Page 45 of On the Ropes
“They can’t operate from that mindset,” I said urgently. “These are injuries that boxers can’t just bounce back from. I still have side effects, and I was one of the lucky—”
“Dean,” he interrupted. “Dean, Dean. I get it, okay? Your sport obsession of choice isn’t perfect. And which sport is? But if that’s a question you’d have for them, I can pass it on to the guy I’ve been talking to.”
I stretched my neck from side to side and contemplated hitting Harry just for fun. “I would appreciate that, thanks.”
“Are you at least slightly interested?” he asked.
That picture of me in victory stared at me accusingly. Saying no would be a full lie, even if I didn’t want to admit it. “I’m slightly interested.”
Harry whistled. “Well, okay then. At least I know we can play a little hardball now. I’ll be in touch. It wouldn’t hurt to peek at some apartments in Vegas. In a nice neighborhood, if you catch my drift.”
He disconnected before I could answer. I held the phone out and stared at it, wondering what the actual hell was happening.
One call from my agent with an opportunity that wasn’t even locked down and that rare confidence was filtering back in. Slowly, and the texture was different, but I couldn’t deny its existence. What would it be like to have Tabitha Tyler flirting with me if I was about to become a big-time sports announcer—and on my way to Vegas? If my time here was suddenly as fleeting as hers?
I rubbed the back of my neck, easing the tight pressure there. What would it be like to work for a network that encouraged—even glamorized—the violence that had left my body with real scars and permanent consequences for my health?
All of that wasn’t even the real question though.
The real question was if I didn’t take this opportunity, what was I going to do instead?
