“Never,” he says, while the rest of us grin at our niece.
And a cluster of photographers join the original guy who shouted, taking a series of photos.
As Dad looks on, comfortable to be out of the spotlight.
It firms up my decision. After the season is over, I’ll give him that chance he asked for.
42
RAWLEY
“Too pretty not to take home.”
I look at the caption of Avery’s post from this morning again. She’s put up a photo of the bouquet I had the hotel give her, but now it’s on her nightstand in her room at Sarah’s.
Though most wouldn’t know that particular nightstand like I do. She probably took a charter flight home, which would make it easier to bring the arrangement from Brooklyn to Orlando.
But I’m confused. Aren’t we supposed to be “drifting apart” or something like that? Maybe Taylor wanted to tweak the timing? Granted, Avery didn’t tag me, but all of the comments are speculating it’s from me anyway.
Without clear answers, I play along, putting a heart reaction on the post.
We haven’t spoken since Thursday’s texts when she first got the bouquet, and now it’s Monday. Although my weekend wasn’t totally “Avery-less.” I tuned in for the three-point competition on Friday and the main game on Saturday. So, yeah, I got a little fix.
I still don’t understand the point of this post though.
It’s not time to be distracted by this, Rawls.Today kicks off the second week of training camp.
Week two comes with an uptick of intensity on all fronts. We start transitioning to full pads, getting ready for our first preseason game next week and dealing with harder cuts to the roster.
Our Monday practice is awesome though.
It takes some adjustment to have pads on, but otherwise it’s a great day. To help us get acclimated, Landon and some of the other vet defenders jokingly bang against us rookies once we’re suited up. Not at full tilt, but just to get us used to being hit.
“It’s been, what, six years since we lined up on opposite ends during a real scrimmage?” Landon says as he taps me on the head—gently this time.
“Yeah, since I was a sophomore in high school.”
“Wild.” We both grin at each other.
Unfortunately, the good times would not continue.
The next morning, Ty is called into the general manager’s office before we’ve made it onto the field.
After the meeting, he comes into the locker room obviously upset, but also resigned. Looking up at Chance and me, he shakes his head. We don’t need him to explain further.
“Sorry, man,” Chance says as Ty collects his personal items.
“It’s all right. I had a feeling it was coming.”
“Let’s stay in touch,” I offer.
He agrees, and with a quick slap of our hands, heads out the door. Heads out of the Waves, period.
Chance is the first one to break the gloomy silence. “Shit, that su?—”
But he doesn’t get to finish his sentence, because Nate storms up to me from his side of the locker room.
“This is some bullshit. Guys like you get all the breaks, while guys like Ty?—”
