Page 105 of Offside Rules

For now, I’ll take that too.

Theo is waiting when I get to the training room.

"How’s it feeling?"

"Sore."

"More than yesterday?"

"About the same."

He nods toward the table, and I set my bag down before pulling off my sweatshirt. He watches the movement, then has me sit while he checks the shoulder.

I answer his questions without giving him a reason to ask them twice. We’ve been doing this long enough that he knows when I’m trying to hurry through it.

"Did you do anything this morning?" he asks.

"I worked on Baylor’s truck. Nothing crazy."

His hands stop.

"I wasn’t hauling an engine out, Theo. I cleaned a couple of connections and talked to my dad."

"Then keep it that way."

"I’m aware I have a shoulder injury."

"I’m also aware you occasionally treat it like an inconvenience you can ignore."

"You’re right. It’s very inconvenient."

He doesn’t laugh. I didn’t expect him to. My shoulder is serious, and keeping me playing healthy is his job.

We work through the exercises, and he corrects me when I start compensating instead of moving the way he wants. By the last set, I’m ready to be done, but he makes me slow down and finish properly.

"Boston confirmed the plan?" he asks.

"Yeah. Same surgeon. Same timing, as long as nothing changes before then."

"Keep me updated. Once you’re cleared to travel after surgery, it would be good to get you back here before the rest of the guys return for next season. We can pick up where your rehab team leaves off."

I lower my arm and look at him.

"You’re making plans for next season."

"That’s generally what we do this time of year."

"I’m a free agent."

"I know."

"And I don’t know if I’m coming back here."

Theo takes the resistance band from me and sets it aside.

"Penelope and Haynes aren’t going to let you go without a conversation."

"Maybe not. But a conversation isn’t a contract."