Page 3 of Fake Love

“Just this.” I say, holding up my duffle.

I’m only in San Francisco for a night to meet with my new team manager and agent to get everything squared away. As soon as I can, I will be making my way over to Chicago to see my mom.

I owe her a huge apology and it’s better I do give it to her in person.

Especially with all the stress I’ve put on her over the last six months.

“Okay, then. Should we head to the stadium?” He says enthusiastically, throwing a thumb over to the waiting car.

I give him a nod and soon we are both in the SUV leaving the airport and making our way to the stadium in bay area traffic.

“What do you do, Jai?” I ask, as he merges onto the expressway.

Is it an expressway in California or is it a highway?

I should figure that out.

“I’m a sports management student at Stanford. I’m interning at The Miners front office this semester.” He answers, his face almost splitting into two with his huge smile.

“Do you like it? Working for the team, I mean?”

When you play in the major leagues, you come to hear quite a bit about certain teams. You learn who the bad managers are, who has a horrible front office, who cares way too much about their players and who doesn’t.

In all my career, I’ve only heard good things about San Francisco, and I can’t help but to think that it’s all a ruse.

“If I had a choice, I would never leave. Best job I’ve ever had.” He sounds sincere.

Maybe everyone is right, and San Francisco is one of the places to be.

I stop my inquiry of the intern and for the remainder of the twenty-minute drive, I try to take in as much of my surroundings as possible.

The cars, the streets, the highways, the buildings, everything. Even with the short drive, I know it will take me a while for me to get the way of the land here.

Within minutes of entering the city, we make it to the stadium and are pulling into the back parking lot.

Getting out of the car, I marvel at the red brick and try to take in all the fine details that the building has to offer.

This is home for the foreseeable future. Or however long it takes this team to also throw me to the curve.

“This way.” Jai states, waving me over to the giant door leading to the inside of the stadium. No, not stadium, park, if its name is any indication.

With duffle in hand, Jai guides me through until we reach the front offices and are entering a conference room.

As I step foot into the room, I see that not only am I meeting with my agent and new team manager, but also the big guns.

The teams’ general manager and president are also here to welcome me. I’m surprised that the owners aren’t here too.

“Maddox, you are right on time.” Cole greets me, trying to give me a smile to ease some of the tension flowing through the room.

Cole may be happy that I’m here but if the expression on the executives’ faces are any indication, not everyone feels the same way.

I push every emotion that I’m feeling down and mirror Cole’s smile. “Happy to be here.” I say as genuinely I can, shake his hand then turning to my new manager.

Ben Kipper is supposed to be one of the best managers this team, or better yet this league, has ever seen. Every player and coach that has played with him has said that they would work with him again in a heartbeat. The man may have only started his managerial career eight years ago, but he already has a great reputation.

From what I hear, he’s well-liked by all, including the fans. His age and his looks might be a factor in that though, given that the man is a good-looking dude. He can be the face of the team all on his own.

“Maddox.” Ben says, holding out a hand to me. “Welcome to the team.”

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