"Nah, I was recruited to the BFL right from secondary school.Played in the Bristol Bombers organization instead of going to uni.How ’bout you?"
I shrug."I have a psychology degree that qualifies me to do absolutely nothing.I barely graduated.I need to figure out what my next step is, but I’m lost."
"I know I can always go home to my family business."
"Something with birds?"I vaguely remember that when Xavier played in the BFL, his nickname was "Birdman."That was in the ESPN article that broke and caused a huge scandal.It’s also how he was able to terminate his contract with the Baltimore Terrors and move to the Buzzards.We made out on that deal.
"Spot on.We run a birds of prey rescue and rehab.We’re all falconers.I could always do that, except for one small problem."
"What?You’d have to move back to England?"
"Nah, that’s not a prob.The main issue is that Ophelia is absolutely terrified of birds."He looks over at me."Can you help her?"
I frown."No, why?"
"Didn’t you say you had a psychology degree?"
I laugh."I remember that a fear of birds is ornithophobia, but that’s about it."I surprise myself by pulling that word out of the deep recesses of my brain."I’m not a clinical psychologist or anything useful like that.Sorry."
"No worries.Couldn’t hurt to ask."
We sit there in silence for a few minutes, scrolling away on our phones.I still need to make some content.It’s so much harder on the road because I’m never alone.
"Hey Henry, wanna make a video with me?"
"Hard pass.I don’t dance."
"Me neither.I was thinking we could …" Shit.What was I thinking?"Maybe talk about life plans.Like what comes after soccer.You could talk about the birds.None of us are going to stay in the USSL forever."
Holy shit.This is brilliant.I can interview everyone on the team.I can interview opposing teammates.I could even interview the referees.Their career can last a little longer, but the physical training is just as grueling.
I’m not cut out to be a broadcaster or color commentator, but I know social media.I can totally do this.
Chapter 23: Rachel
This is all happening so fast.My heart is pounding so hard, I feel as if it’s going to burst right through my chest wall and flop onto the floor.I put my hands over it and press, as if that’s going to keep it inside my body.
"Are you okay?"Gramps is staring straight ahead, but he has the peripheral vision of a hawk.He knows I don’t like to be looked at when I’m starting to panic.I called him to tell him I needed a few days off.Considering I was supposed to start at the new office yesterday, this was a big ask.
My flabbers were gasted when he not only told me to take as much time as I needed but offered to drive me to the airport as well.It turned out that the remodeling in the new building still wasn’t finished, so I would have continued working remotely anyway.That makes so much more sense than this overt gesture of caring.Gramps loves me, but he’s not the best at showing it.I think he would have been much more content to love us in the distant-grandfather role than as the surrogate-father role he was forced to play.
"I’m fine," I answer.It’s the standard response, whether it’s true or not.
"What are your plans when you land?"
"One of the other player’s wife is also flying in.She’s on a different flight, but she’s going to wait for me.We’re rooming together."
"Too bad you weren’t on the same flight.I’d feel better if you weren’t by yourself," Gramps says.This is about as much as he’ll express his concern.He’s worried about me.I’ve given him plenty of reasons over the years to be.
"Well, Richie said I had to fly by myself, so it wouldn’t count otherwise.I’ve got some Xanax, movies to stream, a coloring book, and music.And I have a friend waiting for me when I get off the plane."
It’s a stretch, calling Ophelia Henry a friend, but if it gives Gramps a little peace of mind, then it’s worth the exaggeration.She seems lovely through text messages.Unbeknownst to me, I’d been following her on ClikClak ever since her #romanticsurprise video.She seems to like books too, so I’m sure we’ll find plenty to talk about.
I’m actually looking forward to getting out to Vegas so I can meet her.Not as much as I’m looking forward to seeing TJ again.Even if it’s only from the stands, it’ll be enough.It’s not like this trip means anything.He was suggesting it in a friendly way.Like friends do.For friends.Because he said I’m his friend.
Message received loud and clear.
Let the record state that the reason I got a haircut before this trip was not to impress TJ Doyle in any way, shape, or form.I was simply about fourteen months overdue.My hair feels—and looks—infinitely better in the chin-length bob I now sport.Like I said, I’m probably not even going to see him in person during this trip.
