Page 9 of Fumble Into the End Zone
Bryce moved out of the doorway and invited me inside. “Not yet. Those numbers don’t seem right. Doug Jordan’s low-ball offer stunned me and my agent,” I said.
Bryce rubbed the bottom half of his face as if he had a beard. “Send it to me and I’ll give it a look. But to clarify, you waited at the airport because you’re cheap?” he questioned.
“I call it conserving money.”
Laughter erupted from his mouth as he held his stomach. He placed his hand on the back of the brown suede couch and continued to laugh.
“Mannnnn, how are you a millionaire and too cheap to pay for a ride?” he questioned between renewed laughter, and I shrugged.
My grandfather said a patient man was a rich man. A woman entered the room, and her eyes traveled from me to Bryce. She lifted her brows at Bryce as he finished off his laughter.
“Mom, this is Marcus, my new number one wide receiver. Marcus, meet my mom, Leona Prescott,” he said.
At 6’5, Bryce hovered over his mother’s petite frame, but they shared the same warm, golden-brown skin tone.
“Hello, Marcus,” she said.
I moved past Bryce and kissed her hand. “Hello, Mrs. Prescott. Would it be okay if I gave my daughter your phone number for emergencies? She is with my grandmother in Ohio. Just in case she can’t get in touch with me.”
“How old is she?” Mrs. Prescott questioned.
“Seven. She is well-mannered and will not call your phone unless it’s necessary,” I said.
I tapped my phone, and the screen saver showed Harley smiling with a missing front tooth.
“She is adorable,” she said.
Mrs. Prescott gave me her phone number as I followed her to my bedroom. The size of this house was huge. She explained it had five bedrooms, six bathrooms, and two suites. Pictures of the family hung on the cream coated walls.
“This is where you will be staying. There is a bathroom two doors down the hall,” she said, standing beside the bedroom door.
Mrs. Prescott turned to walk away, but I paused her steps. “Mrs. Prescott, how much money do I need to contribute to the groceries and my stay?” I said.
She gave me a warm smile and gentle eyes. “Nothing. I’m happy you came. Bryce needs a friend right now more than he is willing to admit.”
I had heard about the bullshit Vick, his number one wide receiver, pulled. The entire team would’ve had to pull me off his ass for marrying my fiancée under my nose. I hadn’t met Vick yet, but I already didn’t trust him. He was grimy for breaking the bro code. Once minicamp started, I was sure we were going to have a run-in.
“If it becomes too much, let me know and I can cover my grocery bill,” I said, and she giggled.
“My husband and son are football players. I stocked up. Have you seen the size of Roundtree and Brevin? Anything you see in the kitchen, you eat it. If not, I’m going to be offended.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said.
I watched as Mrs. Prescott migrated down the hallway before I opened my bedroom door. The crystal chandelier and crown molding grabbed my attention as the sunlight danced across the room. From the brown fabric headboard to the layered linen on the bed, everything was well thought-out; I smiled at my new temporary residence. I tossed my duffle bag on the floor before opening my phone to call Harley’s tablet. A missing-tooth smile flashed on the screen.
“Daddy!” she said with excitement.
“How is my princess?” I asked.
“I’m okay, but I miss you. When are you coming back?” she asked.
The sadness in her eyes tore at my heart. I wanted to bring her along with me, but traveling wears my grandmother down. With the move to Houston upon us, I needed to reserve her strength.
“Soon, baby. Daddy has to work. Remember, I have to earn money to take care of you and Granny. You are my big girl, right? and I need you to watch over Granny.”
“And her bad knee,” she interrupted.
I fought the urge to laugh. Harley’s been obsessed with Granny’s knee and her cane. If she caught her walking without it, she brought it to her attention. The reminders drove my granny insane.
