Page 82 of Your Play to Call
She gives me a side-eye look. “You know who they’re from. There’s a card.”
I reach into the flowers and pull out what is a folded piece of paper. A note from Tripp.
Lo – I’m sorry about yesterday. I know we need to talk about it, but I want to give you time. Let me know when you’re ready.
If you’re interested, I do have a possible adventure for us. Next week is a bye week which means I’ll have a free weekend. Think about it and let me know.
xx- Tripp
Me
the flowers are gorgeous. Thank you.
also got your note. I’d like to take the day to decompress. Turn my phone off, work on some music, and try to miss out on the barrage of headlines surely floating around already.
Let’s chat tomorrow. I can come to your apartment after practice, if that’s okay.
Tripp
That’s more than okay. See you tomorrow.
Chapter 43
Tripp
Practice is going tobe a fucking bummer. I know we’re going to get our asses beat into the ground, and maybe we need it, considering we’re on a losing streak.
We have an away game this week. I dread every single one. Statistically, this is where I’m most likely to have a panic attack. Even the thought of it brings a wave of anxiety.
The guys keep giving me shit about everything on Sunday. Of course, there were pictures of Dexter ambushing our dinner, plus the whole fan fiasco. It’s team shit, and we do the same thing to the other guys when things like this happen to them.
I had to come in early to meet with the team doctors, which caught wind of the “punch”. I had to be cleared to practice which was truly laughable. Even though the guy barely touched me, the pictures and videos looked worse.
After I was medically cleared, I was lucky enough to be handed off to coach, our offensive coordinator, and members from the PR team.
The meeting was short as was the message:Don’t interact with drunk fans. If something does happen, get a hold of someone who can do damage control for the team. Would you like to do a quick round of media training?
Plus, there was the message they conveyed without coming outright and saying it:Are you going to be a liability moving forward?
My head coach couldn’t eye roll hard enough throughout the meeting.
“Okay, Tripp is a bad boy for talking to those idiots, his brain is safe and cleared to practice, and he will not do this again. If he wants to do the media training, he knows where to find you. Can we get him to practice? The thing we pay him for?” he asks while standing up.
The meeting is over, and I’ve never been more thankful for this man.
We walk out of the room together.
Coach gives me a small smile and claps my back, “Looks like you had a rough Sunday. For what it’s worth, I probably would’ve done the same thing,”
His confession makes me feel a little better.
“But I also was nowhere near your caliber when it came to talent. You’re a key piece of the team. I’m betting on you not to screw this up.”
“Yes, coach.” There really isn’t anything else to say—it’s almost like talking to a disappointed parent.
“I also know this is the first time something like this has happened. You’re not known for causing problems. That’s why I ended the meeting. There are probably ten other guys on the team who could use a talking to. I’ll see you out there.” Coach keeps walking out to the field where my team is practicing.
I’m in the locker-room, and I need a minute. I knew what I did was stupid but never really thought about it affecting my job. Or my health. Hell, that guy could’ve gotten a real punch in and I could be on the injury report.