Page 75 of Everything's Better With You
“Brandon is fine, thank you for asking. We had our trainer do the concussion protocol with him during the game and after and the nextday and he’s fine, no worries. He’ll start next week against Baker University.”
“That’s good to hear. I wonder if seeing him get hit like that brought back any memories for you.”
Leslie’s hearing hollowed out. Ithadbrought him back. His last game as a starter for the 49ers. He’d been hit so hard by two defensive tackles from the Steelers it knocked him out of his cleats, knocked his helmet off. He’d had his bell rung for sure, but he’d stayed in and finished the game. It wasn’t until after the game that he started vomiting. Sandy had taken him from the stadium to his personal physician, who confirmed his suspicion that he had a serious concussion. He let the team know and he spent the next month recuperating in Hawaii…and deciding his career was over. He’d been sad, but he’d also been relieved. It hadn’t been much of a choice. He either quit or he was most assuredly going to end up like his father, which was unacceptable. He couldn’t let his family go through that again.
“Yeah, I had my share of hard hits. We’re focusing our practice time on correcting this weakness.”
“Excellent. And how is the cheer/football rivalry going? I heard from President Payton’s office that the teams are in tight competition but so far it appears football is in the lead.”
That damned publicist. Well, at least he was doing his job. “Yes, sir. It’s been fun seeing the teams join in the fun, but I’m pretty confident we’ll win. The campaign will run through the end of football season and then we’ll crown the winner for the first season. The kids will keep working throughout the year.”
“And how’s the repair process coming?”
“Good. We’re finally on our new turf. The team is excited.”
“And the cheerleaders will be performing a pretty spectacular halftime next week from what I understand.”
“That I hadn’t heard,” Leslie said with a laugh. He could only guess at what Joe had in store.
“Let’s talk a little about your personal life. You’ve been out for a long time—”
“Since my second year in the NFL.”
“Right. But no serious relationships? No Mr. Payton in the wings?Is part of your decision to return to Ayre Valley a desire for a social life and perhaps dating?”
Leslie barked out a laugh. “Malcolm, have you been to Ayre Valley, Iowa? I wouldn’t say it’s a hopping place for a social life. But yes, I want to spend time with my family and I’m hopeful to have a family of my own, whatever that looks like at my age.”
“That’s right, your father was close to your age when your brothers were born. How did you feel about having the new additions to the family?”
Leslie smiled thinking about the conversation with his parents.
“You’re kidding, right? Shouldn’t the two of you be enjoying your retirement?”
Agnes had laughed.“At forty? No way, I’m so ready for this.”Of course she hadn’t known then that it was twins. That had been a whole different matter. But Rick had just smiled in a distant kind of way that became more and more frequent. And then there were no smiles.
“I have always been close to my brothers, but a lot of time it felt more like I was parenting them along with my mom. Especially when they hit middle school. Now? They take care of me. They’re invaluable to my coaching staff and they keep me on my toes.”
“Right. I heard they nailed both you and President Payton with the cellophane across the doorway prank this past week.”
“Man, you got spy cameras around here? Yeah, they need better supervision, I suppose. It’s great, really. I love spending time with them.”
“But the social life is lacking?”
Leslie froze, knowing full well he couldn’t answer that truthfully, and since he didn’t know for sure when the article would come out, he couldn’t divulge anything.
“I can’t answer that right now, Malcolm. Ask me after football season.”
“So thereissomething to the rumors.”
Leslie clenched his fist too tight around his phone and it nearly popped out of his palm. “Rumors?”
“Oh, nothing concrete, only that there’s a reason you’ve been single for so long.”
Leslie was ready to blow his top. Who had he trusted when he shouldn’t have? Who’d been running their mouth? Or who had seen him and Joe? Had they been caught? God, what if someone had seen them outside his house?
“Well, I would appreciate that you not speculate in your article. I’m under enough pressure here as it is.” If Malcolm printed anything salacious about him, this would be their last conversation.
“Hear you loud and clear. Off the record, whoever it is, whatever the situation may be, I wish you the best, Coach. You’re a great guy, a fantastic coach, and an excellent representative of all the good your sport should be. If we had more players like you, perhaps the league would be in better shape. They could be leading the movement for equality and social justice instead of trying to protect their assets.”
