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"Just two?"
"Two years was as long as I was in school. I just got back from Afghanistan." He sat forward a little, impressed.
"So this isn't even you at one hundred percent?"
"I made sure I kept my conditioning up, but I haven't really played, not for about a year."
"I thought you were good, kid, but that changes everything," he said. "Listen, I'm not supposed to tell you this, not this early, but my people have their eye on you."
"They're interested in signing me?"
"You're a real QB. If that's how you look after a year off, what the hell are you gonna pull out after training? I'm not supposed to tell you this, either, but give it a week or so, someone will be calling you and they might be making you an offer," he said grinning.
"That sounds great. What team?"
"That gonna be something that makes you say no?"
"No, I'm just curious," I said quickly.
"Relax. I'm just messing with you. Where are you from?"
"Aberdeen. South Dakota."
"Aberdeen, huh? Well, how does Miami sound?"
Miami? Far. It sounded far. I didn't say that, though. I said it sounded good and that I had never been. He gave me his card, and when I thanked him and said I would call, he insisted on taking my number himself. He ended up boarding before me for another flight, so I was alone again. I tried to get into the book, but it didn't work. I read the same three sentences over and over till I gave up.
Miami?
All those times Ron and I used to talk about going to see the ocean together swelled up in my memory. Miami was right on the water. It was also thousands of miles away. I knew that I would have to deal with some distance, but how far was too far? Miami felt too far, and if that was how I felt, how would Ron feel.
Was I going to tell her? I had to, didn't I? I didn't want to hide things from her, the last time I had, it had been a disaster. How the hell would I break it to her, though? We're finally doing good and then this happens? I have to go to Miami? The boarding call for my flight interrupted my thoughts.
This was about to be a long flight.
"I'm gonna have to start charging you for these rides," Tiffany said as I walked up to her. "Normal people get cabs."
"Good to see you, too, Tiff," I said, smirking.
"How'd it go?" she asked. I threw my bag in the back and got in the passenger side.
"You know. Fine," I said shrugging. She started the car and pulled out of the parking spot.
"Just fine?" she asked. I shrugged again.
"It was football, I've been playing for almost as long as I've been able to catch a ball."
"You know what I mean, Roman."
"It was good."
"Hm." She made the sound the way our mother used to. I think it was a woman thing, being able to tell someone they were ticking you off without even opening your mouth.
"What?"
"It's fine if it didn't work out, Roman. What matters is you did it, and you're going after what you want." I looked at her, frowning.
"What are you talking about, Tiff?"
