That was the beginning of what would be one of the greatest experiences of my life. In New York, we would find happiness, wealth, and even something that felt a lot like love. I can’t say that I loved everything that happened between then and now, but New York was the beginning of something so great. For the first time since Olivia visited me nearly two summers before, I was truly happy.
Chapter 24
An Unexpected Spark
After our plane landed in New York, it was a mad house. So many people were already fans of my clients, and everywhere we went, people wanted autographs. Any crazy night out that Emmitt had planned would have to wait. We went back to the hotel early. Once we got there and I showed Marcus and Derrick to their rooms, Emmitt pulled me to the side.
“Man, this is crazy. I knew the draft was going to be a big deal, but did you see those people out there? I could barely move,” he said.
“I know. You’ve got to get used to it. You’re kind of a big deal. Are you still sure you want to go to New York in the draft? I can almost guarantee you that it’s always going to be this way in the city.”
“You know what? I think I could get used to it. Those people really loved me, and not like back in Miami. They were crazy about me. Plus, I’m sure there are plenty of exclusive clubs around here that a certain celebrity could spend his nights at. His agent might want to get on finding out where those clubs are so we can have a night to remember tomorrow,” Emmitt joked.
“I think he can handle that. Get some rest tonight, though. I got you and Derrick a spot on the morning sports show here. It’ll be a good opportunity for you to show your character to GMs just before the draft.”
“What about Marcus?”
“You know the drill. He’s not rated as high as you guys. People aren’t as interested in talking to him. He’s a hard worker, but he’s got no flash for the cameras. I’ve got an interview set up for him that’s going to be printed in the paper later on, but that’s the best I could do.”
“He’s not going to be happy about that.”
“I know, but it really was all I could do. I had to practically beg just to get that done. He’s been a little overshadowed by you since this whole process began. He’s good at what he does, though. No matter when he goes, he’ll show that. Then I’ll make sure he cashes in on his next contract.”
“Just make sure you can explain this to him.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but aren’t you forgetting something?” Chastity asked as she walked up.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Well, you’ve shown everyone where their room is except for me.”
“It was a last minute thing, and I wasn’t able to get another room in this place. Honestly, I doubt they even have another room. They’re usually pretty booked. I had planned for you to stay with me. I’ll sleep on the couch, if there’s a problem with me being in the bedroom.”
She gave me a hard look that was instantly familiar. When we were teenagers, I must have tried to sleep with her a dozen times, but every time, she saw right through me. I was always shot down, but right before I was, I received a look that clearly said you idiot.
“All right, I’m out of here. It looks like you two have a lot to talk about. Good luck with that, by the way,” Emmitt said and quickly walked away.
“Seriously, Eric? After all these years, you’re still up to the same tricks,” she said playfully.
“You know me better than that. I wasn’t trying anything. Sure, I would have five years ago, but a lot has changed. I’ve matured.”
“Is that so? That’s a shame then.”
“Wait. A shame?”
“Yeah. It’s a little funny to think about how hard you tried back then. I probably should have thrown you a bone at some point. I was thinking about making up for that on this trip, but since you’ve matured so much, I guess you can just take the couch.”
“Hold on a second. Are you actually serious?”
“No, but it’s still so fun to tease you. I just couldn’t resist,” she said with a cute smile.
“Wow. I guess things haven’t changed at all,” I said while reflecting back on how we used to act.
“I like that. I can’t say if we’re going to be picking up where we left off before you moved, but I like what us talking reminds me of. Life was simpler then. I’ve missed you.”
“I missed you, too. Come on. It’s getting late. Let me show you to your room and myself to a couch,” I said and walked with her to our room.
After we were inside and all the lights were off, I started to feel uneasy. I had an idea, but it seemed a little wrong. My whole plan in life had centered on Olivia. She was married now, though. I had been happy with Chastity, hadn’t I? Sure, it wasn’t the same kind of happiness I had with Olivia, but was that just because I was always looking back at what I used to have? I thought I might have a shot at being just as happy with the woman in the next room. I didn’t think about what I was doing anymore. I simply got up off that couch and walked into the bedroom. In the darkened room, I saw her eyes open, but she didn’t speak. Chastity was waiting to see what I was going to do. I lay down beside her and gently stroked her hand. I moved it up her arms and to her cheek. Then I placed my thumb on her lips. She took it in her mouth and bit down in the slightest way. As her teeth gently glided off my thumb, I pulled it away and took her in my arms. Then I kissed her in the same way as we used to. It was missing something just like back then, but she quickly transitioned our kiss into one of deep passion. This was what we had been missing so many years ago. As I slid my hands down to her hips, Chastity suddenly pulled away.
“Slow down for a minute,” she said while taking a breath.
“I should have known,” I joked.
“This is fast, isn’t it? I mean, I just met you again. Shouldn’t we give this some time?”
“If that’s what you want, then I’m willing to wait. I’ve got to tell you, though, I don’t think anything we could do together would be wrong.”
“Can I tell you why I didn’t want to have sex with you when we were younger?”
“Yeah, but I thought I already knew. Didn’t it have to do with our religion?”
“That was part of it. I would have made an exception for someone I thought was going to be there for me in the end, though. You always tried so hard to get into bed with me, and it was cute, but it also made me wonder if you cared about me for any other reason. There was a distance between us a lot of the time, and I never understood it. I wasn’t going to give myself to someone who didn’t give all of themselves to me.”
“I’m sorry. I was always thinking about a girl I met in Wisconsin when we were together. I thought that she was my destiny, but she wasn’t. When I left to live with my uncle, I reunited with her. I was so heartbroken when I came back home that I couldn’t even call you. The only person I wanted was her. Now she’s married, so none of that matters.”
“There are serious problems with what you just said. You can move on now because she’s not an option. What does that make me? Am I just some second choice to you?”
“Of course not. She couldn’t wait on me to come back. Olivia married someone else while I was away. Here you are, though. You waited. I was so blinded by my infatuation with her that I didn’t see the great girl standing right in front of me. You’re not my second choice. You’re the one who was always right for me, but I was too stupid to see that. I’m sorry for ever treating you like you were second. You should have meant more to me back then, and I promise that you will now. We can wait however long you want. When the time does come, I promise that I’ll be there when the sun rises and every other morning after that, as long as you’ll have me,” I said and got up.
I wanted to believe those words. The thought of Chastity being the real person I was meant for was comforting. It meant that I hadn’t lost someone important. I had just overlooked my destiny. I don’t know if that was true, but I do know that I meant it when I said it, regardless of what followed.<
br />
After I had gotten back to the couch and lay down, I heard footsteps coming toward me. I turned to see Chastity. She reached her hand down and pulled me up. Then she kissed me. As she led me to the bedroom, Chastity said something that stuck with me.
“Love me in the morning, no matter what changes.”
“I always will,” I said and pulled her down to the bed.
It was a night that I wanted so much when I was young, and it didn’t disappoint. We were older, wiser, and the time spent apart had left us with a longing for what had been. It was exquisite, and for the first time in months, I was truly happy beyond words.
* * * * *
The following morning, I woke up in a position that I hadn’t been in for quite some time. Since I visited Wisconsin back in the summer, I hadn’t been able to be intimate with anyone. It was strange. I had gone from a party animal who was doing anything and everything to forget what I was losing to a man who went out just enough to keep his clients satisfied. I never even thought about the prospect of anything close to a girlfriend. Here I was, though. I was lying beside a woman who looked absolutely perfect in every way. She was the woman my parents had wanted me to end up with and the one most of my friends always thought was too good for me. I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her cheek. As she slowly stirred, I heard a knock at the door that interrupted our romantic morning.
“Well, that kind of ruins the mood,” I said.
“Don’t worry. I’ll still be here after you get back,” Chastity said and kissed me.
Once again, a knock interrupted us. I got up and grabbed my clothes. When I opened the door, I could tell that something was up. Emmitt, Marcus, and Derrick were all waiting on me in the hall.
“I don’t mean to tell you how to do your job, but wasn’t there something you were supposed to do today?” Emmitt asked.
“Oh, crap! The interviews. Give me five minutes,” I said and shut the door.
“What’s going on?” Chastity asked as I ran into the bathroom to try to do something with my hair.
“I overslept. I’ve got to get those guys to their press events.”
“How long is that going to take?”
“I’m not sure. Here, use this to get something to eat if I don’t get back before lunch. I probably won’t. For that matter, you should make a day out of it on me,” I said while throwing a credit card down on the counter.
“Wow. This isn’t the morning I was expecting at all.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve got to admit that you leaving so quickly is a little weird.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve just got to do this. I’ll be back by at least tonight, and we can get some dinner. If you want to come along, you can. I just have to go in the next two minutes.”
“That’s okay. I understand. Are you sure you want me using your money, though? You’ve already spent enough on me.”
“What’s mine is yours. Besides, I’m going to have more money than I can spend after tomorrow night. Dine well, and see all the tourist’s spots, if you want. For that matter, go on a little shopping trip. We’re together now, and if I spoil clients, then you can bet I’m going to spoil the woman I love,” I said as I straightened my tie and grabbed my shoes.
“Love, huh?” Chastity asked with a smile.
“Well, yeah. I could wait a few months to say it, but why waste the time? We’ve known each other since we were kids, and I know you had to feel something amazing between us last night. I love you, Chastity, and I want this to be real.”
“I do, too,” she said and gave me a goodbye kiss.
After I walked out the door, Emmitt and Derrick gave me odd looks. Emmitt raised one eyebrow as if to ask what had happened? He knew that I hadn’t overslept for no reason. I was always on time.
“We’ll talk about it later. We need to go right now,” I said.
“Okay, but I’ve got to tell you that you might be jumping into things too quickly,” Derrick said.
“What do you mean? I’m not jumping into anything. I care about the woman. What’s so bad about that?”
“Aren’t you the one who’s always telling us not to let anyone get too close to us before the draft?”
“That’s true. I seem to recall a lot of talks about how family members and friends were going to show up with their hands out. I also remember you saying that any woman talking about a serious relationship days before you become a millionaire is trouble walking,” Emmitt said.
“What’s your point?” I asked.
“You’re managing three high-profile athletes. You’re going to be rich tomorrow, too. Think about it. You gave her a free trip to New York, you’re about to be the richest man she knows, and to top it all off, I bet you did something really dumb like leave her a bunch of cash so she could enjoy herself while we’re out.”
“You’re wrong. It wasn’t her idea to come. I invited her. Plus, I’m not the richest man she knows. That would be her dad. Although, he has cut her off, and I did leave her with my credit card. Maybe you have a point,” I said nervously.
“Leave him alone, guys. I’m sure he has things under control,” Marcus said.
“Thanks. I was beginning to get worried for a second there,” I said.
“What we really need to talk about is why I’m not on this show that Emmitt and Derrick are doing. I can’t help but feel that I’m getting the short end of the stick here.”
“Come on. You know it’s not like that. I’ve got that article that’s going to be written about you. I can’t help it if they asked for them.”
“I’m just saying that I could be happier,” he said.
“Okay, I’ve got a plan then. How do you guys feel about shameless plugs?”
“I’m all right with them,” Emmitt said.
“Okay, then I need you to do me and Marcus a favor. Sooner or later, they’re going to ask you what you feel your best strength was at Miami or something similar to that. Say it was being able to hand the ball to your star running back when you needed the tough yards. Go on and on about him, and then say you think it’s a shame that America isn’t going to get to know a man who is only standing a few feet away. Can you do that?”
“That’s easy.”
“Good. It’ll make you look like a good guy and get Marcus more attention before the draft.”
“Hey, what if I want to look like a good guy?” Derrick asked.
“That ship sailed a long time ago. When you get suspended for stepping on the opposing quarterback, people tend to not like you. We’re going for the rough and ruthless approach with you. Someone like Oakland or Detroit will go for that.”
“You’re the boss.”
“All right, is everyone ready?”
They were. I had been over every question with them that they could possibly be asked. They knew what to say and do. The only audible would be getting Emmitt to give Marcus some exposure, and I was sure that doing so would help two clients out easily.
We drove right over to the studio and got the two of them into makeup. It was odd for Emmitt and Derrick to have someone putting makeup on them, but it was part of being on television. I figured that they would have to get used to it eventually, if they were going to be doing a lot of commercials in the future.
I remember that when the interview began the host asked both of them the hard questions. Derrick was asked about the incident that ultimately led to him being suspended. He answered it just as I told him to. He had to seem sincerely sorry, but at the same time, like no intensity had been lost from his game. He still went all out every play and tried to hurt the opposing quarterback. That was the real message we wanted teams to hear.
Emmitt was asked about the many times he was pictured in different clubs around Miami. The questions centered on his maturity and whether he was truly ready for professional football. He responded exactly as he should have. He pointed out that most people party in college but that he was starting a career now. His head would be in the game. I
t had to be if he was going to play with the best athletes in the world. Finally, the question I had been waiting on was asked.
“What would you say made it easiest for you to succeed on the college level?”
“That’s simple. My running back. When we needed a tough yard or everything broke down and I needed to get rid of the ball, he was always there. Marcus Wright was the heart and soul of the Miami football team, and it’s a shame that more people don’t know who he is. As a matter of fact, it’s ridiculous that he’s only standing a few feet away and America isn’t even going to get to know him.”
The interviewer stopped and looked toward her producers almost as if to ask if she could change things in the middle of the show. The news she got was good for us.
“Well, let’s get a seat for him, too. It would be a shame to leave out the heart and soul of Miami football,” she said.
Within a few seconds, Marcus was set up, and she was asking him questions. One in particular stood out to me, and I think it’s why he was successful.
“Why should teams draft Marcus Wright?” she asked.
“That’s simple. I’ll work harder than anyone on their team. While some guys might be looking to cash in on endorsements or to go out and have fun, I’m working. I’ve got a girlfriend I’m engaged to back in Miami and a family who loves me. I’ve found everything in my life that I need but a place in this league, so that’s the only goal I’ve got. I can give it all of my focus with no distractions. I know I’m ranked as the number 52 prospect on most people’s boards, and that might even be where I belong right now, but it’s not where I’m headed. Five years after this draft, I’ll be considered a top five talent from this class, and it won’t be because I’m so great like my friends here. They have God given talent like nothing I’ve ever seen. It’ll be because I’m going to work harder than anyone. I’ll run, block, and catch. I’ll even play special teams if it can get me on the field. I’m a pure football player and a gym rat. That’s what you want for a running back.”
I knew right then that I had found something special in Marcus. I wouldn’t know just how special until later on. For now, I was completely pleased with my new reality in every way. Things couldn’t be going better in New York. All three of my clients had made headway, and I had found a new love who seemed to truly care about me. All that was left to do was a few more press events, and then we could cash in at the draft. The path there was going to be a bit harder than I thought, though, and one of us was going to lose something very important to them. A lot can change in one night.
Destiny Page 22