“Well …” Maverick started, “I’m a former pro-athlete.So is Tom.Jag played college football.And while there isn’t a place for it on the islandyet, there could be.”
Jag and Tom nodded again.
“Is this a conversation you guys have had in the past and are circling back on, or is this brand new?Because I feel really lost here,” I said.
“Brand new thought,” Maverick said.“Just popped into my head.”
Jagger glanced at me.“You played basketball, right?College?”
I nodded.“Yeah.Until an injury.And Mabel’s ASD diagnosis.It was just too much to do it all.”
Tom made an amused noise in his throat.“We all got injured it seemed.”
“Yeah?”I asked.
He bobbed his head and sipped his beer.“Jagger’s knee.My knee.Maverick’s back.”He glanced over at me.“What about you?”
“My knee,” I said with a huffed laugh.“Tore my ACL and developed bad patellar tendonitis, which is known as ‘jumper’s knee.’Also, the beating from my dad fucked up my elbow pretty bad.Despite the surgery and hardware, it was never really the same.”
“Fucking hell,” Jagger said on an exhale.“Sorry about that, dude.Hope he’s paying for it now.”
“He is,” I confirmed.“Didn’t help that he stabbed and killed his cellmate, which prolonged his sentence.”
Maverick whistled.“Christ almighty.”
“Bloody knees,” Tom mused, slamming his palm down on top of his left one.“Why do they make them so weak?”
“To remind man that he is not invincible?”I replied, grateful for the conversation pivot away from my father.
“That is what the Achille’s tendon is for,” Tom said.“The knees should not be so weak.”
More sounds of amusement echoed throughout our foursome.
“Back to the sports camps,” I said, turning to Maverick.“What do you mean?”
“Well … we are all athletes.Our careers ended when we were in our prime.I believe we still have a lot that we can contribute.”He met Tom’s gaze.“And Tommaso and I have pro-athlete money.”
Tom’s head bobbed.
Maverick sipped his beer, then started speaking again after a satisfiedahh.“What about like summer sports camps for kids?There’s still land we could look at using or getting, even building like dorms and stuff.Hiring other athletes to come and coach.It wouldn’t have to be pro-level.These kids don’t necessarily have to be destined for the big leagues, but they’re passionate about the game, you know?”
“You want to offer hockey, football, soccer, and basketball?”I asked.“You’d need amassivespace for all of that.”
“Not all at the same time.Two weeks of hockey, then we melt the ice and it becomes a basketball court.Two weeks of basketball.Two weeks of football.Then it becomes a soccer pitch, and we do two weeks of soccer.We have grants and scholarships for kids who might not be able to afford it, so that all socioeconomic classes are eligible.”
“This is a big idea, bro,” Jagger said, staring out at the water and tipping his beer back.“The ladies won’t go for it until the Bonn Remmen land project is done and up and running.”
“I think big,” Maverick said.“And of course.One thing at a time.But I’m allowed to dream.”
Tom’s head bobbed.“Big thoughts are good.Dreams are good.”
“Where is the land you think we could build on?”I asked.“We had a hell of a time finding somewhere to rent on the island.Almost gave up.Spencer said land is really difficult to come by here.Has to be passed down and shit.”
Maverick smirked.“I’ve been listening to some little birdies.And the land on the other side of Tom’s here might be coming available.”
Tom’s brows shot up.“The terrible old principal’s house?”
“They want off the island.They want to cut ties, and they’re in a bit of debt, apparently.”He was wearing sunglasses, so he couldn’t just slide his gaze our way, but had to actually turn his head.“Sometimes that Island Mouth can be useful.Most of the time she’s just a pain.”
