Page 83 of Worth the Try
I fight the rising panic clawing at my chest. “What the hell does that mean?”
“You don’t need to know that,” he answers.
Judging from his tone, I won’t be getting any other explanation. The last thing I want is to be operating in the dark, but at the same time, how much of this shit do I really want to know? Because there’s no doubt that the more I know, the more I’ll be responsible for. I unclench my fists. “Fine. Are you going to be here for the exhibition game?”
They shake their heads.
Jesus fuck. “What am I missing?” I press. “Why me?”
“Look,” Scott says, nodding at the person I presume is a lawyer before returning his focus to me, “you’re the highest-paid player in the league.”
“Precisely why I shouldplay,” I remind him.
The lawyer pushes a contract in front of me.
“And you will be,” Scott says. “We’ll have someone in place before the first game of the season.”
“But not the exhibition game,” Craig pipes up. “That’s likely one you’ll be on the sidelines for.”
We’ll see about that.
“We need you, Miles,” Coach says. “You’re the only one that makes sense. Look at the contract.”
I sigh, but glance down.
And barely manage to keep my jaw from hitting the polished oak table when I see the amount. It’s ludicrous. How much are the coaches paid annually if this is what I’m getting for what’s likely a month’s worth of work?
“I’ll be honest with you, Ansel,” the owner begins.
I meet his eyes across the table.
“You’re the linchpin of this team. We need you. We need you on the pitch,andwe need you to do this for us.”
Well, shit. I take a deep breath and nod, trying to ignore the weight that settles on my shoulders. “Okay,” I tell them. “I’ll do it.”
“Excellent.” Scott rises from the table and leaning to shake my hand. He buttons his suit jacket and looks at the table. “I’ll leave you all to sort this out, then. See you on the pitch.”
I don’t have a chance to say anything before he’s gone, and the lawyer is setting a pen in front of me.
“I’m Jade,” she says, then points at the contract and rises from the table. “I’ll give you a few minutes to review.”
“My agent needs to look at this,” I counter, but she shakes her head.
“Lewis Jones?”
I nod. I took a chance on Lewis when he was straight out of the NFL and starting his agency. He’s blown up, so busy with the rest of his clients that he barely has time for me. Lucky for him, I’m easy.
Jade continues, her brow furrowing, “I had him look at it last night. He didn’t tip you off?”
I wince. “He texted me, but I was busy.” Busy with my head between Elodie’s legs. I’d planned to call him today. In retrospect, I should have called him on the way in.
She shrugs. “Call him now if you want, but I need it signed before you leave.” With that, she opens her phone and turns away from me, the dark wooden beads on the end of her braids knocking together as she goes.
Frank slides yet another piece of paper in front of me. “This is the statement we’ll release to the media. Have a look at it and make sure you’re good with the quote we’ve written for you.”
“Once you’re finished with all that,” Coach adds, “swing into my office and we’ll work out a schedule for the week.”
The beginnings of a headache start to form behind my eyes as Kari produces a bag from beneath the table. “What is that?” I ask her.
