Page 44 of Running
I then get a long account of how each of Emma’s stuffies misses “Unca Jaw-nee.” Pookie the bear, Bunny the bunny, Smelly the pig and so on—each has their own moment in her account.
My sister probably thinks I’m doing her a favor by entertaining Emma. But the reminder of home fills my heart, and my time, in a way I truly cherish.
When I pull up to the Waves facility the next day, I text Molly, our PR second-in-command. “Here.”
I have a big media day planned. Normally that wouldn’t equate to a fun time, but today I’m glad because it’ll kill a couple hours. Mondays are normally not as busy, and I need distractions.
While we ended last year with eight losses and nine wins, there’s been plenty of buzz around us throughout the preseason. Headlines like “Waves Ready to Make a Splash in the New Season,” “Alabama Stars Samuels and Battle Stand Tall in Their Third Year at the Waves,” and “Opinion: Samuels, Watkins Headline a Top 5 Offense,” keep popping up.
I’m grateful for my college experience at Alabama. All the noise, the pressure, the intensity—I’ve grown the mental fortitude to handle the media storm already.
And I know this is the price of being the starting quarterback. To whom much is given, much is expected.
With the press requests coming in fast and furious, Molly has blocked a two-hour time slot on my schedule to pre-record some interviews.
When I meet her in the media room, she gets me set up with earbuds and a mic.
“You’re a pro at this, I know, but anything you want to discuss before I sic them on you?” Molly jokes lightly.
I wink at her. “I got this.” Nothing is on the table topically that I can’t handle right now.
The three interviews are scheduled for 30 minutes each, with relative heavy hitters amongst football reporters—two from networks, one from a streaming channel. Still, I skate through the questions without feeling pressed on anything in particular.
The only topic I take care with is when one reporter asks me about Rawley. There’s still chatter about his answers during the joint interview with Landon, but he’s also had a monster opening game of his own this past weekend. The combination has made him a topic the talking heads love to keep revisiting, debating what NFL teams will do with him in the draft.
Needless to say, when the question comes, asking what I’ve thought of him during his Florida visits, I have his back—and by extension, Landon and Grace’s.
“Rawley Battle will be a powerful weapon for whichever team drafts him. I know the Battle family well, and they are stand-up people with great character. I have zero doubts about Rawley’s ability to succeed in the NFL.”
With my media duties done, I head back to the quarterback room, which is empty. Each position has its own space where you meet, strategize, study film together—and bond. I take advantage of the quiet for a minute before I’ll need to go workout.
Slipping in my earbuds, I casually flip through the playbook while listening to the Kendrick mix I like. About seven minutes in, I hear a beep come through the music and I check my phone.
It’s Kelly Winters.
Kelly is a successful model whom I’ve discretely spent time with on and off over the past couple of years. She’s a stunning redhead, funny, and sexy as hell, with zero tolerance for drama. Her career is her love, and she’s made it clear what we are and what we aren’t. I appreciate the clarity.
KELLY: I’m up near you for a swimwear photo shoot next week. You want to hang out then?
She’s based out of Miami, where we met at a party my rookie year, but all over the world any given week. She must have a gig closer to Orlando coming up.
Hmmm. I’ll be free in the evenings if it’s early during the week.
But, shit, her text makes me feel like I swallowed sour milk.
There’s no reason I can’t meet Kelly and blow off some steam with her. I owe nothing to Grace.
From the feeling in my gut, though—that doesn’t matter. It doesn’t feel right.
JOHNSON: Hey! Next week won’t work, but good luck on your shoot.
She puts a heart emoji on my response, and that’s that.
It’s a blonde I want, not a redhead.
CHAPTER 15
Grace
