Ryland
Two days later, I woke up feeling annoyed because I had a million and one things on my schedule for the day, with only two of those being things I planned, picking up Somee’s birthday gift and taking Rylee to the father daughter dance.
Realizing that I was back on football time pissed me off the most, with the reminder that I would be missing time with them from now until the end of February.
All I wanted to do was roll over and slide into Somee’s pussy and remain there for the rest of the morning, but Rylee shut that down when she came busting through the door and climbed onto the foot of the bed.
I lifted my head and peeled my eyes open to find her smiling before her hands were moving. “You’re supposed to be up.”
Somee had been spot on about Rylee not caring about the two of us sleeping in the same bed.
Neither of us mentioned anything about it or made a big deal and Rylee didn’t either, other than to randomly say at dinner that since we’re in the same room, she would wake us up at the same time because she was always the first one up when she had to go to school.
I pulled my arms from around Somee, grateful that my very hard dick was pressed against her ass and not tenting the covers.
“I am.”
“No you’re not and neither is Somee. Joy made burritos.”
My stomach growled at the mention of Joy’s breakfast burritos.
“We’re getting up now. Go wash your face and brush your teeth.”
“I did already.”
“Then go pick your shoes and make sure your homework is in your bookbag. We’ll be up by the time you’re done.”
She pouted. “Hurry up.”
Rylee climbed off the bed and went running out of the room. I sat up, moving Somee’s hair out of her face, dropping kisses from her temple down to the curve of her jaw. She smiled with her eyes closed and lifted her hands, signing, “Ten more minutes.”
I delivered another round of kisses until I had access to those beautiful browns which blinked until she had me in focus. “I’ve been informed that we’re having breakfast burritos and we need to get our asses out of bed.”
She grinned. “She didn’t say that.”
“To me, no, in her head she did though.” I brushed my lips over Somee’s before I sat up and tossed the covers back, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. After stretching my back, I turned and signed, “You have to take her. I have morning workouts then a media run with Sharks PR.”
I watched the slight disappointment move over her face and that shit had me conflicted.
I never wanted to be the reason Somee was disappointed about anything, but I was also lowkey happy that breaking our routine mattered.
If she brushed my absence off, I would have been the one disappointed and that was laughable because when the fuck had I become that guy?
She crawled across the bed, stepping between my legs when she climbed out. “Will I see you before tonight?”
“Probably not. Press is going to take a couple hours then I need to get a cut before I head home. You can meet me there if you want. I’m sure your new B-F-F would love to see you with her H-A-T-I-N ass.”
She grinned and rolled her eyes at the mention of seeing Nyla.
“I’ll pass but you can tell her I might hit her up if another L-A-Y-L-A decides to try me.”
“B-R-U-H, fuck that woman and anyone else who has renter’s remorse for a dick they knew didn’t come with ownership. All you need to know is all access is denied to anyone but you.”
She laughed and shook her head. “You need help.”
After Somee and I got dressed, we ate breakfast with Rylee before they left for school. Somee had talked to Nicolette about the Instruction Coach position and they offered her a day to shadow the third grade Instruction Coach to get a feel for the job.
I left right after them, heading to the training facility to work out with the rookies. It was voluntary, but a lot of us liked to get rounds in with their eager asses who almost always showed up the minute they had access to the onsite gym.
Three of the five players we picked up from the draft showed up to work out and we trained until eleven before I showered and headed to the press room while they all headed to Morningside since Omiri offered to treat.
When I walked in, Rissa Brunson, the PR manager for the Sharks, greeted me before sending me to the table to face the firing squad.
She stepped off to the side with a tablet in hand, prepared to shut down any questions she didn’t approve while Kesmond leaned against the wall in the back of the room, arms folded over his chest and legs crossed at the ankles.
He delivered a nod when I acknowledged him.
He was a decent guy and I wasn’t putting any of this on him.
I also didn’t give a damn that he’d gotten caught in the middle of another fucked up situation because Karl refused to take accountability for his wife’s lack of professionalism, which was a side effect of Karl not possessing the ability to keep his dick in his pants.
My publicist Vanessa walked in a few seconds later and stopped at the table, gripping the edge while she leaned against it. “Do we need to talk before this or can you act like you have some sense?”
“I’mma be cool as long as they are.”
She narrowed her eyes and I flashed a smile. “You can relax, Van. I’m not gonna show my ass.”
“Good because I’d hate to have to show mine.” She gave me that scary ass warning look then left me to find a spot near the front of the room.
After Coach Williams walked in and took the seat next to me, Rissa made her statement.
“Good morning, everyone. Thank you for coming. We’re happy to officially announce that Ryland Parks just signed a four-year deal with the Sharks.
We’ll start with Ryland making a statement, then open the floor for a brief round of questions.
We have scheduled one-on-ones after this, so we’re targeting no more than fifteen to twenty minutes before we shut this down. ”
Several of them mumbled their grievances because the time was so short, but I appreciated that she wasn’t going to keep me here all day.
Or at least I hoped not because there was no telling how many one-on-ones she’d promised.
I knew for sure Sports Center Live would be one, along with the other two nationally syndicated sports networks in attendance.
The room usually held about fifty, but today there were only about ten to fifteen people with only two cameras set up. One was our team media affiliate, so I was guessing the other was the local station since SCL had an exclusive.
“Ryland.” She nodded my way and I brushed a hand over my head before I began.
“I’ll keep it short. I’m a Shark. I was drafted here and plan on retiring here, so we got it done. Four more years with the only team I know and the only team I want to play for. I’m ready to get back to work and get back what was taken from us in February.”
The reporter I got into it with after the game was the first one to fire off a question. I should have expected that when I noticed she was in the room.
“Speaking of that game, is there anything you would like to say about your reaction after the loss?”
I snorted and glanced at Vanessa before I responded. “I apologize to you for my tone, but in my defense you shoved a mic in my face and asked a flawed ass question two seconds after a loss that shouldn’t have happened. I stand by what I said, but shouldn’t have taken that out on you.”
I smiled charmingly and kept my tone light while my focus remained on her in a way that had her goofy ass blushing.
I had no interest in her at all but knew how to play the game.
Smoothing things over with her raised my likability with the female population and I needed all the positive press I could get right now.
“There were reports that there were trade talks happening after the Sharks lost that playoff game. Did that affect your mindset going into the negotiation process for your most recent contract?”
“No. I know what I bring to this team. Karl Bashay knows what I bring to this team. My agent and the organization had a conversation about what keeping me in a Sharks jersey means to the franchise and the city and here we are. The only thing that matters is me showing up on the field this season.”
“But were you fearful that your future as a Shark was in question?”
“Trade talk is inevitable. It’s a part of the job, so it always lingers in the back of any player’s mind, but again, I know my worth and so does this organization. Next question.”
I dismissed ol’ boy because he wasn’t trying to let this go and I wasn’t handing over another soundbite that would have me going viral.
“If a trade had been the outcome, were you prepared to play somewhere else?”
“I wouldn’t have played anywhere else.” I looked the reporter right in his eyes before I glanced toward the other side of the room at Kesmond.
“Does that mean you were prepared to retire then?”
“I’m here, so what ifs don’t matter. Next question.”
“Four years is a significant commitment at this stage in your career. What projections do you have for the next four years as far as your performance on the field?”
I smirked. “Damn, sounds like you’re calling me old. At this stage in my career?”
A round of laughter moved through the room and lightened the mood.
“At thirty-four, you’re not exactly young in football years.” The reporter who’d asked flashed a smile.
Coach interjected, “Parks is in great physical shape and also works hard to ensure he remains in game shape year round. We have no doubts about his performance over the next four years.”
“That’s basically Coach’s way of subtly dropping hints that I need to earn my salary for the next four years.”