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“I’m not worried,” I insist. “I’m not. I don’t have any debt, and I live just fine.”
“Ike, football isn’t like other professions. You’ll play for another ten years. Twelve if you’re very lucky and don’t get injured or just age out. What then? You need to be planning for the future, not supporting everyone back home.”
“Yeah, I know. I’ve thought of that. But if I’m offered the high end of what contracts are going for right now for star players, I’ll be fine.”
“Let me ask you this; are you okay with the amount of money that you send to your family?”
No. Absolutely not. I’m a damn ATM.
But instead, all I say is, “They’re my family.”
“Be careful with that,” is all he says. “And regarding your contract, you have an excellent agent. I wouldn’t worry about the negotiations. But if you have questions, you have my number.”
But I will worry. Because it’s important to my dad that they live a certain lifestyle.
And I’m expected to keep them in it.
“More sweet tea?”
I glance up and smile at Meg, who’s the sweetest woman I’ve ever met. When she heard that I’m so far away from home, she made it clear that I’m welcome here at any time.
I don’t take advantage of that, but it’s nice to know that they’re here if I need them.
And Will Montgomery has been my idol since I was a little kid. It’s crazy to me that he’s my friend now, too.
“Sure, thanks. Is Sophie still around?”
Meg laughs and tops off our glasses. “She went home, but she did reluctantly give me permission to give you her phone number if you asked for it.”
“I’m askin’.”
Sophie is smokin’ hot, with curves for days and a quick wit.
Yeah, I’d like to get to know her better.
“Heart,” Will whispers, and I grin at him.
“Not one tear will be shed.”
“What did I miss?” Meg asks with a frown. “Did Will threaten you, Ike?”
“Every day, ma’am. It’s just my everyday existence. My private cross to bear, if you will.”
“Be nice to him.” Meg narrows her eyes at her husband, winks at me, and then turns to walk back inside.
“You ratted me out.”
“Dude, she’s a mom. They know everything.”
“Yeah.” He blows out a breath. “You’re not wrong about that.”
The gym was my enemy tonight.
I work out twice a day, like clockwork, whether I’m in the off-season or prepping for a game that week. I have to stay conditioned.
I can’t slack off, then have to try to get it back under control a month before training starts.
No way.
So, I jogged this morning and literally ran right into the delectable Sophie.
That was awesome. If I could, I’d arrange for that to happen every damn day.
But this evening, lifting weights was just a suck fest. I couldn’t concentrate, and it didn’t help that my dad called me four times in the middle of bench presses.
I let it go to voice mail each time.
And I could just hear the curses and frustration coming out of his mouth back home.
But for tonight, I just don’t give a fuck.
I keep thinking about my conversation with Will and the look on his face when I told him that I send so much of my money home. Obviously, it’s not as normal as my dad always made me think it is.
I even casually asked Rogers if he spoils his parents, and he smirked, saying he paid off their house, and they wouldn’t let him do anything else for them.
I don’t mind helping my family. I want to make them as comfortable as I can, and I know that the extra money is a huge help.
But Dad takes advantage of me now, and it’s only getting worse with time. He acts like because he encouraged me to play ball in middle school that he’s the reason my career is doing so well.
It couldn’t have anything at all to do with the fact that I work my ass off and have talent. No, it’s all about him.
He thinks the money is never-ending. That it’ll never go away.
And I just don’t have the patience to talk to him tonight.
“You packing it in?” Rogers asks, out of breath from a round on the treadmill.
“Yeah, my head’s not in it.”
“You’ve seemed pissed since we left Will’s place,” he says and drinks out of his water bottle. “You guys fight or something?”
“Nah, nothing like that. Just family shit, man.”
“Families can be a pain in the ass, that’s for sure. Go home and shake it off. Tackle it again tomorrow.”
“That’s the plan. Have a good one.”
I grab my bag and head out to my car, toss it into the backseat, and get in to drive home. Most of the guys live on the east side of town, near Lake Washington. It’s a great neighborhood, but I wanted an ocean view, and I wanted to be on my own.
