Page 259

“You said after the medical update.”

“I did.”

“You have one.”

“I had the shoulder report yesterday. Tonight adds another problem.”

I wait.

“This is the answer I owed you in March.”

That gets my attention.

“We’re not offering you a player contract next season.”

I hear nothing except the air moving through the vent.

“No role?”

“Not one on the roster.”

“Did tonight decide it?”

“No. We made the decision yesterday.”

Good.

It still hurts.

Silas folds his hands.

“The shoulder got through the season. It took a lot of maintenance to get it there. Your minutes dropped. We’re changing the bottom six, and I’m not going to keep you around by pretending you’d get the role you want.”

March me has answers for every part of that.

Draw percentage. Production. Matchups. The number of games I dressed.

I still know all of them. I don’t use one.

Silas watches me.

“Kansas City is different. Different roster, different role. If Guerra clears you and you want it, that’s real.”

“I know.”

“This isn’t me telling you to retire.”

“I know that too.”

He leans back.

“When you’re ready, there are other conversations we can have. Not tonight.”

“Good.”

I stand.

“Colt.”