Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Titan
“Third and six for Cannon Hills, and this Miami defense has to get off the field right here. Tatum is in the shotgun. Samuels lined up wide left. Miami showing pressure.”
“There’s the snap. Tatum drops back, looks right, comes back across the middle — he’s got Samuels!”
“Caught at the forty-five! Samuels turns upfield! He’s across midfield, still moving! Forty-five, forty, thirty-five—Miami’s got bodies chasing him now!”
“He cuts back inside at the thirty, breaks one tackle, and he’s still on his feet! Samuels is dragging this defense with him!”
“And he gets hammered near the twenty-two-yard line! What a play by Samuels, but he is slow getting up after that hit.”
The whistle blew while I was still holding onto the ball, because if Miami thought they were getting that muthafucka loose, they had me fucked up.
Two of their defenders were on the ground with me, one across my legs and the other rolling away after coming in high.
The first thing I did was check the ball. Still tucked. Still ours. First down.
The second thing I noticed was my left shoulder. I stayed down longer than I wanted to, because the second I tried to push myself up, I knew something wasn’t right with my shoulder. I shifted onto my right side and sat up, trying to work through it before anybody made a big deal out of it.
The second I sat up… Tatum was already there.
“You good?” he asked, extending a hand.
I grabbed it with my right and let him pull me to my feet. The movement sent a reminder through to my shoulder, and I immediately kept my left arm tucked against my side.
Tatum noticed it too.
His eyes dropped briefly before coming back to my face.
“You—”
Before he could finish, the trainers were already jogging onto the field. Briggs wasn’t far behind them, followed by Steele.
I looked toward the bench and shook my head.
“I’m good.”
The trainer stepped in front of me before I could go any further.
“Where’s the pain?” He asked.
“My left shoulder,” I mumbled through the pain.
“Can you move it?”
I started to lift my arm and immediately knew I fucked up.
“Yeah.”
His expression let me know he knew I was lying.
The team doctor joined us while the trainer carefully examined my shoulder. I stood there letting them do their job, but the longer it took... the more pissed off I got.
Coach Briggs finally made his way over.
“Talk to me.”
I rolled my shoulder once and regretted it immediately.
“I landed on my shit wrong,” I grit.
Neither the trainer nor the doctor looked convinced. Coach’s jaw tightened as he listened to whatever they were telling him, and that was enough for me to know they weren’t about to slap some tape on it and send me back out there.
The crowd was still buzzing around us as I looked toward the family section. Mama and Lani were both on their feet, and neither of them looked particularly happy. Pops had his arm around Mama, and his face was riddled with concern.
My eyes eventually landed on Tink. She was still sitting, but her attention hadn’t left me. Even from that distance, I could see the concern on her face. I gave her a quick nod, hoping it would do enough to reassure her, but her expression never changed.
If anything, she looked even less convinced than the trainers standing around me.
I turned my attention back to the trainer and Coach and they both looked like they were about to piss me off.
“Wassup?” I asked, ready for them to say whatever it was they had to say.
“It looks like it could just be sprained, but we’ll need to get an MRI to be sure,” TC said.
“Aight,” I started. “Tape me up so I can finish the game,” I demanded.
“Nah, Sam. You need to sit the rest of the game out. Let your shoulder rest,” Coach insisted.
That was not the shit I wanted to hear.
“Fuck!” I bellowed, kicking over the water cooler near me.
I didn’t need this shit right now.
I sat and watched my team play with their heart, but we still lost by a fucking field goal. When the buzzer sounded, I got up and left. I didn’t want to talk to a muthafuckin’ soul.
“Titan, can we get a minute?”
“Titan, how’s your shoulder?”
“Titan, can I ask you a few questions?”
I heard every last reporter shoot off question after question, and I ignored them all.
I didn’t feel like this shit today. I made it to the locker room before everybody else and started taking my shit off.
As soon as I went to pull my jersey off, the pain from my shoulder shot through my entire body.
“Ahh... fuck!” I yelled right when Tatum came in the door, followed by Kobe and a few other teammates.
“Damn, bro,” Kobe voiced.
TC came in and assisted in taking my jersey off as the team doctor followed him.
“I’m going to tape you up right now, and I want to see you first thing in the morning for an MRI. We don’t want to overlook this Samuels,” he stated.
“I hear you,” was all I said.
When he finished taping me, I threw on a tank top as quickly as I could and left out the locker room.
Graves was standing by the door, and I’m glad he was.
I didn’t feel like talking to anyone, and he would make sure of that.
Once we made it out the tunnel, my family was standing there waiting for me.
My mama was the first one to rush toward me.
“Baby, are you okay. Where are you hurt?” She started searching me like I had been shot or something.
“I’m fine, Ma,” I lied.
“No, you’re not, but I know you don’t want to do this here, so come on,” she fussed.
I couldn’t do nothing but shake my head because Aiesha Davis little ass didn’t play.
I looked at Tink and I could see the concern in her face. I pulled her close to me and kissed her forehead.
“You drove here by yourself?” I asked her.
“I-I rode with Nae,” she mentioned.
I looked at Nae before I responded.
“You can follow us back to my spot,” I said, and she agreed.
Graves escorted us the parking lot where everybody got into their cars and headed to my house. As bad as I wanted to drive, I had to let Tink do it. Graves helped me inside and I leaned the seat all the way back. I was glad I drove my Range so I could sit back and not feel cramped.
“Don’t wreck my truck, Tink. I’on wanna be banged up worse than I already am,” I mumbled as I threw my good arm over my face.
I did that because I didn’t feel like talking right now and I know she would try to say some shit to make me feel better and right now, I didn’t want to hear that shit.
***
When I got home, my parents weren’t there because Mama insisted on cooking for me, so she stopped by the grocery store first. As much as I wanted to be left alone, I was not passing up my mama’s cooking for nothing. So, I was here with my parents, sister, Tink and Nae.
“You okay, Bubby?” Lani asked as she snuggled under me.
“I’m straight, so get your big ass head off me.” I mushed her head with my good arm, causing her to do the same.
“You need me to get you anything?” Tink asked as she came back into the living room. I looked at her and immediately knew what she could give me.
“Yeah, but it’s too many people in here right now,” I flirted.
“You’re gross.” Lani frowned.
Tink sat on the other side of me but was careful not to bother my shoulder. Once she was comfortable, I maneuvered my body and laid my head in her lap. She started playing in my hair like she always did and was going to put my ass to sleep.
“Boy, you’re just spoiled all the way around,” Pops started. “Got your mama in there cooking dinner... your sister running around and poor Janae doesn’t even know why she’s here,” he laughed.
“I’m here for emotional support,” she countered.
“’Preciate that, Nae. This nigga just a hater,” I countered.
It was rare that I just got to sit around and not do shit.
I was always on the go. Right now, I would appreciate it more if I wasn’t worried about what the doctor was going to tell me in the morning.
Whatever he said would determine the fate of my career, and I was at the peak of this muthafucka. I couldn’t stop now.
***
Dr. Caldwell spent a few moments reviewing the MRI before turning the monitor slightly in my direction.
“The shoulder partially dislocated on the play and immediately reduced itself, which is why the trainers suspected a subluxation. The MRI confirmed that diagnosis, but it also showed a tear in the labrum. The good news is that there’s no fracture and no major structural damage beyond that.
The bad news is that labral tears don’t simply disappear with time. ”
I looked at the image on the screen before shifting my attention back to her.
“How bad we talking?”
“Bad enough that surgery is a reasonable option, but not so bad that it’s the only option. If this happened during the off season, my recommendation would probably be different. Given where we are in the year, you have a decision to make.”
She closed the file and folded her hands on the desk.
“Surgery would repair the tear and address the instability in the joint. It would also end your season immediately. The alternative is rehabilitation. We’d focus on reducing inflammation, restoring strength, improving stability, and monitoring how the shoulder responds over the next several weeks.
If everything progresses the way we’d like, a return this season remains possible. ”
The only part of that answer that mattered was the last sentence.
“So my season isn’t over.”
“No. It isn’t over. I just can’t promise you when you’ll be back or what the shoulder will look like once you are.”
That was fair. Professional football came with plenty of guarantees. Staying healthy was never one of them.
Dr. Caldwell continued, “The timeline we’re looking at is roughly six to eight weeks, assuming there aren’t any setbacks.
You’ll spend a lot of time with the rehab staff, a lot of time with Mercer, and probably more time doing recovery work than you’ve spent catching footballs this year.
It won’t be fun, and it won’t be quick, but it’s a realistic path if your goal is to return before the season ends. ”
I nodded and leaned back in the chair.
“What would you recommend if I wasn’t a football player?”
“Surgery,” she said with no hesitation.
“I’ll send everything over to Dr. Mercer and let him coordinate the next steps. For now, focus on the things you can control. Your shoulder’s going to heal on its own regardless of how stubborn you are.”
***
I sat in the back of the truck as Graves drove out the parking lot.
Once we were in traffic, I dug in my pocket to get my phone so I could text Tink.
I knew she was still in class, but I knew she had her phone close by because of the appointment.
When I looked at my phone, I saw that she had already texted me.
Tink ??: How did the appointment go?
I smiled at the thought of her thinking about me and checking in.
It was a bunch of bullshit that I didn’t want to hear... other than that it was aight.
She must’ve been waiting for my reply because she replied instantly.
Tink ??: You probably didn’t like what they said but you’ll be alright. I got more class and I’ll be done. I have to work tonight so do you need me to bring you anything?
Yeah... you ??
Tink ??: Bye Titan. I’ll see you when I’m done with my class.
I didn’t even bother with texting her back because I’d see her in a few. I was going to take a nap before she got back and get some pussy before she went to work.
***
Too much for a nap because as soon as I was asleep good, Sasha and Black were waltzing in here ready to work on my nerves.
“Wake your ass up,” Sasha said as she took a seat on the ottoman in front of the recliner I was in.
“Watch me kick your ass on the floor.” I grimaced as I sat up.
“How’s the shoulder?” Black asked as he took a seat on the couch closer to me.
“Hurting like a muthafucka, but I’ll be straight,” I responded. “What y’all want?” I asked because I knew it was something when they came in here looking like the Dynamic Duo.
“First of all negro. I’m your friend before your manager. I wanted to check on you and see if you needed anything,” Sasha fussed.
“My bad, Sash. This shit is just annoying as fuck. Doctor told me today that I’ll probably sit the rest of the season out,” I said in a huff.
“Damn,” Black breathed out.
“Right.” I got up and got a bottle of water.
“Well, now that can lead up to why we’re here,” Sasha started.
“The Kinetiq event at CPC is underway, and I think you should still show up.” I was about to stop her, but she put her hand up.
“Let me finish. You may not be able to be physical, but you can still show up. They’ll be looking and speculating.
You don’t want them to start back talking.
We just got them somewhat quiet,” she added.
“I still planned on doing that shit. Now I’ll have to revert my plans, but I’ll be there,” I responded just as Tink was walking through the door. She eyed Sasha and Black before looking at me.
“Am I interrupting something?” She asked as she walked toward me.
When she was close, I grabbed her with the arm that wasn’t confined to the sling and pulled her body into mine before kissing her lips.
“Nah, they just came to check on me,” he mentioned.
Sasha had that dumb ass smirk on her face that I knew I would hear about later.
“Hey, Cady. You’re fine because we were just leaving,” Sasha announced as she stood up with Black following suit. “I had to make sure he wasn’t doing shit he wasn’t supposed to be doing,” she added.
“Watch out and get out,” I laughed.
They both got up and left, but not before Sasha threatened me. I looked at Graves and told him he could leave too. He knew what I was on and only laughed before his big ass left.
“You’re grumpy. Why are you throwing everybody out?” Tink asked.
I directed her toward the room and answered her on the way.
“Because I want to get this pussy in peace,” I uttered as I ushered her inside the room.
Slap!
“You gone do all the work too, so I hope them knees up to par.” I smirked.
I didn’t give a fuck about the pain in my shoulder. My girl’s pussy was a natural sedative, and I was gone let her overdose me with that shit before she went to work.