Chapter 18 #3
She holds up her phone. “You should check your phone. You’re being hailed a hero.
The real-life Black Widow is what they’re calling you.
My phone is ringing off the hook with endorsement offers for you.
” She points her finger at me. “Let me tell you what’s going to happen.
You’re going to head to Maine for two weeks and decompress.
They’ll have you talk to therapists, which you will do without any problem.
” Her tone sharpens for that bit. “They’ll have you connect with animals, nature, and some other Kumbaya shit like that, but you’ll do so with a smile because they’ll be sending a report to the league when your time there comes to an end to confirm your utmost cooperation.
After that, you’re going to come back home and find yourself a bigger agent to represent you.
Trust me, you’re going to need it. I advise striking while the iron is hot. ”
I’m processing all the information she has given me.
This morning is going exactly the opposite of how I expected it to.
When I cried myself to sleep last night, it was to images of me being forced to clean out my locker today, not this.
I even let my mind drift to having to ask my father for money, which I’ve refused to do since I left for college.
She’s right. I need to pay the piper for my actions and then pick myself up like I always have. If there are new opportunities, I need to seize them. What other choice do I have? This woman hasn’t led me astray yet.
I swallow. “Okay. I’ll do whatever you tell me to.” My eyes meet hers. “Thanks for having my back, Reagan. Thank you for everything.”
She smiles again. “My pleasure. By the way, I had six calls this morning from other teams in the league wanting to trade for you. Do you still want out of Philly?”
My brother’s face pops right into my mind, followed shortly thereafter by my amazing group of friends. Even Daylen’s face unexpectedly makes a brief appearance. I’m realizing that in just a year, I feel more at home here than I ever have anywhere else.
I shake my head. “No. I want to stay.”
She nods. “Good, because I already told them no. We’re not letting you leave us. Be at the small airstrip in two hours. I’ll have my private jet take you up to Maine so the press doesn’t bother you just yet.”
“Okay. I’ll be there.”
“Good.” She walks toward my door, and I follow her. “This is going to work out. Stop worrying and stay the course. And let’s retire the brass knuckles for a bit. At least for the rest of this season.”
I playfully salute her. “Yes, Captain.”
She grins as she opens the door. “You’re much more amiable than you used to be. I sort of miss your snarkiness. It was more of a challenge for me.”
I let out a laugh. “I promise to be a bigger bitch moving forward.”
“Perfect.”
As she steps out into the hallway, Daylen is exiting the elevator, walking toward my apartment. His worried eyes meet mine.
Reagan looks at him and then back at me before walking toward the elevator and mumbling, “I swear to god, every athlete in this town is fucking other athletes in this town. There must be something in the water.”
She steps onto the elevator as Daylen stops in front of my door. “What are you doing here?” I ask with a heavy amount of edge in my tone.
His brows crease. “I was worried about you. I called and texted a million times.”
I turn and walk into my apartment with him hot on my heels. “I can’t talk right now. I need to pack.”
“Where are you going?”
“Rehab. My suspension will only be two weeks if I agree to go to rehab.”
“Rehab? For what?” he asks in a shocked tone.
“For my anger issues, what else?”
I walk into my bedroom and remove a suitcase from the top shelf in my closet, opening it on my bed.
“Where’s the rehab?”
“Maine.”
“Maine!” he exclaims loudly. “That’s so far. I’ll…I’ll drive you there.”
I turn and look at him. “It’s a ten-hour drive, Daylen. That would be twenty for you round trip.”
He shrugs. “It’s fine. I don’t have other plans for today.”
I shake my head. “I don’t need to be driven. Reagan is flying me there,” I say as I begin to toss my clothes into the suitcase.
He runs his fingers through his hair. “I’ll drive you to the airport.”
“Not necessary,” I answer as I continue packing. “I’ll get an Uber.”
He grabs me by the arm so I’m forced to look at him. “I’m driving you.”
“I said no,” I grit out.
“You’re my wife. You’ve had a rough twenty-four hours. You’re hurting. I will be driving you, and I will stay with you until I’m convinced you’re okay, which you’re very clearly not. Even if it means getting on that damn plane with you.”
“Stop it,” I violently pull my arm away from his hold on it. “I’m not your wife. I’m not yours to worry about. You don’t really know me. Don’t pretend like you do. You spend time with me because you’re legally obligated to do so.”
And then it hits me. “Oh, you’re just worried about our court-mandated dates.”
He tightens his face in anger. “Are you for fucking real right now? I don’t give a shit about Judge Dies-A-Lot. I’m worried about my wife.”
I close my eyes. “Stop calling me that.”
“No, I will not stop. It’s exactly what you are. You’re. My. Wife.”
“I don’t have time for this bullshit. Please just leave.”
He ignores my request and paces in my bedroom while I pack, refusing to talk to him. I don’t understand why he’s here.
Once I’m done, I reach for my phone and turn it on. It pings with notification after notification. Thousands of them. Countless texts from Daylen, Sulley, my father, Pierce, my mother, everyone on the team, Alyssa, Coach Lakshmi, Fallon, Booster, and a few other Camels guys.
I breathe, “What the fuck?” I stand there dumbfounded before I realize Daylen is looking at it from over my shoulder.
“People care about you, Kennedy. A lot of people. Me included.” He wraps his arms around my chest from behind and kisses my head before whispering into my hair, “Please let me drive you to the airport. I’m much cheaper than an Uber. I’ll only charge you twenty bucks,” he jokes.
I roll my eyes. “Fine. What do you want to do about Judge Dinosaur?”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll have Tanner handle him. Is there anything I can do for you when you’re gone?”
I turn around and try not to be overwhelmed by the sincerity written all over his face. “Reagan said a bunch of new endorsement offers have come in and I might need a new agent. Someone a little bigger than the one I have. Do you know anyone?”
He smiles. “That makes sense. You’re fucking exploding on social media right now. You should wear a Black Widow costume to your first game back. It will feed into all the dialogue.”
I scrunch my nose. “Ugh. No. I’ve always hated that nickname.”
“I’d embrace it. And you’ll look hot as fuck in that tight bodysuit.” He wiggles his eyebrows up and down.
I punch him in the stomach. “Aww,” he chuckles. “You’re so violent. Maybe I should protect my nose.” He covers it with a smile. “I’ll talk to Tanner about representing you.”
My eyes widen. “What? No. He handles multi-million-dollar deals. I’m not big enough for him. I need a mid-level person.”
He shakes his head. “He’ll take you on.” He straightens his shoulders with visible pride. “Consider your new agent taken care of. When I pick you up at the airport in two weeks, it will be done. I promise.”