Page 60 of Soft
Grizzly
Draft day arrived like it did every year. Only this time was different because my Daddy was the coveted player.
The press had gotten wind about a week ago that Paxton had moved to Bellport and become my client. I wasn’t sure what tipped them off. All I knew was our phones at the office blew up the minute it leaked.
Coach after coach wanted to acquire him. They’d apparently been trying to work with his former agent to no success. When they split, the teams had no point of contact to discuss potential deals with.
I listened and replied to each of them. Never did I give a definitive answer as to what would happen even though I knew where Paxton was headed. Royce had sent more than one email detailing how they were going to have the first coveted selection thanks to a bet in their favor. They didn’t go into specifics, but I had hopes I’d learn one day.
One thing about Royce Bellport was that they knew how to get their way when they wanted something. Hell, all the Bellports did.
Paxton had opted to stay in town for the draft, rather than taking a trip to the event. He said being with me, his Dad, and the Princess Pack via video call was way more important than a room of people who would give him fake smiles.
I’d been happy with the choice since it meant I didn’t have to be fully on for the day. While I obviously couldn’t be Little thanks to the camera crew in Paxton’s living room, I still got to sit close to him, hold his hand, and genuinely be a part of his big moment.
Having been in this industry long enough to have sat beside a lot of clients on a lot of draft days, I’d never once gotten tired of the energy it brought. It was the thing that made the job worth the rest of it. The contracts, the cold calls, the late nights combing through performance data, the clients who were difficult, the ones who left without warning, and the ones you poured yourself into who flamed out before they finished a full contract. All of it was worth it for this part.
It was even better since my Daddy was the one in the spotlight.
Paxton had on a freshly pressed button-down and slacks. He looked more businessman than athlete for the moment, though his muscles straining against the fabric definitely alluded to his size. He had one hand in mine, the other between his dad’s hands.
He didn’t bounce his leg. Didn’t fidget at all.
Calm.
That’s how he appeared. And it’s how he made me feel.
When they announced him as a Bellport Blue Jay, cheers echoed around us. From the tv, to the video call, to his own father, it was chaos. Paxton simply smiled through it all. He didn’t ham it up for the cameras or do the opposite and make it seem like no big deal.
Instead, he gave a small speech about what an honor it was to be with his dream team before hugging his dad and then me. I could see the camera people raising their brows, though no one said anything.
Even when they broke down their equipment after the live part was over, they didn’t bring it up. I could sense their judgment though. For the first time, I worried if our relationship was going to cause him problems.
As if he could sense my worry, he pulled me into the kitchen away from the final goodbyes. I looked at him with wide eyes.
He leaned close, whispering, “I can see you’re overthinking, baby. There is nothing wrong about us or this deal. You are my future as much as this team is. Don’t let anyone’s opinion change that.”
I had to trust what he said even though my gut told me it would come back to bite me in the ass later.
Royce Bellport ran meetings efficiently and without a lot of ceremony. They had a taken over the team when their brother Bellamy had purchased it on behalf of his husband, Finn. While Royce had run many businesses, they’d never taken on a team.
Still, I couldn’t ask for a better point of contact. We’d interacted enough to have a good rapport. It helped that Royce was dominant to their submissive partner, Kenneth, who also happened to be the former owner of the team and Royce’s old bully.
Yeah, I know.It’s a fucking trip here in Bellport.
Royce and Kenneth greeted us the minute we walked into the conference room at the stadium. They had a lawyer present, along with some other staff—likely to talk money, logistics, and the like.
It could have felt suffocating. But really, it felt more like a small party. A celebration of new opportunities ahead.
Royce opened with the numbers. No preamble or flattery, just the full offer laid out in a simple format. I’d already gone over everything, so I knew what to expect. Paxton did too since I didn’t keep anything from him.
To keep up appearances though, my Daddy read the whole thing again, line by line. I’d coached him on this part since not everyone knew how involved we both were in this selection. Had they, it might have affected the draft in a way we didn’t want.
People always wanted to prosecute others who used their connections in life to get ahead. As if that wasn’t the way everything in life was done. Even mom and pop type places chose family over letting someone else come in to help.
Read it completely before your face does anything, I had told him.You have to pretend this is all new.
The room was quiet as he penciled in notes here and there on the pages. I watched with a close, professional eye. Right now, hewas Paxton. Not Daddy. I had to keep reminding myself as much with so many eyes on us.
