Page 11 of Comeback
I take an elbow to the side at the same time I realize a few of my teammates have fallen back to walk beside me. Glancing up, my gaze lands on a grinning Walker Graham. His dark hair hangs into his eyes and he tosses his head to the side to flick it back in place. Two other teammates stand off to the other side of him. And all three look at me like they’re waiting for a response to something. It’s a look I’ve gotten familiar with since I lost my hearing.
“Isn’t that right, Holland?” Graham asks, talking so loudly that even if my hearing aids didn’t pick up the sound, I think I’d have felt the vibration in my gut. Or maybe that’s just the usual irritation I feel when he speaks.
“Isn’t what right?” I glance between the three guys.
“Sorry. I forgot.” Graham’s grin turns into a one-sided smirk. He waves a hand around his right ear. “Must be nice to drown out everything else sometimes, huh?”
I wish I could say it’s the first time someone joked about my hearing loss, but what can I say? People are assholes. Especially Graham. He was traded to the Mavericks earlier this year after three years with the Raiders. During his rookie season, he was named one of the top wide receivers in the league, but since then his numbers have dwindled. Though you wouldn’t know it by the way he walks around like he’s untouchable.
I hope for the sake of the team he performs well, but since he’s also my competition, I plan to be better.
“I can hear you just fine,” I say. “I was just choosing not to listen to you.”
The other two guys snicker at my remark. Graham’s smirk sparks with annoyance before smoothing back out to a half grin. “Funny, Holland. Didn’t know you were such a comedian.”
“I’ll be here all season,” I joke.
“We’ll see,” he counters.
Asshole.
I catch sight of Brogan ahead and without another word, tip my head to the guys next to me and hurry to catch up with my longtime friend.
Brogan turns his head as I fall in beside him.
“Hey.” He smiles as he wipes his forehead with the back of his wrist. “Nice running. I saw you catch some beauties.”
The irritation at dealing with Graham after a long, tiring practice melts away. Most of my teammates are great, but it’sBrogan’s playfulness and calming nature that always pulls me out of my darkest thoughts and improves even the roughest day. Maybe it’s because we’ve been playing together since we were kids. Or because he’s been my best friend since as long as I can remember.
“I’m surprised you were able to see anything beyond the cameras and microphones being shoved in your face all morning,” I say, feeling my mood shift for the better.
Brogan had a killer rookie season, and the attention is well warranted. Everyone wants to see him back this year and they are counting on him to help the Mavericks get back to the playoffs again.
“Shut the fuck up.” He shoves lightly at my shoulder, but a pleased smile curves his lips.
“Brogan!” I mock scream in a high-pitched, feminine voice. “I love you. You’re the best player in the league! Will you sign my tits?”
“Fuck no,” he says automatically, smile slipping. “My woman does not like it when I sign body parts. Unless they’re hers.”
I chuckle softly, able to completely picture London fighting off people for her man. She is not to be trifled with when it comes to my buddy. He’s totally gone for her, like no other woman even exists in his brain gone for her, so it isn’t like he’s exactly looking for the attention from fans, but it still happens.
Graham and his group of minions pass by us as we walk down the tunnel to the locker room. I grit my teeth even as I tell myself not to let him rile me up again.
“What’s up with Graham?”Brogan signs as he asks quietly.
“Nothing.” I shake my head. Though I doubt my tone is very convincing. “He just gets under my skin.”
“The guy is a dick. You’re playing great and he’s worried about his spot.”
So am I.
“Ignore him,” Brogan adds.
“Easy to do since he thinks I’m dumb as well as deaf.”
“Fuck Graham.” Brogan’s tone is hard this time when he speaks. We’ve been friends a very long time, so he knows, maybe better than anyone else, what I’ve been through, and he takes it harder than even I do. Something about knowing he has my back lets me be free not to hold it against people so much. Most are ignorant instead of malicious.
“He’s not really my type,” I say, trying to infuse some humor into the situation.
