Page 36 of Me For You
I laughed dryly. “I’ve been a Shark since I entered the league. The only fucking jersey I’ve ever worn. I helped bring back to back championships to Crescent Falls. Three, Sov. That’s where we are? That muthafucker wants to check me because he can’t keep his wife from running through the Sharks roster. Let’s be real, I’m not the only one.”
After I let it slip that Mia wanted to fuck, several other players mentioned having Mia in their beds. The shit was wild that she was out there like that. The problem was she kept coming for me because I’d turned her down. I guess her husband didn’t like that his wife was so eager to be on my dick.
“On record, the issue is what happened after the game yesterday,” she stated.
“Right, they’re consideringoptionsbecause I checked a reporter. That’s bullshit and you know it.”
“I do but…”
“Nah, fuck a but, Sov. It’s not right. I can’t do this right now. I have to consider my sister. The custody thing is temporary. What do I look like walking into the courtroom to prove I can provide a stable home for Rylee when there’s nothing stable about my life right now?”
“I know what you’re facing, Land. We’ll deal with the trade issues, but if things move fast, I want us to be able to get ahead of this.”
“Then do your job. Get ahead of this…” I gritted, not meaning to take things out on her. This was my fuck up, so I apologized. “My bad, I’m just frustrated.”
“Understood.”
“Look, whatever needs to happen is done. Just let me know how to fix this. Whatever they need, I’m down for. Press conference, I’m there. You tell me what I need to do and it’s done. A trade can’t happen, Sov. I’m a Shark for life. I’m not leaving.”
“They’re gonna push.”
“And you’re gonna push back harder. I’m an asset, not a liability. Personal feelings should never be in this and that’s what’s happening. I had a fucking moment but that’s not the sum total of who I am. You have to remind them that they need me on the field, Sov. They need to think about what that means for Omiri. I can be replaced but the way we work together cannot. See if they really want to havethatconversation. Omiri’s not going to be happy about not having me making sure he’s untouched out there on the field. He trusts me because he knows he can.”
“I’m going to make some calls. Stay off social media until I tell you otherwise. No more attention, Land. I mean it.”
“Trust, you don’t have to worry about that.”
“I’m serious, Ryland. Nothing public. No viral moments, no interviews, or comments. Let me do my job without having to fan another fire.”
“I’m chilling.”
“I’ll call you when I know something.”
“Aight.”
I ended the call and threw my phone. It bounced off the seat across from me and landed on the floor. A few seconds later, Somee stood over me with the device in hand and a frown on her face. I accepted it then glanced at the other side of the jet whereRylee was grinning at a tablet as she sat with her legs crossed and the device in her lap.
“Everything okay?”she signed.
I dropped my phone into my lap and responded,“Yeah, I’m straight.”
“I don’t think you are. Want to talk about it?”She sat across from me, as if asserting that I was going to talk to her whether I wanted to or not. If my mood wasn’t so messed up, I would have laughed.
“Work stuff,”I signed.
“Trade talk?”
I frowned because why was that even on her mind.“You know about that?”
She shrugged.“I’m serious about my sports. Went to look up highlights from the game while I was taking a bath last night and saw them discussing you on Sports Center Live.”
I was pissed that people were discussing the future of my career but I didn’t want to talk about that. It was bad enough that the trade talks were happening. Instead of engaging the topic. I focused on something else.
“You were researching me last night?”I signed with an accusatory smile, then added,“While you were in the tub, naked. Interesting.”
Her beautiful browns rolled.“Of course that’s where your mind would go. Shouldn’t you be more focused on your career crisis.”
“I’m not getting traded. My agent is working on it.”
