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My mom was asking morequestions than I was in the mood to answer at the moment. I’d stumbled into this little café as soon as I’d pulled into town, needing to stretch my legs and get a bite to eat. I’d ordered an iced coffee and a sandwich and found a table in the back of the quaint restaurant.
I’d kept my sunglasses and a baseball cap on out of habit, but no one was in here, so I set them aside. This was exactly what I needed.
Some quiet.
Some peace.
I couldn’t ask for more.
“So, how long do you think you’ll stay?” she asked as I held the phone to my ear.
“I don’t know. I haven’t even been to the house yet. Drew said I can stay as long as I want. Apparently, he and Deb are busy with work and the kids’ activities, so they won’t be coming for several months.”
“You could come home,” Mom said, though she’d offered it multiple times already.
“I know. And thank you. But I wanted to get out of the city. I need a break while I figure out my shit. I don’t want people grilling me every time I walk out my door. And I want you to have some peace while you continue to get healthier every day.” My mom had a house outside of San Francisco, while I lived in a high-rise in the city. But everyone knew me there, and that was what I was trying to avoid at the moment.
I couldn’t think.
I couldn’t breathe.
“You do what’s best for you, Linc. You know I’ll support you, no matter what you decide.”
There were a few things that I was certain of right now. But my mom’s support had always been the most solid thing in my life.
“I know, and I appreciate it. There’s a lot to consider, and it’s weighing on me.”
“Well, I’m here anytime you want to talk.”
“You got it. I’ll call you in a day or two after I get settled.”
“Love you, Linc.”
“Love you.” I ended the call and took a bite of my sandwich as I glanced around the place. This town was like something out of a movie. It sat on the coast, with a cove in the center of town. My agent, Drew, had been telling me to get a place here for years. He and his family used to spend their summers out here, but now their kids were getting older, and they weren’t able to get away as often as they used to.
I’d always been too busy to get away.
Too obligated.
Too intense about training.
But right now, I had options, and I wasn’t going to rush into any decisions.
Even if reporters had basically staked out my place in the city, following me to restaurants and hounding friends and family to get the inside scoop about where I was going to play next season.
It annoyed the shit out of me.
And the truth was, I didn’t know where I was going. I was at the peak of my career. Coach Anders and I didn’t see eye to eye, and I’d tried to get behind his plan for the team ever since he’d been hired two seasons ago. But over the last two years, he’d traded half the guys I’d started with. Dudes that had protected me.
Players that I’d had chemistry with.
My brothers that should have been there when we’d won the Super Bowl this year.
So, yeah, we’d done something right, but there’d been a lot of luck involved. Our opponents had had an off day due to a ton of injuries, and the stars had aligned for us.
But I’d taken a beating.
Our guys were young and inexperienced. And I was all about the team and helping one another, but not at the expense of getting my head bashed in over and over.
