Page 93 of Wild Card
“Yes. So happy to have you back.” Colt slaps me on the shoulder and smiles.
Xander grins at me from across the room, and I roll my shoulders.
“Fucking can’t wait to put points up on the board. We’re going all the way, guys. We have to. Who knows how many more fucking seasons we get with all of us on the same team at once.”
I feel the churn in my gut because I know Xander is up for a contract extension, and I will be soon after. Colt and Ben make good money, but Colt’s rookie contract will be up, and then he’ll have to decide where he wants to be. These guys, this team, we deserve to win it—as a fucking family. Everyone here has worked so damn hard to be where we are, and a few fuckups, including the ones I’m responsible for, can’t stop us.
“Well, we’ve gotta take down a certain someone in that last game.” Xander smirks, as Ben and Colt look at him confused.
“Certain someone?” Colt looks between us.
“Coach Westfield,” I grit out.
“Use the anger though.” Xander gives me a pointed look.
“Oh yeah. They get a fucking bye this week, don’t they?” Ben looks at me.
“Of course. He’d accept nothing less.” I shake my head.
“I’m glad he’s not our coach. Sure, he fucking wins but at what cost? Did you see what he did to his quarterback before?” Ben shakes his head.
“Imagine being raised by him,” Xander mutters, and I shoot him a look. I don’t want any fucking pity or bonuses from my last name.
“Yeah.” Colt looks at me, more understanding than pity in his eyes. “No one’s winning dad of the year around here, but yours is extra fucked.”
“I appreciate that Joss is wearing off on your vocabulary.” I grin at Colt, too happy to change the subject.
“Speaking of… They’re planning their big final opening gala to coincide with the museum reopening in a little over a month. Everyone better mark their calendars, get their tuxes, etc. because I’m not letting her down when it comes to having a celebrity turnout,” Colt says loud enough for most of the locker room to hear and several of the guys grunt their ascension.
“The museum reopens in a month?” I ask, and Xander and the rest of the guys all look at me surprised.
“I figured you of all people would know that.”
“Oh, yeah. I guess I didn’t realize it was that soon though. Living in my bubble at home, losing track of days and all.”
“Yeah well. Just don’t lose track of the ball, all right? It’s the brown thing flying in the air toward you.” Waylon grins at me and slaps me on the back as he heads toward the tunnel.
“Yeah. Yeah. I got this.” I grin back at him.
* * *
We’re still celebratingour win and running around the field to take photos with fans when one of the reporters comes up to me. I steel myself for the inevitable onslaught of negative questions. My publicist has prepared me for them. How to answer about the sex tape and potential legal avenues I am pursuing. How to talk about the accident as a learning moment for me. How I planned to move forward.
“All right, Tobias, you were obviously a huge part of the game tonight and your team’s win. How did it feel to be back on the field?”
“Fantastic. Never felt better in my life.”
“Now we saw that you had something interesting going on with your eye black tonight. A smart guy up in the box said he thinks it's Morse Code and translated it for us as saying ‘scar’. Is that a reference to your recent off-field injuries?”
“Well given the league's opinions, I assure you I’d never be stupid enough to try putting a message on my face. So that’s probably just a coincidence. But you saying Scar, reminds me of Scarlett—my girlfriend. She was critical to my recovery off the field. It was a long road to get back here physically and mentally and there’s no way I could have done it without her. So it was important to me to have her here tonight.”
“Well, that will have all the women swooning and then crying into their beers tonight to hear you’re taken. But I’m sure all Phantom fans would also want to give her a huge thank you given that pivotal play in the last minutes of the game, just before Lawton scored the winning touchdown. Can you tell us more about how you and Colt prepared in the short time you had before the playoffs?”
I give her some of the soundbites she wants for the game and thank her for the interview before I hurry off back to the tunnel. I’m thrilled to be back on the field tonight, but I’m just as excited to celebrate our win with the team and with my girl.
FIFTY
Scarlett
