“Suki beat us there,” Carter says.“She’s going up to the room now.”
“Don’t feel like you have to come in, guys.I know you’d just be sitting in the waiting room forever.”
“Of course we’re coming in,” Carter says.
“That okay?”Leo asks me.
“Hell yeah, it’s okay.I’d be honored to wait.I can go pick up anything you guys need.”
Leo snort-laughs.“I should tell Mara you’re bringing me a rack of ribs later.Just to see what she says.”
“You should not,” Carter says.“That’s one woman I would not fuck with while she’s in labor.”
I pull up under the portico at the emergency department entrance.Leo and Carter get out, Leo saying, “Thanks, Magnus.”
“Meet me in the OB waiting room,” Carter says.
“Will do.”
I park and turn off my engine, then call Art back.
“Hey, I’ve got good news,” he says in answer.
“Great, let’s hear it.”
“Seattle is asking for a firm verbal commitment.Their GM, Tammy, said you’re at the core of their vision for the next several years.We can get them up on the signing bonus.”
Six weeks ago, this would have been incredible news.The money from the contract Seattle is proposing, managed well, will more than care for Elin and my mom while also setting me up well for life.Money will never be an issue.
But Seattle is incredibly far away from Cleveland.I don’t doubt Blair and I’d never cheat on her, but three years is a very long time.That’s three years I’d hardly see Blair, Coop, and Eli outside of my offseason.
I don’t want to be another man who disappoints them.Blair is an adult, so she understands what a temporary long-distance relationship would mean and why we’d be doing it.But five- and seven-year-old boys wouldn’t.
“Cleveland could still offer,” I say.
Art pauses.“Yeah, but this is a bird in the hand.First line.They want to build around you.”
“It’s not a bird in the hand, though.They can’t sign me yet.”
“I trust Tammy’s verbal commitment.”
I’m a man of my word, and if I make a verbal commitment to sign with a team, I’ll honor it.If I agree to go to Seattle and Cleveland offers, I’ll have to turn Cleveland down.
I’m torn.There’s more at stake than there was before.
“I can’t commit yet,” I say.
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Okay.When do you want to revisit it?If we haven’t heard from Cleveland in a couple weeks, can we talk about this again?”
“Yeah.I’m not saying no to Seattle.I’m just saying I’m not ready to commit yet.”
“They might shop around for someone who is.”
“I understand.I have to go, Art.”
