The Rookie: Book 2 The Last Play Series

“
F
olks
, here comes the biggest news in sports tonight—Legend James. Just yesterday he graduated from the University of Utah, and now there are only two weeks to go until draft day. He’s just come out of Primary Children’s Hospital charity event with his close friends and teammates, Jason Thomas and Brad Hale. Legend! Legend! Excuse me, do you have a comment on the article that came out today in the
New York Times
, written by Charity Saint?”

All Legend knew was that he had to get clear of this reporter before he clocked him. He’d seen the article, and he’d already vowed that the so-called ‘hometown’ writer would be sought out and brought to justice for slander. “No comment.”

The reporter blocked their path, his toothy grin as wide as the goalposts. “The article calls you the cold-hearted snake of draft picks. It claims that after breaking up with your girlfriend Katrina Childs in your sophomore year of college you went on to date twenty-two women. Only three of the women ever had second dates, and one of those three made the statement that you led her on and then dumped her in a very public way.”

At the mention of Katrina’s name, irritation coarsed through him. Clenching and unclenching his fist, he met the reporter’s eye. “If you mean dumping her by filing stalking charges because she streaked naked during the UCLA game, I guess, yes, that would be considered a public dumping.”

His friends laughed, and Legend tried to cool down and keep walking.

The reporter held up his hand and pushed the microphone into Legend’s face. “Last question, I promise.”

For the past few months the reporters had gotten more aggressive, and his friends teased him about being a paparazzi magnet. In college he’d felt amazing every time he’d been asked to do an interview, but it was getting old—fast.

A greedy gleam came into the reporter’s eye. “Ms. Saint also reported that you’d refused to comment for this article. What were your reasons for that?”

Refused to comment?
He let out a humorless laugh. “She’s lying.”

The reporter cocked an eyebrow. “So you didn’t refuse?”

“I was never asked.” He took the microphone out of the reporter’s hand and stared into the camera. “Ms. Saint, I want you to know I find you despicable and your lies deplorable. I don’t know what you think gives you the right to print trash about my love life.” He focused on the reporter and then turned back to the camera, wild with adrenaline and emotion. “And to
The
New York Times
for printing these lies—you’ll never get a real exclusive from me now.”

Shoving away from his friends, Legend began jogging toward the parking lot toward Jason’s car.

Brad patted his shoulder while they waited for Jason to unlock the car. “Dude, I wish I could say it’ll get easier for you, but it won’t.”

Legend ignored him and got into the car.

“Shut it, Brad.” Jason started the car and backed up. “You just wish you had a love life for someone to care about.”

“Ouch!” Brad joked from the back seat, “Jason, I will have a love life because I got that engineering job in Dallas, and I’m riding on this guy’s coat tails to every single party. I’m not ashamed of it, either. I don’t need that girlfriend thing that you’ve got going. I’m on the fast track to fine women, baby, so there.” He made a farting noise.

Legend couldn’t stop himself from laughing at Brad’s antics. Both of them had been his roommates and teammates since freshman year, and even though neither of them was pro material, they had been his best friends and staunchest supporters.

Jason elbowed Legend. “Are you really that ticked about this article or was that for show?”

The lightness of his mood instantly vanished. “I’m
that
ticked.”

Jason pulled up to the apartments that housed all of the football players. Most of the apartments were dark since a lot of the guys had stayed to party at the hospital event.

Jason parked the car but didn’t get out. “Hold up, Leg. Look, you gotta let stuff like this blow off you. Who cares?”

“I care.”

Jason shook his head. “Man, you’re gonna have a lot printed about you in the course of your career. You know that, right? Think Roman Young would even flinch at an article like that?”

“Roman Young’s retired, not to mention married. No one’s writing articles about him like that anymore,” Legend shot back.

“Man.” Brad sighed. “And Dumont had a horrible year, I heard yesterday the Destroyers are looking at trading him.”

“Yeah.” Legend puffed out, already nervous about the politics of him taking over as starting quarterback.

Jason let out a long breath. “Dude, look, I know you’ve been uptight lately, and it’s kind of thrown you with your dad not being able to get leave for draft day, but we’ll be there.”

Brad got out. “Yeah, you know we’ll be there. We wouldn’t miss a chance to ride the ‘Legend train.’ A free party and chance to see you sign a contract for umpteen million, with a starting bonus of what—fifteen, sixteen million?”

Legend rolled his eyes and turned to Jason. “Look, shut up about my dad, okay?” He pointed at Brad. “And you better watch it before the ‘Legend Train’ throws you off.”

Jason frowned, but he and Brad both followed him up to their apartment.

Brad sighed. “C’mon, Leg, you know I’m only joking. I got your back. Don’t let this whole thing bother you. Dude, we should all go play some ultimate Frisbee tonight. I’ll text the guys. We could even put out a tweet that Legend will be there, and then chicks will miraculously show up.” Brad grinned with delight and whipped out his phone.

“No.” Legend unlocked the door and flipped on the lights.

“But c’mon, Leg.” Brad wailed in his fake whiny voice and stomped the floor.

Legend moved to his room, thinking that the only redeemable thing about Brad was the fact that he did always bring fun into their apartment, but he wasn’t in the mood.

Jason held the door open before he could slam it shut. “Look, I might know where you can find Charity Saint.”

Legend blinked. “How?”

Guilt washed over Jason’s face.

“What?”

Jason held his hands up in the air. “I had no idea she would write the article that way. I swear.”

Legend took a step forward. “What did you do?”

“A couple of months ago I was at a party and got introduced to her. In my defense, she is hot—long red hair, tall, easily five foot ten, and not just thin but fit. Man, you should have seen the heels she was wearing.”

“Come on!”

“Sorry, anyway, I thought we were flirting until I realized that all her questions were about you.”

Ripping off his tie and unbuttoning his shirt, Legend could feel himself getting more and more angry. “And you didn’t think you should have told me?”

Jason put his hands up in surrender. “Hey, I told her to get lost. And, not to give you a bigger head than you have, if I told you every time a girl asked questions about you, all we would talk about are the girls that ask questions about you.”

Leveling him with a glare, Legend bit down on his anger.

Shaking his head, Jason backed up. “But Brad’s right. You need to get a thicker skin or something. The press isn’t going away, and you have to think about all the great things that are in your life because you were noticed by the press.”

Of course Jason was right. Sure, Legend had taken records and his stats were impressive, but truth be told, the press had a lot to do with the kind of attention players got. And you had to get attention if you wanted a pro deal. That was just a fact.

Jason shrugged. “Dude, you could be like me…the best thing I can say about my college experience was that I got a degree out of it. I still don’t even have a job.”

Reluctantly, Legend had to admit defeat. He had won the lottery. How many good players were out there? How many competed for a spot in the draft? And the golden ticket had landed in Legend’s lap. Not that he hadn’t worked for it. He had nearly killed himself for it. Playing injured, training until he puked, staring at the playbook until he was running the plays in his sleep. “Hey,” he said, trying to comfort Jason. “You’ll get a job. And you know I’ll put in a good word for you anywhere you want in Dallas, right?”

The side of Jason’s lip went down. “I don’t want to be
that
friend, Leg.”

“What kind of friend is that?”

“The kind that uses you.”

Legend grinned. “Brad doesn’t have a problem riding the ‘Legend train.’” He air quoted.

They both laughed.

“Plus, it’s not being ‘that friend’ if I willingly offer it.”

Jason studied his face. “What’s the real deal with this article anyway?”

An uneasy feeling pulsed into his gut. “I just…I don’t care what the press wants to print about football, but I don’t like it when they’re digging into my personal life.”

Covering his face, Jason busted into a laugh. “Dude, I’ve known you for four years, and,” he paused, ducked for a second, looked back at Legend, and said, “the article is actually correct. Besides Katrina, you hardly dated any girls twice.”

Taking a football off his shelf, he chucked it hard at Jason’s chest.

Jason intercepted it. “Right, Katrina is off limits.”

Legend cocked an eyebrow at him. “Exactly.”

He shook his head. “Man, quit being so touchy. Plus, dating a lot of girls isn’t something to be ashamed of. I mean, really, it just makes you look like a playboy and fits the pro football image.”

“I don’t care about some kind of image. I want my private life to stay private.”

Putting up his hand, Jason let out a loud breath. “I get that. We’ve established that. But c’mon, man, don’t you miss having someone?”

“What?” This took Legend off guard.

Jason put his hands to his chest. “Hey, I’m not saying I wasn’t glad when you and Katrina split up. I was. I told you I never liked her.”

Legend averted his eyes. He wouldn’t have this conversation.

“Right. Well, even though I didn’t like
her
, I do think it wouldn’t be bad for you to find someone, ya know. Get some happiness in your life.”

Legend rolled his eyes and sputtered, “Right, because having a woman in your life is total happiness, there’s never complications.”

Jason pointed at him. “Hey, sometimes the right complication is just what a man needs.”

“Not me.”

Jason laughed. “And, dude, it wouldn’t hurt you to loosen up.”

Legend turned back to Jason in surprise at his suggestion. Curiosity had him following Jason into his room. “I do date. Remember, twenty-two dates.”

Jason began unbuttoning his shirt and turned back. “No, I mean, look, you’re one of the most dedicated people I’ve ever met. When I first realized how good you were and then saw how motivated you were, I knew you’d get the dream.”

Legend felt guilty. Jason was just as dedicated.

“And I’m happy for you. But, you’ll never enjoy life if you don’t…enjoy life.”

“Like how?” Legend challenged, not knowing if he wanted an answer.

Jason grinned. “Like get rid of your clunker and buy a decent car for starters.”

Brad moved next to Legend, chomping down on an apple, the spray going on part of Legend’s cheek. He pointed to Jason and nodded. “Totally agree, give me the clunker. You go buy something with some p-o-w-e-r!”

Legend laughed.

Jason pointed at him. “Go let loose and do something fun while Brad and I are gone this week. Then enjoy hanging with your aunt next week. Forget protein shakes and training twelve hours a day for a little while.”

Legend was supposed to be staying to work with an amazing trainer, but the trainer had had family problems come up. So now he was stuck alone in Salt Lake for a week. “Hey,” Legend said grinning, “I happen to enjoy training.”

Brad put his hands together in prayer position. “Will you please let me tweet that we’re playing ultimate Frisbee in the park with you? Please? One last game with your boys tonight, c’mon!”

Letting out an exasperated sigh, Legend threw his hands up. “Fine, let’s go play!” He swung back to Jason. “Does that make you happy? I’m having fun! I’m not worried at all about getting up at five for a run.”

Jason laughed. “It actually does.”

Brad skipped off, happily sending out text and tweets and who knew what else. There would be a crowd at the park tonight.

Legend turned to leave, but spun back before taking even one step toward his room. “Hey, Jason?”

“Yeah?”

“I want an address for Charity Saint.”