“This is my first year on first-string,” Fuller said. “When I got the offer, I didn’t take much into account beyond not getting screwed over in terms of pay and shit.”
“I took into account the other teammates,” Taylor said, nodding to Christenson. “I admire how Cap handles himself in interviews and on the field.”
“Mmm, yes. More so the team than the coach,” Ricci said, giving Alvarez a nudge. The other man cringed but nodded. I moved the camera off them. A new owner didn’t necessarily mean a new coach. Though I hope it did, if only for Christenson’s sake.
“So what kind of ownerdoyou want?” I asked, pointing the camera back at Brooker.
“Well, it’d be nice to have an owner who actually attended our games, even if it’s just the home games.”
The guys all raised their glasses to drinks to that.
“I’d honestly be fine so long as it’s somebody I didn’t have to worry about being … you know,” Sosa said, scrunching up his face and the whole table groaned in agreement.
“I’d like it if they knew how the sport works and have a general understanding of what everyone does. Specifically what the coach should do,” Christenson murmured.
“Look, I’m telling y’all, Langston would be perfect,” Brooker said. “She has all this business experience, she’s not some rich white dude, she —”
“Wait,” Alvarez interrupted. “Is she a rich white woman? 'Cause that’s just as bad sometimes.”
“No, she’s — I mean, I didn’t talk to herthatlong. She’s Black, but I’m assuming she’s American. We were more so chatting about how it’s disappointing that the owners don’t do more local work themselves and they just throw players at the charities.”
“Is Brooker putting his foot in his mouth again?” Olli asked, appearing behind me with a basket of mozzarella sticks.
“Oh my god, you’re my favorite.” I shoved the phone into Brooker’s hands and stuffed my face with cheese.
“All right, all right, don’t eat them all at once.” Olli tried to pull the basket away, but I snatched it out of his hands and turned so my back was to him when he sat down.
“Oh, this Langston lady is actually pretty cool,” Taylor said, looking at his phone. “Apparently the business experience Brooker was talking about is Wall Street shit. And her blog thing is almost completely about community wellness and outreach.”
“Oh, I betshe’dlove my calendar idea,” I said through a mouthful of mozzarella. Everyone turned to me with various looks of confusion, so I chewed and swallowed my food before repeating myself.
“Oh, yeah. Rosa told me about it. I think it’d be fun,” Jimenez said and I offered him a mozzarella stick for agreeing with me. Olli tried to grab one too, but I smacked his hand.
“Iboughtthem.”
“Yeah,for me.”
“Wait, explain this idea toyourplayer,” Brooker whined.
“Well, you know how there’re firemen calendars that —” My eyes fell on Booker’s phone and I slammed it down. “No spoilers!”
“Okay, okay.” Brooker picked his phone up and cut the livestream without an explanation or goodbye.
“So you want us to make the equivalent of a fireman’s calendar?” Carter asked, returning to the table with a tray of waters, passing them out to everyone.
“Well … yeah. But each player will get a month featuring their favorite local charity, then the last month will be for the team and a long-standing charity y’all’ve worked with. And then on our socials, each month, we’d do a deeper series about the organizations and the player. It’s awhole yearof media material that highlights each player’s values. And like, I’m sure one of you will pick a shelter and that one hot, shirtless pic with a puppy will sell us out.”
“Oh, dibs!” Brooker shouted, looking around at the others like he expected a fight. But the only one who looked a bit disappointed by Brooker’s claim was Sosa.
“That’s an amazing idea, Kodi. Seriously. I’m sorry I couldn’t get that to work out for you,” Christenson mumbled.
“No, no, it’s …” I sighed, looking down at my cheese sticks. I only had one left. “It’s all right.”
“It’s okay if it’snotall right,” Olli said, taking my hand and pressing a kiss to my head. “It sucks. And if there’s an opportunity for you to get that job, with us or with another team, I’ll make sure you get it.” He paused looking in my eyes, which had gone blurry from tears. I nodded and he gave me another small kiss before saying the best thing he could in the moment. “And I’ll get you another basket of mozzarella sticks.”
A Breakfast Determination
Kodi
