Epilogue
EPILOGUE
STEFAN
…one year later
“Do you remember us?” two young guys stop and ask as Wren and I walk away from the stadium after practice.
“Sorry, I don’t,” I honestly tell them and they look heartbroken.
“I’m Brandon, that’s Dylan. We used to have a podcast and we interviewed you in your second season with LA.”
“Ohhh, I remember you two now. You’re a little bigger than when we first met.”
“Yeah, we are. We’re seniors now and we graduate later this year.”
“Still doing the podcast?”
“Yeah, we are. Dylan and I are going to go to NYU to study journalism and make a go of this.”
“That’s awesome, congrats.”
“Thanks, do you, umm, think we could get a photo?”
“Of course,” I tell them.
“I’ll take it,” Wren offers.
“Thanks,” Brandon says. He hands Wren his phone and looks quizzically at her. “Hey, I remember you. You’re his handler.”
“Wife,” I correct him. Draping my arm over her shoulder, I pull her into me and kiss her temple and then I remember something. “Actually, you have her to thank for the interview back then.”
“Really?” Dylan asks her.
“Yep, I managed every aspect of his life back then.”
“And you still do,” I tell her, earning myself a whack to the stomach.
“Pussy-whipped,” one of them coughs.
I laugh. “Best pussy to be whipped by.”
“Stefan,” Wren scolds me and slaps me in the stomach again. “You can’t say that to kids.”
“We’re not kids anymore, we’re almost college students an?—”
“Still kids,” Wren interrupts, “and Stefan knows better.” She gives me her handler look, but I also see nothing but love in her eyes radiating back at me.
“Sorry, dear,” I deadpan. “Now take this pic because we have somewhere to be.”
After snapping a pic with the guys, I tell them I’ll have tickets waiting for them for our next home game behind the bench … and a check for their tuition at college.
When we get home, I listen to their podcast and they have come a long way since the dumpster of an interview I did with them. Those two are going to go far in life and if I can help them achieve their dreams, I’ll do what I can.
With the right people on your team, you will go far in life. Trust me, I know.
I was lucky to have Wren rooting for me because if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be where I am today. In fact, without her on my team, I’d be a washed-up player with no career and no prospects. Wren D?uchmen being assigned as my image consultant/handler is the best thing to ever have happened to me. I’m the man I am today because of her, and I cannot wait to grow old with her and watch the sunset on our wraparound porch … just like she’d always dreamed.