Page 17 of Never Say Never
Yeah, right.
If last year’s pattern holds, the next time I’ll hear from her directly will be during the holidays, when she “wants her children to show up” for some occasion.
As for Dad, we’re closer, when we connect. He likes talking sports at least, and we texted back and forth all day after I messaged him the news.
Connor interrupts the flow of my thoughts. “In the meantime, I’m planning on being in Orlando until you and Landon have training camp. Does that work?”
“Sweet, yes.”
“I have a lot to figure out, so I’m really looking forward to the downtime.”
I’m not sure what he means by that exactly, but I’ve got too much on my own plate to ask tonight.
“I’ll need to get into prime shape, so get ready for killer workouts,” I warn him, only half in jest.
“Thank fuck I have the younger legs,” he says dryly.
“Like that matters when we do Landon’s ‘make my brothers into men’ routine.”
Connor snorts. Landon’s loved to kick our asses in his gym since he bought this place.
“Speaking of manning up,” Connor starts, “are you still seeing Stefani this summer, or are you finally going to tell her to stop jerking you around?”
Stefani Winslow is my “friend” from high school. Back then, she really was myfixation. I was obsessed with the girl, a gorgeous ballerina who’s now studying at a dance school in Manhattan.
My seventeen-year-old self couldn’t believe it when she finally hooked up with me after prom, but she’s since made it clear she never wanted more than a good time.
Four years, distance, and the couple of women who’ve since caught my interest, have diminished Stef’s hold on me, for sure. Still, the echoes of my fixation live on every time we connect.
“Yeah, I’ll try to get to New York for a few days. See her perform.” It’s been our yearly ritual since we both left our hometown.
“Rawls, that girl has you wrapped around her finger and never gives you a crumb.” Connor’s never liked her, or more specifically, how she treats me.
“Nah, it’s different now.Idon’t feel the same way, I mean.”
“Whatever.” His tone makes it clear he doesn’t believe me. “You want to practice some more questions?”
Not a bad call so I can nail this thing tomorrow.
The next day,after the press room is cleared out, Landon, Aiden, and I sit in a side office at the Waves facility as Head Coach Houston shakes my hand.
“We’re excited to have you here, Rawley. Keep your nose down until preseason, and then we’ll get to work.”
The Waves’ offensive coordinator Marshall Olson stands next to him, nodding. They both joined me at the press conference podium and said nice words about me when called on. Surreal shit.
“Yes sir,” I respond. “Thank you both for giving me this opportunity.”
“See you at rookie minicamp,” Marshall says. After a quick goodbye to my brother, they exit, leaving Landon, Aiden, and me alone.
A short moment later, Aiden’s phone starts to ring. “I need to take this,” he says. “It’s Aspire.” A top sportswear company he’s trying to secure me an endorsement deal with.
But after he listens to what they have to say, it doesn’t seem in the cards.
“Look, I get it. He’s twenty-one years old, he’s not going to be polished. You heard that authenticity today? It’s what peoplewant. What your customers want.” Aiden’s using his smooth agent voice with whoever is on his phone.
He listens to the reply, then makes a slight grimace.
“Uh-huh. We can wait and see. I understand.”
