Chapter 47
Chapter Forty-Seven
NOAH
I’m used to flying, living out of a suitcase, sleeping in a hotel, and eating out for every meal. I’m not used to walking up to a training facility I’m unfamiliar with. I’m also not used to this cold. February in Chicago is gray and freezing.
I welcome the warmth of the building and greet the young woman waiting for me at the door. “Welcome to Chicago, Noah!”
I smile at her, but I’m not sure it meets my eyes. “Good morning. It’s nice to be here.”
“My name is Amanda and I’m going to take you on a quick tour of the grounds, then we’ll head up to the coach’s office.”
“That sounds great.”
I follow Amanda through the indoor field facility (nice since it’s fucking freezing), the weight room, and the meeting rooms. I can’t help but look closer at the wall of trophies.
When they were good, they were really good.
I wonder what it was like to play on this team during the glory days.
I wonder if this is my chance to be a part of something like that.
“These facilities were rebuilt in early 2000. The designer wanted everything laid out north to south. That’s also the year heating was installed under the field so the snow could be melted away.”
I nod. “You really need that here. It’s freezing.”
She smiles brightly. “You get used to it.”
I’m not sure I will.
An hour later I’m face to face with Coach Higgins. He’s a taller man in his late fifties with a comically large mustache. “I think Houston is crazy for letting you go, but we are thrilled to have you here.”
“Thanks, Coach.”
“Of course, we will eventually have to get down to the nitty gritty, but let me start by telling you what we see in store for you in Chicago.” He leans his forearms on his desk.
He has a friendly smile and a welcoming demeanor.
“You put up great numbers this year. Of course we love that. You maybe let things get to your head once or twice, but what I like to see in a player is passion. Especially passion that can be molded and used. We have Tanner, a great receiving tight end, but I need a blocker. That’s where you come in. ”
“That all sounds great, sir.” There’s a smile on my face, but my stomach is in knots. My skin feels too tight. It feels so wrong here. We have plans to see houses tomorrow with an agent recommended by the team, but I just want to get back on a plane and be in Houston as soon as possible.
The second that Coach says he’ll reach out to my manager Arie and be in contact with me later, I shake his hand and speed walk to my car.
I need to get to Arie first. He knew I would be here today, so I’m not surprised when he answers in one ring. I don’t give him one second to speak.
“I can’t do it.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I don’t want to go to Chicago. Find me a way out of it.”
“What if the way out is not playing?”
“There’s got to be something else. I’m open to anything. Tell the Hurricanes that they weren’t willing to give me the price I wanted. Something!”
“Geez, Noah, okay, I’ll see what I can do.”
We hang up. I’m floating, untethered to the earth.
I might be ruining my career, but all I know is that Chicago is not my future.