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“G’day, Coach. Good to see you.” Bryce shook his hand and then greeted the other man in the room. He was… intimidating. Grey-blond hair and an expensive pin-striped suit and a thick gold watch at his wrist screamed money. He barely cracked a smile and had that look-down-his-nose-at-Bryce haughty feel about him that made Bryce feel like he was being scolded at school. But Bryce did the mature thing and held out his hand to shake. “Pleased to meet you, sir.”
“Let’s sit,” Coach Latimer said, a warmth in his voice that the people close to him were familiar with. He was a man of few words. He came across as gruff, but he had the respect of every player and official in the game. When he spoke, people listened. Bryce unbuttoned his suit jacket and followed the others, sitting down on the last remaining chair.
“So, we’ve called his meeting today because the team’s management wanted to talk to you about your future,” Maxwell said.
Bryce blinked, his words taking a moment to sink in. He’d had no idea that the team called the meeting. He’d assumed his agent had requested it. Looking across to Travis, his agent smirked and shrugged his shoulder, unapologetic for not passing on that piece of information. Bryce didn’t have time to dissect his feelings, though, because all eyes were on him.
“Okay,” he squeaked before clearing his throat.
Coach took over, using the opening to get to the point. “I’ve been watching you carefully since you started training with the professional team, Bryce. You get along with all the players and your form has been exemplary.”
Bryce couldn’t help the proud smile that stole across his face. Coach had noticed. That was brilliant news for his chances at getting another extension. But if it wasn’t his agent who’d requested the meeting, was that even what they were talking about? Butterflies danced in his belly as hope lit him up brightly.
“Thank you.”
“So, the team has put together an offer for you to join the Eastern Lightning.” Denyer kept talking but his words were white noise, a buzz in his ears.
Bryce swallowed and shook his head clearing the cobwebs and blinked a few times. “I’m sorry, did you just say you want me to join the professional team? As in, the NRL team? The Eastern Lightning?” His gaze bounced between Travis’s and Coach Latimer’s and they both nodded, smiling proudly. He opened his mouth but there were no words. He was speechless. “Ah…” Bryce huffed out a laugh. “Not the Eastern Thunder?”
Coach Latimer laughed, a hearty chuckle filling the room. “No, son, not the reserves. We want you to join the professional team.”
“No freaking way,” he uttered, wide-eyed. His lips tilted up in a shocked smile, his body tingling. This was it, his dream come true. Never mind butterflies flapping in his belly. It was a rollercoaster zooming up and down and around loop-de-loops. He flushed hot and a rushing sounded in his ears. His hands shook and a laugh bubbled up his throat. “No way! I’m in. Where do I sign?”
His first instinct, the one that told him to shout out in glee, had him reaching for his phone. He wanted to get Cole and Ava in on this. His fingers closed around the device he’d slipped into the inside pocket of his jacket, and he paused. He couldn’t let them know. Not yet. Not like this. He wanted to see their reactions face to face. He wanted to kiss and touch them and celebrate properly. He wanted to show them how falling in love with them had changed his life.
Bryce choked out a laugh. Holy shit. He loved them. He really did. Bryce dropped his phone back in his pocket. He couldn’t wait to get home and tell them.
His agent opened his mouth to speak but the Denyer dude beat him to it. “Read the paperwork and get advice on the terms. You must be aware of what you’re agreeing to. The conditions are important and one of them is non-negotiable.”
“What are they?” Bryce asked, his excitement dimming.
Coach interjected, his hand clasping Bryce’s shoulder warmly. “First, finish university. We want you to get your degree. I know you’ve got a year left, but if you need to stretch that out, it’s fine.”
Bryce nodded. He would have finished uni anyway. Even though he’d always wanted it as a backup, he still wanted to finish.
Seemingly satisfied with Bryce’s response, Coach continued, “Aside from that, there’s the behaviour clause. That’s the mandatory one in every player’s contract—”
“You’re obligated not to engage in behaviour unbecoming of the team or the league.” Denyer clasped his hands on the table in front of him and waited for Bryce to speak.
Bryce’s mind worked a million miles a minute. All his hopes and dreams cascaded in waterfalls around him, filling him up and lifting him on a rising tide. This was really happening. He was going to get to play professionally. Sweet!
“Bryce?” his agent asked, an eyebrow raised in question. What were they talking about? Oh yeah, behaviour clause. No problem.
Bryce’s grin stretched even further, his cheeks hurting with the movement. He nodded and responded, “Good behaviour. Got it. No problem.”
Coach Latimer wasn’t satisfied though. “As a rookie, you’ll be in the spotlight, Bryce. The season is about to start and once you’re announced, eyes will be on you everywhere. Photos and recordings of you getting up to anything you shouldn’t will find their way to social media. Things will be taken out of context too. You’re a good kid, so keep it that way. If your behaviour is exemplary, life will be easier.”
“I trust that you’ll take care of ensuring his social media profiles are either locked down or managed properly,” Denyer directed to Travis.
“Yes, our firm has access to everything. We’ll vet his existing posts and remove anything inappropriate.”
“Right, let’s talk signing bonus then.”
Fourteen
Cole
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