It’s Always Us (Abandoned Brothers #3)

Chapter 27

MARK

“You all right? You sure this is what you want?” Rob sits across from me, a cup of coffee halfway to his lips.

I roll my neck. “Yeah. I need a change.”

“Rumors are still circulating about the Kingsnakes being interested since Kenny is retiring. I’ve heard Packard isn’t working out in Seattle, so I’ll make some calls and see what I can find out. Houston’s a mess. They’re looking to make trades but have only a few draft picks to work with and flimsy management. I’m not recommending it, but it sounds like they’re being aggressive.”

I rub my forehead. “What do you think?”

Rob, my long-time agent, stares out the window at the pedestrians charging by. I know he isn’t happy I just pissed away a hell of a deal. Despite my healing shoulder, they offered a five-year contract, $200 million, with no franchise clause. It doesn’t get much better than that.

When Rob heard me say, thanks, but no thanks, I thought he was going to have a stroke right there at the full conference table, but he’s stuck with me so far. The management I’ve worked with over the past six years was speechless. They were even more stunned to find out I have a wife and twins on the way, but that information helped them understand my decision and wish me well in finding a new team.

Now, I have to find an organization willing to take me on with a half-healed shoulder and the reputation of walking away from an impressive offer .

Rob weighs his head from side to side. “We’ve got a hefty hill to climb. I’ll start knocking on doors and put some feelers out there. I need you to get fans invested and rooting for you. Next weekend, you need to be lighting up social media.”

“Lex will love that.”

“This is part of your life, man, and you’re good at it. She’ll get used to it. Nice tease, by the way. People are scouring the web, wanting to know anything and everything about your mystery woman. That post is creating a firestorm, and fans are going crazy.”

“I’ve seen. I need them in my corner, or I don’t have a chance.”

“Lay the charm on thick. Your fans only expect this kind of surprise from you, and they’re eating it up. Teams will pay attention. You add in some good content about how your arm is healing, showing you’re ready for next season. The calls will come. The question is, will the money be there?”

I hope he’s right. I’ve needed this game some days like I’ve needed air. I love it, and I’m not ready to walk away.

“I’ll do my part, but I need you to find me the best deal in a place where we can be a family.”

Rob nods. “I’ll do my best. You know I will.” He pushes his mug to the side. “Keep your head up. I may not have liked your decision, but I respect it. You’re going to be a fantastic father. That’s what makes a man. Not big deals.” He stands. “Congratulations again, buddy. Tell the same to your wife. I’m looking forward to meeting her and congratulating her myself.”

I stand and shake his hand. “Thanks. Sorry again for keeping you in the dark.”

He chuckles. “I expect nothing less.”

He slaps me on the back. “I’ll be in touch. Have fun next weekend.”

We’re greeted by the frigid wind and part ways. A plane is waiting to take me back to Phoenix. I need to be in the best shape of my life and have my arm working better than ever.

Rob said we have a hill to climb. I’ve got mountains. I need a team that wants what I have to offer and to convince my wife that the only place to be is with me, wherever that is.

_____ _

I rest back on the bench, my lungs burning. The early morning breeze flowing through the open door is cool against my damp skin.

“You sure you should be working out this soon?” Sean’s voice comes out of nowhere, and I sit up, wiping my face with the hem of my shirt.

“Where the hell did you come from?”

“I’m on my way to our last practice. I thought I’d stop by and see if you made it back. I heard you turned down a goldmine.”

I stand and move on to lunges. “There’s not a chance in hell Lex and my babies are going to sit around the city while I play ball.”

“Babies?” Sean’s brow scrunches.

I grin, but it takes effort. “Twins.”

“You bastard. Does Shane know?”

I shake my head, pushing my breath out as I lunge again. “Just found out a few days ago. I’ve been busy turning down millions and trying to get in desirable shape. Rob says I need to parade around this weekend, showing I’m good as new.”

“Twins. That’s . . . incredible.” His wide eyes and loss for words are like all my thoughts, spinning around in the dark, trying to find which way is up. “What’s with the sharp attitude? This is amazing news.”

I push up and take a rest before the next set. “Too much in my head. This sitting around waiting to see if anyone wants to pick me up is torture. I’ve worked too hard to be here.”

“But you walked away from the deal.”

My temper spikes, and I fist my hands. “I know, and I’d do it again. I’m ready to move on, and that’s not the place for Lex. I need her with me. I want to see my babies grow.”

Sean leans up against the weight rack. “Where is she?” I side-eye him. He freaking knows where she is. “So, you getting out of New York will change that?”

“I fucking hope so. It’s all I’ve got!”

Sean crosses his arms. “Why don’t you tell me what’s really going on?”

I drop my head, my temper flaring into the red zone. I breathe through my nose, knowing he’s not here to piss me off. “What are you talking about?”

“You look like you want to punch something. I know walking away from that deal had to hurt, but you did it for the right reasons.” He pauses, but I give him nothing because I don’t know what he’s looking for. “Lex isn’t here, and that’s clearly a problem.”

“Bro, what do you want from me?” I hiss.

Sean, the annoyingly sensible and calm one, doesn’t even flinch. “I want you to tell me why you’re pretending to be He-Man and melting down like a teenage drama queen.” I grab a dumbbell, but he steps in front of me. “Stop. You’re gonna break what they just fixed. Out with it, or I’ll call Shane, and you’ll have to deal with his gruff, no-nonsense coach tone. You know he’ll drag it out of you literally if he has to.”

No, thank you. The last thing I need is Shane barking at me and telling me what to do.

I sit on the bench and rest my head in my hands, trying to figure out where to start. “This is what I want. I want a chance to start over with Lex.”

I stare out the garage door. “Football is all we had. It’s all I’ve had, and it’s what got me through. I possibly just kissed away my career. Pissing into the wind, hoping she’ll come with me wherever I go.” I wipe sweat from my brow. “I’m not ready to be done, and she’s hell-bent on taking care of herself.”

“And that surprises you? When we were in high school, she worked in that garage and studied harder than anyone else. She did it despite how difficult it was for her. Who else have you ever met that was that determined?”

Memories of finding Lex in the garage before school zip through my mind. She’d be fixing something or sitting at the workbench trying to piece through a history book. She was determined never to let anyone see her struggle and worked night and day to get a full-time spot in the garage.

“Uh, us . . . but we didn’t struggle every day to read the playbooks or have people constantly treat us like we were stupid or didn’t belong. We were the football team. She still struggles with reading and is a woman working in a man’s world. Cal said she’s convinced no one will ever hire or work with her.”

My shoulders slump, feeling like I’ve already lost. “That garage is her dream. Taking it over and restoring cars is all she wants to do. She trusts the guys she works with, and they know how good she is.” My teeth grind together at the vision of Slade’s big arms around her. “How can I ask her to give that up to follow me? We saw how people treated her in high school, and you and I both know the world hasn’t changed that much. I couldn’t stand it.”

When Sean doesn’t say anything, I decide I might as well be out with the rest. “She’s scared. She’s never been outside of that town and away from the people who see her as equal. I’m scared I’m not enough to take her away from all of that. I sure as hell wasn’t enough back then, and now . . . ”

I meet Sean’s sympathetic eyes, feeling my own begin to sting. “What if this is it? What if I’m done?” I swallow the burn in my throat. “What if I have to go back and live there haunted by flashbacks and memories I left locked up in that town?” There, I said it. “I feel like a giant, selfish asshole, given all I’ve been able to do.”

I put my head in my hands, trying to release the pressure in my chest that’s only continued to build since leaving that meeting. “Sean, I have two babies counting on me. I can’t screw this up.”

He remains silent, sorting through all I just tossed out and then drops onto the bench beside me, his arms on his legs. “You won’t screw this up. You’re already putting them first. That’s what you did walking away from that deal.”

He bumps my shoulder. “You need to chill out. Do what Rob said. Get that pretty ass face in front of the cameras this weekend and win votes. He’ll find you something. Probably something amazing. In the meantime, you need to work on getting your girl. Show her she can do what she loves wherever you are.”

It’s the same damn thing Cal said. I run a hand over my face. “How in the hell do I do that?”

He shrugs, which is incredibly helpful. “I don’t know, but you’re smarter than you’ve ever let people see, and you know Lex.”

“Wow, jackass. Do you want to be paid for that advice?”

He laughs and steps toward the door. “You love her. You’ll figure it out. You don’t have a choice, and we don’t let anyone back us into a corner.”

He’s right about that. He stops at the door of his truck. “Quit pushing it. Give me the game and some time with Andie and Ax, and then I’ll work your ass to the ground. We’ll get you there, maybe even on the field with me, but not if you mess up what they fixed.”

He climbs in his truck and disappears .

“Dammit.” I toss my water bottle in the trash. He’s right.

I grab my phone and head into the house. I can’t control anything. I can’t pull a team out of thin air, and no offer will come if I can’t pass a physical or my arm is jacked up.

I lean over the counter, pushing out a long breath. One thing at a time. First, I need to get Lex through next weekend and the media storm that will follow. Then, somehow, I’m going to show her we can live these dreams together. Or . . . I’ll walk away from the one thing I’ve survived on so I can be with the only ones I can’ t live without.