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“Nora! What led to your spontaneous elopement with Derek?”
“Is it true you didn’t sign a prenup?” It never ceases to scare me how these people get such personal information.
Most of the questions are all in the vein of the elopement. A few make me angry on Nora’s behalf as they start questioning the integrity of her position and whether she’s going to fraternize with all of her clients like she has with me. She must feel me about to respond because her gaze shoots up to me and she smiles. “Don’t do it, big guy. I know who I am—you don’t need to defend me right now.”
I nod, forcing some of my anger to dissolve.
We’ve almost made it through the media cloud and are at the door of the waiting, blacked-out SUV Nora scheduled when I hear it:
“Derek! Can you comment on the rumor that the Sharks are officially cutting you in favor of Abbot?”
I freeze.
“Some people are speculating that taking time off from training to go on a honeymoon shows carelessness for your career in a time when you should have been doubling down on your training. What do you have to say to that?”
Several more similar questions fly at me like hornets. Each stinging in a different way. All saying they’ve heard from a source that my career is officially in jeopardy.
I don’t even realize that I’m just frozen staring at the SUV until Nora wraps her arm around my waist and discreetly tugs, reminding me to keep moving. In my peripherals as I’m loading into the SUV, Iwatch Nora turn and address the media. Even though she has every right to feel as bombarded and cornered as me, she is every inch the professional agent. Her tone is set to dazzle.
“This was so sweet to throw us a welcome home party! But we weren’t expecting company, so you’ll have to give us a raincheck. In the meantime, we’re registered at Target and my favorite color is pink!” she says playfully with a wink, making everyone laugh and proving she was born for this. Leaving a bewitched crowd in her wake, Nora climbs into the SUV behind me and shuts the door.
Only then does her smile slip as she sinks back against the seat, taking a deep breath. I guess I should do that too—breathe—but my lungs are full of sand. This shouldn’t come as a huge surprise since everyone in the media has been talking about it, but this is the first time I’ve heard any sort of supposed confirmation of me being cut. And it turns out that no amount of preparing myself to hear those words did anything to lessen the burn of it.
“It makes sense for them to cut me,” I say in a daze as I stare out the window, feeling those old insecurities hover over me like shadows.You’re not good enough and you never will be. Now you have nothing.
“Don’t say that,” Nora snaps. There’s urgency and something else in her tone. Protectiveness, I realize. “Those gossip columnists don’t know what they’re talking about. It’s rumors, that’s all. If any decisions had been made, management would have contacted me first.”
My eyes are trained out the window. Sunshine and blue skies feel bitter. “But they’ve leaked it to the press before. This wouldn’t be the first time they put it out there unofficially to drum up buzz around the team. Around the new star player they want to highlight.”
“You and Nathan are their star players! They’re not going to cut you.”
“Unless I suck,” I say, finally rolling my head in her direction. I know I’m being moody and unreasonable. I’m like a teenager with his hood up.
Nora knows it too because she sits up straighter and smiles tauntingly at me. “Okay, fine. Are we officially giving up on football already?”
“Seems like the reasonable decision.”
“You could go into finance.”
I grimace. “Too sedentary.”
“Well…you have a fine body.” She gestures to said body, which is slumped over in my seat.
I shrug like the consolation prize isn’t enough. “Thank you.”
“How do you feel about stripping? I bet you’d make some real money if you started your routine in your uniform and pads. I’d pay to see it for sure.”
“That’s nice of you,” I say with a sad smile. “But it’ll never work. I can’t gyrate.”
“Well, not with that attitude!” She toes her shoe against my knee. “But with a good teacher and a can-do spirit, I believe that you, Derek Pender, will be able to gyrate your hips and make your penis wave to a crowd like it’s the queen of England!”
I love Nora.
I want to tell her too. But this doesn’t feel like the right moment. And why the hell didn’t I say it in Cancún? I thought I made my feelings clear, but the more I replay everything we said, the more I realize how vague it actually is. She knows I’ve always had feelings for her. But love?Never said it.Commitment?Was scared to even think it in case she heard it whisper in my mind and bolted for the door.
She shifts closer to me now and grasps my jaw, tugging my face to look at her. “Believe in yourself, Derek. And I don’t just mean on the field or on theMagic Mikestage. Believe that no matter whathappens, you’re going to be okay. You’re strong, determined, and a hell of a good time in the sheets.” She grins playfully, and the tightness in my chest loosens. “You’re not alone. You’re not a kid anymore, facing obstacles without help. And this career is not all you have or all you are. Not even close.”
Her face softens and she slowly leans in to brush her lips over mine. It’s the first real contact we’ve had since last night. I need this—and she senses it. Her lips press into mine over and over until my mouth softens.
