Chapter 24
JJ
“If you lie down with dogs, you’ll end up getting fleas.”
~ Grandma Dixie
“I know this is not ideal, but I would advise against moving up the press conference.” Jessie recommended firmly.
“Are you sure?” I rubbed the back of my neck. My chest constricted, like a belt was tightening around it. “At this point, the cat is out of the bag. I don’t really see the point in waiting.”
I’d been out on a run when my phone’d lit up like a Christmas tree with Google alerts, texts, and missed calls. I’d stopped and returned Jessie’s call before checking any of the rest. She’d informed me that a story had just broken, one that said I would not be returning to the Waves and was retiring from pro ball. That wasn’t supposed to be announced for ten more days. I had wanted to get all of my ducks in a row before I dealt with the press, the public, and, hell, even my family.
“Nothing’s out of the bag. Not officially,” she pointed out, tension bleeding through her voice. “At this point, it’s hearsay.”
Hearsay that just so happens to be true.
“Do we know who’s talking?”
I hadn’t even told Destiny my plan yet. I’d wanted to, and it had almost slipped out at the picnic yesterday. But the thing that was holding me back, was I didn’t want her to feel even the slightest bit responsible. It was my decision and mine only. And I had a plan for my future that I was putting into place. Which is why Jessie had agreed to push the announcement date. But now that ESPN was running stories about my “rumored retirement” on a constant loop, God only knew what other sources had picked it up.
“I’m still working on it. They are quoting inside sources. Who did you tell?” Jessie’s inquiry wasn’t accusatory; she just needed the information.
“My mom guessed, but she wouldn’t say anything.” I hadn’t told anyone else about my plan.
“Then it has to be coming from inside the Waves organization.”
“Great.”
It wasn’t a secret that they weren’t happy with my decision, but they’d agreed to wait to announce anything officially until the press conference that Jessie had set up. The owner, the GM, and the coach were supposed to be the only people that knew. I hadn’t even told any of my teammates.
“Do you have an ETA on when we can announce the sports academy?”
“Eight to ten days. The permits should be through by then.” I’d already secured the land and my business license. If everything went as planned, the Briggs Big League Sports Academy would be open for business within a couple of months.
I loved baseball, so just because I was done playing didn’t mean I wanted it to be out of my daily life. I’d been thinking about this for a few years—a training center where athletes could come for assessment and development. I had planned to have the groundbreaking ceremony immediately following the press conference.
“Let’s stay the course. Krista has been inundated with calls regarding your physical therapy. Of course she’s not commenting.”
I had worked with Jessie long enough to know that she had more to say. So, I waited as I looked out over old man Spratt’s field. On the far side of the pasture, two cows were milling about. Closer to the back road I was running on, he kept his horses, three of which were munching grass without a care in the world. I inhaled a deep breath of country air as the sunshine warmed my face.
On the road, I always felt like something was missing from my soul. I felt restless and at loose ends. Destiny was part of that—the main part. But this was the other factor. Home. Wishing Well was home. It was where I belonged.
“Are you sure about this?” Jessie’s question snapped me out of my nostalgic moment. “You could still have several more good years. Have you considered the money that you’re leaving on the table?”
She had no ulterior motive for asking this. She did well, and whether or not I signed on for a few more years would not affect her bottom line. Even if it would’ve, she’d still only want what was best for me. I had good people in my camp, and Jessie was at the top of the list. She was worried that I was making a mistake, but what she didn’t know was that, for the past two years, I’d woken up every day and felt like my life was a warped version of Groundhog Day. I was existing, not living. I wasn’t happy; I wasn’t fulfilled. I was basically phoning in my life. Living in a black-and-white version.
Until I’d made the rash decision to come home for the Fourth. Then everything was in color again. Vibrant color. Red-haired, blue-eyed color.
“I’m sure.” I started jogging back to the farm.
With the news breaking, I needed to see Destiny. I wanted to kick my own ass for not having told her since I’d been home. Sure, I’d had my reasons, but now this was going to blindside her. My mom was right—it had been a boneheaded move not to talk to her while I’d finished my physical therapy. If I had, then none of this would have been a surprise—which, next to being the center of attention, was one of her least favorite things.
I hadn’t been trying to be a dick. But, I knew if I had heard her voice, I would have left Illinois. Moved back. I wouldn’t have finished what I’d started. I wouldn’t have known, without any doubt, that I could’ve physically gotten back on the mound if I’d wanted to. Now, because I’d finished my PT, I knew. I could absolutely get back up on the horse. I could have returned for playoffs if the Waves made it that far.
With that knowledge, I was still walking away. On my terms. With no reservations. No doubts. No what-ifs. And, most importantly, Destiny would never have to feel like she’d influenced my decision. We had a clean slate.
“Okay. If you’re sure, then let’s move forward with the press conference on the fifteenth. And there’s one more development,” she added cryptically.
Shit. A sick feeling formed in my stomach. Jessie Sloan was good at her job. If she was bringing a situation to my attention and her voice sounded like that, it was not good.
“What?”
“A woman. Kylie Wright.”
I had no idea if that name was supposed to mean something to me. But it didn’t.
“She has a child. A two-year-old son. She says he’s yours.” She dropped that bombshell as if she were letting me know what she was having for lunch.
Considering she was the go-to publicist for dozens of actors, musicians and athletes, though, this situation probably was as commonplace as picking which restaurant to eat at.
“It’s not mine.” There was no way. I had seen too many guys get caught up in “baby mama drama.” I always used protection. Well, until Destiny.
“She’s claiming you were in a relationship for three months and you broke it off when you found out she was pregnant.”
“You said the kid is two. Why is she just coming forward now?”
“If I had to guess, I’d say she was waiting for you to sign your next big contract. Since news broke that you’re out of the game and there will be no more contracts forthcoming, she decided now was the time to strike while the iron is hot. I’m sending you a picture now.”
My phone dinged, and I opened the attachment. It was of an attractive blonde with green eyes I didn’t recognize. On her lap was a toddler with brown hair and brown eyes. When I enlarged the photo, a chill ran down my spine. It could have easily been a picture of any of my younger brothers. If someone would have shown me this and said that it was Cooper or Travis, I wouldn’t have blinked.
Though this woman didn’t look familiar, the kid did, and I knew there was one way to put any doubt to rest.
“How soon can we get a paternity test?”
“I had a feeling that you would want one. I already pursued locking that down. There is an offer on the table that I need to make you aware of.”
“An offer?” What the hell was she talking about?
“One million and this goes away.” There was no judgment in Jessie’s voice. She never got emotional. Or personal, which was part of what made her so good at her job.
“Goes away?”
“Yes. No test and she’ll sign papers insuring that this situation never sees the light of day,” she explained.
There was no way I was going to give this person a million dollars. First, I was ninety-nine point nine percent sure that this child wasn’t mine, no matter how much he resembled my brothers when they were little. Second, on the off-chance he was mine, there was no way in hell he was going to grow up without a dad.
“Arrange the test.”
“Okay. I’ll let you know when it’s set up.”
When Jessie disconnected the call, my screen lit up with missed calls, texts, and e-mails. I scanned the list and saw that the one person I’d been hoping had tried to contact me hadn’t. Destiny’s name didn’t appear anywhere. I needed to see her, explain what was going on, and, even though I wasn’t sure if she was ready to hear it, tell her my plan—which she was the heart of.