Good. Georgie and my parents had wanted that. And that was a good offer, but I asked, “And the Sooners?”
He opened his paper with the offer and said, “Twenty-eight million for ten years.”
I reached for it, but Georgie put her hand on it to stop me and said, “So it’s less if we go to Oklahoma?”
I nodded and said, “Yes, but Texas was what you and my parents agreed to.”
She let the paper go but asked, “Look, do you want to be loyal to the Sooners? Is that what this is?”
“I want us both to be happy,” I said, though she’d been right. My team worked well together and moving across country didn’t mean I’d be happier.
She shook her head. “I love your house. A few modifications to make it friendlier to Jeremy, or any other child we might one day have, would be great. But only if you want Oklahoma because you want it.”
I took the pen and said, “We can get you a new home entirely if you want that.”
She laughed, and I knew she’d finally agreed when she said, “Your house could hold my entire family in one spot and that’s saying something. I need space but it’s already a lot.”
I put my initials on the first page and said, “Oklahoma it is.”
She saw me flip the page and said, “New York gets you fame and the exact money you wanted. We’ll be happy there because we’ll be together.”
I initialed the second page and said, “But I get to wear my cowboy hat when I drive to the grocery store.”
“Well you could do that in Texas, too,” she said.
I stilled. Did she want the other? I’d lose even more. I asked her, “Is that what you want? For my parents to live close by?”
“No,” she said, and her face went a little white. She then placed her hand on mine and said, “I want us to be happy and you want to be loyal to your team.”
“Exactly,” I said and then flipped to the last page with the signature section as I said, “Let’s sign, Phil.”
“No changing your mind?” Phil asked. “Last chance to change your mind.”
I winked at my beautiful, brunette wife and said, “Georgie and I agreed. It’s all I need.”
“Then let’s sign,” she said.
I wrote out my first name and Georgie squeezed my hand. “Last chance, Michael. I’m sure there are great schools in New York.”
“We’ll all be happy here,” I said and finished with my name.
“You’re sure?” she asked like she was stealing from me.
I handed the paper to Phil and massaged her leg. “Money isn’t everything. Making my wife my partner, and our family, is important.”
Tears formed in her eyes. “I love you.”
“Good. I love you, too,” I said and wiped her cheeks.
Phil tapped his fingers on the papers then leaned forward when he said, “I’m going to hold this, but see if I can get you everything you want from Oklahoma. Do you trust me for a few more days?”
Being alone with her was all I wanted. I jumped out of my seat and held out my hand for her. As she joined me, I said, “I trust you. For now, Phil, my wife and I are taking off.”
“Have fun,” he said and checked the contract. “I’ll be in touch soon.”
I gave him a thumbs-up and we rushed out. We needed to be alone now.
She stayed beside me as we headed out to the parking lot, but she shook her head when she saw the flight of stairs. She pointed to the stadium loop, and I shook my head. She’d have ten years to learn the tricks of stadium life.
However, I slowed down when we made it to the parking lot. The only extra car was a Toyota Caprice. I pointed to it and asked, “Did you drive in this?”
“It was all they had left.” She pushed a button to get her bag out.
I grabbed it for her but then pushed it down as I said, “Doubtful. I’ll have it shipped back to the airport today.”
I held her door for her and she said, “I saw your team at the hotel.”
“Good,” I said and joined her. The car turned on from my light press of a button and we headed out of the parking lot. “We need to catch them at the lunch table to tell them my news.”
She asked, “We?”
Jeremy and Georgie were my everything. I headed toward the hotel. “Do you need to get back to the airport?”
“No, my sister Olivia is watching Jeremy for the week.”
I drove, pressed the gas a little more and said, “Yeehaw.” And then winked at her and said, “So we get a honeymoon now?”
Her face had a cute blush on it. “If you want me to tag along.”
I roared the car into the hotel. “Sweetheart, let’s tell the team and get back to our room."
She laughed as I grabbed her bag from behind us and carried it into the hotel.
We passed the front desk, and I held her hand the whole way.
On the other end of the long circular rotunda of the lobby was the dining area where my friends sat. I walked toward them with Georgie, and we stood next to the table. “Guys, just came from meeting with the business suits.”
“So you're ditching us for New York?” Rodriguez asked.
There it was. I held my hand out to shake his as I said, “Seems y’all fall apart without me here, so I’ll stick around some more.”
Now that smile of his made me teary a little as he asked, “How long?”
“Ten fucking years, baby,” I said and man-hugged Rodgers.
Rodriquez nodded and showed off his dimples when he said, “Then you'd better bring your A-Game to tomorrow’s double-header.”
“I always play to win,” I said and then walked
