Something warm explodes in my chest. Hope. Confidence. Determination. All of it. I sit up straighter. My grin stretches ear to ear. “Hell yeah it is.”
Anthony laughs. I point toward myself. “I'm gonna make that man mine.”
Anthony lifts his coffee cup. “Yeah you are.”
I grab mine and tap it against his, feeling absolutely certain. Spence is worth every ounce of patience I've got.
Anthony looks down at his phone and says, “Chance and Tyler are here. We should head back.”
I nod and we stand to toss our cups and walk back. On the way, Anthony bumps my shoulder and says, “Nice post by the way.”
“Thanks. It felt really good.
“I’m sure it did,” Anthony says. “Run those things by me in the future, though, will ya? We’d like to keep representing you as long as you’ll have us.”
My face lights up. “Yeah? I just figured since I wouldn’t be playing anymore—”
“No,” Anthony cuts me off. “Once you’re one of our athletes, I want to support you in your post-career endeavors.”
“You’re so smart,” I tease.
He chuckles and says, “Speaking of post-career. Talks with team management are almost complete. You have your full contract guarantees we negotiated for you. They could potentially contest that you may still be able to play, but I’m guessing your little online mishap changed their perspective.”
I snicker. But what can I do?
“They’ve agreed to pay out your guarantees, no question. However, if you come out of retirement, they want first right of refusal. If you go to another team, they will claw back your guarantee. Are you good with that?”
“Wait, are you saying that I’m free?” I ask, excitedly.
“If you want to be.”
I nod. “Yep. I’m never playing professionally again, Anthony. Let’s just wrap it up.”
“Consider it handled,” Anthony says and grips the back of my neck. “Let’s go help these guys get setup.”