AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He continues. “I’m not asking for forever, Cooper. If you decide this isn’t what you want, then it’s at least something to keep you out of trouble, keep you from going out of your mind, and get you out of your mama’s way.”
“Coming on a little strong, aren’t ya?”
“But you’re going to say yes now instead of denying it, right?”
I grip the back of my neck to keep from flipping him off.Asshole.
“You know, I watched that game.” He doesn’t need to elaborate; I know exactly what game he’s referring to—the one that changed everything. “That’s not the Cooper Graham I know.”
I scoff and shake my head, focusing on my crossed ankles. “I haven’t been that Cooper Graham in a long time. Honestly, I think he died the same night Tanner did.”
Coach rises slowly from the chair. He waves me off when I step forward to assist him. “No, he’s in there somewhere. Under all that pain and guilt, I know he’s still inside you.” He pokes me hard in the chest. “He’s right here.”
The memory of the events that followed that game still haunts me. It’s like I can never escape my mistakes.
My knee bounced as I awaited the verdict. I was sweating bullets and felt like I was on trial for murder, awaiting to hear if I got the death penalty. Wasn’t this one and the same, though? I was on trial for my actions, and the victim was my career.
I could handle another few games’ suspension. Been there, done that. Pay a few hefty fines and make a public apology? Those were all simple things I could do, but the air in the room felt much different this time.
Sitting at the conference table for the Chicago Knights, with crossed arms and matching stern looks, were Luke Brennan, head coach, Simon Dunn, general manager, Alexander Everett, owner, and Violet McPhee, head of public relations for the team.
“Now, Cooper, we told you that you had one more chance, and then you were done.” I heard the words that came out of Alexander Everett’s mouth, but it took a moment for them to fully register. “We take our rules and regulations of the league seriously. We, as a team, take pride in our reputation and expect all of our players to uphold them. You not only disgraced yourself but this team and this entire organization.”
“Sir, if you’ll please let me explain,” I pleaded.
“I’m not sure there’s anything to explain, really. Shall we rewatch it?” Violet might have given off a nonchalant attitude right then, but I would have bet last year’s bonus that she was jumping for joy on the inside. She’d made no attempt at hiding her disdain for me, after calling me a PR nightmare. She might hate me, but she was damn good at her job because as many times as I’d been in hot water, she’d helped get me out of it by working her magic. She didn’t earn the nickname “Violent Vi” for nothing—she was ruthless at her job.
With a few taps of her perfectly manicured finger, she spun the laptop so that we could all see the video footage from yesterday’s game.
I knew the moment I hit Leo Ryan, the first-base coach for the opposing team we played that day, I was changing the trajectory of my future, but I hadn’t thought it would totally derail it. Maybe pay a few fines, deal with a few games’ suspension, but here I was, twenty-four years old and being fired from my dream job—not even demoted to a minor league farm team, but actually being let go.
“It was a mistake. I’m incredibly sorry.”
“And I’m sure you are, son, but mistakes include leaving your homework at home or showing up to practice late. Punching the first-base coach of a major league baseball team on live television? Not included on the list of mistakes that are allowed to happen and keep your job.”
I hung my head and exhaled. There was obviously nothing I could do or say to change their minds. This was on me—I knew their warning and had completely ignored it.
Everyone on that side of the table stood, so I did the same. This meeting was clearly over. This was it.
“I really hope it was worth it, Cooper. And I wish you nothing but the best,” Coach Brennan said as he shook my hand.
I turned my back on them and walked out of the room with my head held high—and my tail between my legs.
As soon as I stepped outside of the stadium, the swarm of reporters nearly swallowed me whole. Someone must have tipped the vultures off. I wondered if it was Violet who tipped them off as one last fuck-you to me.
“Cooper, Cooper, can you comment about the rumor that you were just let go from the league?”
I ignored them and kept my features steady as I made my way to my car.
“Coming home to my apartment felt lonely. It was days that the paparazzi camped outside. Eventually, they found other news, bigger things to worry about besides me. Articles still appear, but the focus isn’t solely on me on every front page and headline. I needed an escape. So when Ace had a come-to-Jesus moment with me and told me I needed to figure my shit out and get my head on straight, I knew I couldn’t do it there. There was only one place I could do that. Next thing I knew, I was packing some bags and booking a flight home.”
Coach remained quiet throughout the entire story, at one point needing to sit back down. His eyes drank in every word, judgment-free. Finally, he clears his throat and sits up a little straighter.
“You know what the biggest takeaway from that story is?”
I shake my head, unsure where he’s going with this. I assume it’s not the obvious—listen to the rules, don’t get fired, don’t choose violence on national television.
“That you came home. You could’ve gone anywhere in the world, had all the money and resources to disappear, yet youchoseto come home to our Podunk small town. That’s saying something, son.”
