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“Yeah, you’re right. I’ll talk to him.”
“Great. I’m proud of you, Tenley. I just know you’re going to make the most amazing mother.” Kodi has always had my back. I love her endlessly for that. “Now,” she sighs. “Can you finally tell me about the favor you need?”
“Right.” I giggle. “Got any plans two months from Saturday?”
24
AUGUST
“You wanted to see me, Coach.”
Coach Leggins straightens in this chair and motions for me to enter. “Come on in, Graves,” he directs me. “Take a seat. This won’t take long.”
I nod, finding my seat across from him and frankly, clueless as to what this conversation is about. “What’s up, Coach?”
Despite there being a reason he called me into his office, I can’t help but notice how exhausted he looks. The guy has been through hell and back the past few years and still shows up every day.
I can see the worn bags under his eyes, likely from all the traveling with the team and late nights helping Taylor get comfortable.
I know her health is declining. I’m able to see it, the seldom few times she stops by Makers.
He runs a hand over his beard and smacks the desk with force. Except, it doesn’t seem to be something worth worrying about because the dick bag is laughing.
“Fuck, Coach. What the hell?”I scold.
“You did it,” he tells me, a big smile radiating across his face. “Life Space is happy with your progress, Graves. Jim reassured me that if you keep it up and show some real consistency, you’ll keep the endorsement. You’ve been putting your best effort forward, and it shows.”
“Hell yeah.” I clap with excitement and pull him in for a hug. “Fuck. You scared me for a second there, Coach. Thought you were trading me or something.”
“And replace the best third baseman we’ve ever had? Not a chance.”
I brush my shoulders off, my cockiness on display. “Yeah, I am pretty great.”
Coach rolls his eyes before holding up a hand. “Not so fast, hotshot. There’s one more thing.”
“Yeah?”
“In two months, you’ve been booked for a photoshoot with Calvin Klein. You and Briggs are the two players chosen from the Strikers. This is a massive opportunity and one that you can use to your advantage.”
“You mean for social media?” I ask, tired of hearing the words.
He nods. “I want you to get those scholarships, Graves. I know how fucking hard you’ve worked for them, and those kids deserve it.”
Yeah, they do.It’s nice to know I have a Coach who stands behind me and wants the best for my family.
“Understood. I’ll represent well,” I promise.
“That’s what I like to hear,” Coach mumbles before stopping me at my exit. “You can thank Tenley for landing you this shoot. She really does want the best foryou.”
“I’ll get right on that, sir.”
Without turning around, I exit his office and hold onto this feeling as long as Ican.
Pure happiness.
“Oh, little venom,”I announce, crossing the condo’s threshold. “I have a bone to pick with you.”
I toss my duffel bag on the table and make my way into the living room. Thinking Tenley might be asleep or something to that degree, I’m completely baffled to find her bent to her toes, bare ass jutting in the air.
