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“No. You know I don’t care about that, right?”
I grin and draw a couple of exes and ohs on the whiteboard. “Right. Well, when I played, I was on a ten year, ninety-eight-million-dollar contract,” I say.
“What thefuck?” she exclaims. “Are you shitting me? That is… that is a ridiculous amount of money.”
“The NFL is the most profitable league in the country. They bring in thirteen billion dollars a year, and they pay their players well.”
“Thirteen billion? Hang on, I need to sit down. You’re blowing my mind here, Shawn.”
“Want me to tell you about the coaching contract?”
Lacey sighs like hearing these numbers is a chore, and it makes me grin even wider. She truly does not give a shit about how much I’m worth, and I love that about her. “You might as well.”
“Eight years, eighty million,” I say. “It’s on the low end, but it’s my first contract as a head coach.” I shrug even though she can’t see me. “We’ll see what I get when it’s time to talk about extensions.”
“Holy mother of God. You could buy an island.”
“I could, but I donate a lot of it instead. Seems better for the environment. Besides, what would I do with a thousand acres all to myself? You wouldn’t be there, and I’d miss your pumpkin pies.”
A laugh tumbles out of her, and I heave a sigh of relief.
I hate having conversations about money, especially with people I care about. I’m lucky to be surrounded by family and friends who don’t give a shit about my paychecks. They’ve never asked me to pay off their mortgage or to buy them a car, but it’s a slippery slope. Money can be messy, and the last thing I want is for Lacey to think I’m different because of how many zeroes I have in my bank account.
I know her heart, though.
It wouldn’t matter if I had ten dollars or ten million dollars to my name. She’d still give me shit, and that makes her one of the good ones. Someone I always want in my corner.
“Okay, so renting a farm is like chump change for you,” she says. “Got it.”
“It’s a small place outside the city. A local business. I’m supporting the economy,” I explain. “I promise I’m not showboating.”
“Ah, I see. The Good Samaritan strikes again. Really, though. That’s thoughtful of you, Shawn. What a great way to kick off the holiday season,” she says.
“I know firsthand how hard it can be to be away from people you love during this time of year. Sometimes I feel guilty for taking away from the players’ free time, and I want to remind them I know they’re human.”
“They know what they signed up for,” Lacey says, and her voice is soft and soothing. A balm to an ache in my chest I didn’t know was there. “But it sounds like it’s going to be a great time. I’m sure they could use a little fun before the last games heading into the new year.”
“Yeah. Everyone tends to get more stressed out the later into December we get. I don’t know. I just want them to have clear minds and a few hours where they don’t have to be the tough guys they’re known to be on the field,” I say. I stare at my white board and erase the play I just drew out. “Anyway. What do you think?”
“I’ll be there. I haven’t been ice skating since last Christmas, so I’m going to be a little rusty. It’s nothing a couple of falls and a warm cup of hot chocolate can’t fix, though,” she says. “Am I supposed to dress up? Should I wear a reindeer costume or make myself look like a Christmas tree? Oh. I can be that guy fromDie Hard. Talk about holiday spirit.”
“Please don’t tell me you thinkDie Hardis a Christmas movie.”
“Shawn, it literally takes place on Christmas Eve. How is itnota Christmas movie?”
“Because the day it happens has no relevance to the plot. In fact—” I shake my head. “No. We’re not arguing about this. I’m about to head into a meeting, and I don’t want to be all fired up.”
She laughs again, andfuck, I love that sound. Even through the phone it makes me smile.
“Fine,” she says. “We’ll argue more about it tonight.”
“Looking forward to it, Daniels.”
“You’re such a nerd. See you later, Shawn Yawn.”
“Bye, Lace Face.”
* * *
