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“You thinking of buying a place?”
I’ve thought about it. My contract is for three years, so I’ll be in San Antonio for at least that long. I have to park my money in something and start building equity or it’s just going to disappear on nights like this. If something doesn’t change, I might not have anything to show for myself at the end of my career. That happens to a lot of guys.
“Yeah, I should start looking.”
The ten thousand dollar bottle of champagne arrives and Nolan pours out some glasses. He’s making eight million a year, so he can afford it.
“Cheers to another win!” Nolan says as he holds up his glass. We all clink glasses and holler.
Ugh. It doesn’t even taste good. It’s way too bubbly.
I look around for Harris, but I know he’s not going to be here. He never comes out with the team. In his early days, he was always practicing, but now he’s probably with his family.
It hits me that I should be taking his lead. I should be doing what he did, practicing instead of partying.
My dad’s words come back to me.
Don’t forget where you came from. Stay focused.
I sigh as I take another sip of champagne and head to the bathroom. What am I even doing here? I have to be smarter.
I have to invest my money, practice non-stop, focus on the game.
I want to make my parents and friends proud. These people don’t care about me. If I got cut from the team, they wouldn’t even call me back.
I’m going over it all and am so distracted that I bump into that girl with the black dress.
“Oh, sorry!” I say. I accidentally spilled a drop of champagne on her.
She stares up at me under her long fake eyelashes. “This is a twenty thousand dollar dress. You ruined it.”
“There’s two drops on it,” I say, laughing uncomfortably because I’m not sure if she’s joking or not. “I’m sure it will be fine when it dries in thirty seconds.”
She crosses her arms and glares at me. “You have to replace it.”
My face drops. “You’re serious?”
“Yes.”
“If you think I’m giving you twenty grand, you’re insane.”
“Fine. Sixteen thousand.”
I laugh. This chick is trying to extort me.
I guess I had it coming, hanging out in a play like this. It’s full of money-hungry vultures and show-offs.
This is not being focused. This is not remembering where I came from.
“Here,” I say as I hand her my glass of champagne.
“What’s this?” she asks as she takes it.
“That glass is worth about twelve hundred dollars,” I say as I back away. “We’re even. Just don’t be around when the bill comes.”
I leave before she can say another word.
I’m full of energy as I leave this stupid club. I’m no longer going to fall for these small vices. I want to be great. I want to be something in this league. I want to be remembered.
