Page 6 of Unraveling Rain
I chuckle. “So, where is this place?”
“That’s the spirit,” he exclaims like he just won the lottery. “What do you say we meet for lunch?”
I check my phone. It's already eleven.
“Let’s do dinner instead. I’ll see you at seven at Carmen’s.”
I hang up and get off the couch with a pep in my step.
It’s time to get out of this funk.
If I’m done, I’m going down fighting.
“Hey, man. What are you doing here?” Matt, the team’s captain and one of my best friends, greets me as I enter Carmen’s.
We embrace in a one-arm hug. I haven’t seen any of my friends since I left the hospital. And it’s not because they haven’t tried. It's because I’ve been in a sour, grumpy mood and avoiding everyone.
“Not much, just here to meet with my agent,” I say, winking and smirking at Trinity, Matt’s wife.
“Oh man, don’t tell me you’re getting traded?” Matt asks, his face going pale.
“No, not at all,” I rush to assure him. “At least, that’s not what Jordan said on the phone.”
My mind starts racing with the possibility of being traded. Who would want an old, injured player? No, there’s no way.
“Why? What have you heard?” I ask, trying to sound nonchalant.
“Nah, I haven’t heard anything.”
I visibly relax. Then he chuckles.
“You still have that fight in you,” he says as he shakes my shoulder gently. “We need you, bro. You know that, right?” Matt presses, just as Jordan approaches.
I don’t feel like opening up in the middle of the restaurant, so I hug Matt and murmur a quick goodbye, promising to catch up soon.
“I’m glad you're spending time with your teammates,” Jordan says as the waiter shows us to our table.
“Yeah, it was nice catching up,” I say, scratching the back of my neck.
I don’t know why I’m on edge, but I feel like I’m about to explode.
“Listen, Xander. The team doesn’t have any plans to trade you. Your future is in your hands. You either focus on healing and come back stronger, or you tank and retire through the back door,” Jordan says.
I frown at him.
Chuckling, he adds, “I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation with Matt.”
“I know I need to come back stronger than ever if I want a spot on the team. But damn, I’m fucking terrified.”
I finally let out what’s been on me since the surgery.
“You know better than I do that plenty of players have come back after an injury and gone on to have successfulcareers. You just need to set your mind to it,” Jordan says as the waiter takes our order.
“It’s not your first injury, Xander. This is a high-contact sport. What has you so spooked this time?”
I take my time thinking it over.
“So, this place you mentioned on the phone, how did you learn about it?”
