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“Hey, no problem. Don’t worry about us. We’ve got enough on our plate.”
He curled his lips in and ran his fingers over them. “Okay. Good to see you both.”
“You too,” Cole replied as we watched him walk over to stab at the elevator button and wait with his hands on his hips. He was still muttering to himself under his breath.
“I don’t know what the fuck just happened, but I’m curious as hell.”
Cole snorted. “Come on. We need to see Greer.”
He tugged at the sleeve of my t-shirt and motioned for me to go to the door.
I knocked, and Greer turned around from looking out the window. If I’m not mistaken, his view overlooked the front of the building.
“Patrick! It’s good to see you. And you too, Cole.”
He walked around the desk and held his arms open for a hug. “We were so worried about you. How are you feeling?”
“Much better, thanks.”
He nodded. “Have a seat. Simon has been keeping me up to date on how you’ve been doing. I know you know how lucky you are to have walked away from that.”
“Yes, sir. I am.” I was becoming more aware every day.
“What can I do for you, Patrick?”
I straightened in my chair and glanced at Cole. “Will you get the door?”
“Sure,” he replied.
When he came back and sat down, I took a deep breath and looked at my boss. “If Simon has been keeping you up to date, then you know about my neurology appointment.”
He nodded, still relaxed. “I do, yes. And I think it’s the best choice. Even if neuro had cleared you, I’m not sure I would have let you play. You know the efforts the league is making to reduce head injuries and concussions, and I know you’ve heard what those injuries could cause you in the future. I’m not willing to let that happen to any of my players because of a couple million dollars. It’s not worth the chance.”
I nodded, unsure of what to say.
“Don’t worry about your contract. It will automatically be extended, pending your agent’s approval of the terms. Aidan is one of the best, and he’ll have your best interests at heart. You have a place here whenever or whatever you decide about football, Patrick. I just wish we’d drafted you from the very beginning.”
I chuckled. “Me too.”
Glancing at Cole, I reached over and took his hand. His smile gave me the courage to look at Greer. “I wanted to let you know we’re together. Have been for a very long time.”
“I thought maybe that was the case. I’m really happy for both of you.”
He smiled at us, easing the anxiety I was feeling. “Thank you. You’re the first person I’ve ever told. We’re not out yet, but I’m working on it. It just felt important to let you know.”
“I can’t tell you how much that means to me, Patrick. Your sexuality is no one’s business, but you know I’ve not made it a secret how I view inclusivity. That’s one reason I was happy to send Mr. Turner on his way. I hated to fine you after all the hell he put you through.”
I sat up straighter and looked at him. “You know about all that?”
“Yes, Patrick, I do. Your teammates came to me after the incident and told me about what he’d been saying to you, and about the other players. I don’t tolerate that shit on my team, and I thought I’d made that clear to him. Maybe not. There’s no accounting for idiocy.”
A weight had been lifted off my shoulders hearing that. I rubbed the back of my neck. “I wish I was sorry for punching him in the mouth, but I’m not.”
Greer laughed. “Good, because he deserved it. Don’t worry about anything. We’ve got your back whenever you’re ready to make any of the decisions you’re facing. I wish I could say everyone in the league was accepting, but they’re not. At the owner’s meeting, they wanted to know what the secret to winning was. I just told them to have higher standards and hold their players to them. Make it a family, not a competition.”
“That’s exactly it.”
I stood and shook his hand, but he pulled me in for a hug. “Let me know if I can do anything for you. And Cole, we’d love to have your band perform again at halftime if we can get the schedules to align.”
