Intercepting Love (Second Chances #5)(5)
I didn’t see a reason to delay the inevitable, so I made an earlier flight and flew across the country to North Carolina, especially since everything I owned was already there. There was nothing keeping me in California now that I screwed everything up and basically got kicked off of my team. What looked to be a simple trade wasn’t exactly so. The real reason was too f*cking embarrassing, and thankfully, money talked or else the story would be publicized in every magazine and tabloid in the United States.
How did I fall so low so fast? I had everything going for me until it was all taken away in one single game. Who would’ve thought that one injury could destroy everything? I wasn’t going to get back what I lost.
Finally, after several hours of listening to the guy beside me talk about his marketing plan for selling cat food, the plane landed and it was time to go. By the time I got out of the terminal, Coach Harris was there dressed in a black polo shirt and khaki pants, waiting for me with a smile on his face. It had been years since I’d seen him, but his once dark brown hair was now covered in gray, giving him the salt and peppered look that was very prominent with the men in my family.
You see, Joel Harris wasn’t just my coach … he was my uncle. If anyone found that out, I was pretty sure speculation would suggest that the only reason I got on the team was for that fact alone. No one else wanted me, except him. Sometimes I wish I’d have just given up on football and let it go, but it was in my blood. It was all I had.
“Cooper, it’s so good to see you again,” Joel said, extending his hand. “How’s the family back home?”
Nonchalantly, I shrugged and shook his hand. “They’re fine,” was all I could say. I didn’t want to say that they were disappointed in me and could care less what I did with my life since I was an utter failure. Thankfully, my uncle could sense I didn’t want to elaborate so he moved on.
“Do you have any more luggage other than the bag you’re carrying?” he asked, letting go of my hand.
“No, this is it. Everything should’ve already been delivered to the house. I have a lot of unpacking to do this week.”
“I’m sure you do, son. How about we get out of here and head over to the stadium for a few minutes? I want one of our physicians to look at your shoulder and get to know you since you’ll be joining our team. How is the shoulder anyway?”
I subconsciously rolled it in a circular motion; I didn’t have pain per se, but there was always a constant ache that never seemed to go away. My addiction was what I thought about the most. Every time the pain would become too much, I knew what I had to do to make it disappear. It was a place to escape where no one else could judge me; a place where I honestly didn’t give a f*ck.
Shrugging, I kept my gaze straight as we walked through the airport. “The shoulder’s fine. I’m just ready to get back into the game.” Out of the corner of my eye, Joel pursed his lips and I knew he wanted to say something, but he kept quiet until we got outside.
“Look, Cooper, I’m sure I don’t have to say this twice, but the shit you got into out in California with the drugs, alcohol, and the reckless behavior won’t fly here. I’m putting my neck on the line for you, and I expect you to work hard and get along with the team. They already have their doubts about you and I want you to show them that you can lead them.”
Talk about pressure.
“You used to be the best quarterback in the NFL, and I know you can be that way again. You have one chance to redeem yourself, son. My guys work hard and they need someone like you to help get them to the top. Except, the first time you screw up you’re out of here, understand?”
Closing my eyes, I blew out a frustrated sigh and turned to my uncle. All I’d heard from my family for the past eight months was how much of a screw up I was. I was so goddamned sick of listening to it.
“Yeah, I understand,” I mumbled.
The only time I felt like I was worth something was when I was on the field, and thankfully, I spent the summer in a drugged and drunken haze to not notice that it was off season. I was afraid that might’ve been why I spent a few nights in jail. Now, however, wasn’t the time to be like that. I had to prove to everyone that I could be the winner I used to be, that I wasn’t going to screw up again. All I had to do now was convince myself.
Unfortunately, that was easier said than done when I had bigger problems to deal with.
Pulling into the team’s designated parking area, I saw that Coach Joel Harris’ white Range Rover was in its usual spot. Otherwise, the stadium was quiet. I guess Cooper hadn’t arrived yet. My hair was windblown from the ride over in my Jeep, and unfortunately, I didn’t have time to put on something presentable since Joel wanted me at the stadium within the hour.
Thankfully, Joel was more down to earth and I knew he wouldn’t mind what I wore as long as I did my job. I liked that about him, and it made working for him and the team that much more enjoyable.
Once inside, but before getting to his office, I pulled the tie out of my hair and ran my fingers through my wavy, golden locks in hopes that it wouldn’t look so messy from the ride. After looking at my reflection in one of the windows I knew it was hopeless; the hair was going back up into a ponytail.
Joel’s office was just up ahead, and taped to the door was a yellow piece of paper. The closer I got, I could see it was in Joel’s handwriting and addressed to me. Peeling it away from the door, I read it out loud.