Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 114011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
I let out a loud chuckle. “That was you, and you know it!”
She shrugs, as if that’s all there is to say, and climbs into her car. Ethan waves as they pull out onto the street.
I wave back. Because that’s all I can do besides wonder if I’ve just made the right decision.
The point Palmer made was valid. Can I respect the stop sign? Can I ignore how much she turns me on? Stirs something soul deep?
I have no fucking idea.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
COLE
Hey, Scott.”
My agent asks me to wait a moment and then puts me on hold.
I walk along the tree line of my parents’ property and breathe in the fresh air. The scent of pine and soil, still wet from the sudden rainstorm after yesterday’s practice, fills my lungs and helps settle the frazzled state of my soul.
My body aches. My right arm is so tight from practice that it feels like it might snap like a recoiled rubber band. I work my shoulder in small circles like the physical therapist taught me, ignoring the scream of my muscles and the fire that bites down my spine.
I stop moving to catch my breath.
“Sorry about that,” Scott says. “It’s good to hear from you, Cole.”
Right. Scott Canelo is full of shit. There’s no way it’s good to hear from me after our last conversation ended in a standoff. His frustration with the perceived lack of cooperation on my end makes him feel like I don’t take the process seriously and that I don’t appreciate his hard work. But I do.
Scott works his ass off to secure me postcareer opportunities. I absolutely respect his efforts and am grateful to have him on my side, even if my actions don’t always match my appreciation.
“I just wanted to check in with you and see how things are going,” I say, breaking the ice. It seems a better way to start the conversation than admitting that my feelings haven’t changed and I still need time.
“Things are looking good here,” he says. “We still have the streaming opportunity on deck. The network sent a proposal over this morning, but I don’t think my secretary has forwarded it to you yet.”
“I haven’t checked my email since this morning, but I didn’t see it.”
“Yeah, she was pretty swamped today. Give her a day or two, and I’m sure she’ll have it to you. By the middle of next week at the latest.” Papers shuffle in the background. “We still have the podcast deal sitting here, waiting on a response. Have you given that any more thought?”
I hang my head and walk aimlessly around a large pine tree.
“I have,” I say honestly. “But I’d like to give it a few more weeks and really think it through.”
Scott sighs. “Cole, I understand that you have a lot going on and a lot of decisions to make in this new season of your life.”
You have no idea.
“But, like I’ve told you since we first discussed your retirement—which, I will remind you, happened practically overnight, with no forewarning—your chances of securing something lucrative are highest in the immediate days and weeks following the announcement. Cole, we’re already going on month three here—”
“I know. As you said, we’ve discussed this several times, and you’ve made it clear that I need to pull the trigger on something.”
Like I pay you to do.
“But there are a couple of things still up in the air that affect my decisions, and I just don’t have all the information yet.”
“And you still choose not to fill me in on those pieces of the puzzle?”
“That’s correct.”
My jaw pulses as I think about those puzzle pieces and how fucking helpless I feel. It’s like standing in the batter’s box, amped up and prepped to hit a home run, and having to wait as the opposing side changes pitchers. All I can do is wait.
How is this even my life?
My stomach sinks. A fire boils in my gut, threatening to spew the negativity that simmers just below the surface. I can’t deal with all this—the questions from Scott, the uncertainty of my life, the what-ifs that come to meet me every night as the sun dips below the horizon.
It’s not like me to take this approach to problems. I’ve always met challenges head-on, armed with information and preparation and a game plan to slay the beast, whatever it may be.
But this time? This time it’s not up to me.
“I understand that, Cole. I really do,” Scott says. “And I want you to take your time. I want you to make the right choice for you and your family. Well, you don’t have a family, so that should make your choice that much easier.”
What the fuck?
“You know that I never want you to rush into a decision,” he says, continuing on like he didn’t just toss a dig at me. “But, as your agent, it is my responsibility to get you the best deals that I can. I’m going to be honest here and take the blanket off the baby—the offers will dwindle if we don’t jump on something soon.”