Derrick, how does it feel to be leaving Boston after calling it home for more than five years ?
Did you know Los Angeles was on the table ?
Are you up for the challenge of navigating a new system of play with the Royals ?
Do you know how the Royals plan to slot you into their lineup, or are you going in blind ?
What’s going through your head right now ?
The honest answer to that last one was I wanted to be left the fuck alone, but I held my tongue. Trying to maneuver around the small crowd of people was no use, but thankfully as the scene began to draw the attention of others, two guards came over to break things up. It wasn’t inconspicuous by any means, but they escorted me to the check-in counter and made sure I passed through security without any press following me.
Meaning I finally had a chance to breathe as I headed for my gate.
Stopping for a quick perusal of snacks, I bought a Gatorade and bag of chips before finding an empty spot in the waiting area, shrugging off my jacket as I took a seat. A jacket that happened to have the Knights’ logo and my number on it. Something I definitely wouldn’t be wearing again.
Though my hat also had the Knights’ logo on it, and while I could’ve pulled it off as well, I didn’t want to risk it being even easier for the people around to recognize me. Instead, I hunched over, cracked open the snacks, and bit the bullet by turning my phone back on-needing something more than just my own thoughts to pass the time until my flight boarded.
Sure enough, once things were powered up, a myriad of notifications began to blow up my screen. Messages from friends, family, and Knights players saying they’d keep in touch. Coach Davidson letting me know he wanted to hop on a call once I’d settled in Los Angeles. Missed calls and numerous voicemails. Facebook and Twitter notifications from strangers and friends alike tagging me in posts about the trade news. It was an overload-exactly what I didn’t need.
Wanting to simply play Candy Crush in peace, I pulled up the settings to turn airplane mode on and put a stop to it all, but before I could, a call came through.
A call from Lia.
While my thumb had been hovering over the decline button, something inside me drew me towards accepting the call.
Hello.
Derrick, hi, she said with a squeak, seemingly surprised that I’d picked up. Sorry, I was so busy at work this afternoon that I just saw the news and didn’t know if you would pick up. If you were ignoring everyone or already on your way to Los Angeles or what.
Somehow, her rambling was able to sprout the smallest of smiles on my lips. Well, hopefully you had a better day at work than I did, I said, trailing off as I picked at a loose thread on my sweatpants.
I… did, she replied carefully. But that’s not why I’m calling. I don’t know if you want to talk about it, and obviously if you don’t, that’s cool and I totally understand, but I figured you wouldn’t have wanted to talk about everything with your teammates. Or former teammates, I guess. So, this is me volunteering to be the person you can bitch to about being traded.
A low chuckle escaped me. So eloquently put.
And if not today, I’m just a phone call away.
No, right now is fine, I guess. I’m just at the airport waiting to head out, I said, fixating my gaze on the window, watching the planes land and take off as I recounted the events that’d led to this moment. It wasn’t necessarily fun, rehashing how everything had gone down, but it was therapeutic, being able to actually let my anger come through as I spoke.
Wow, Lia said once all was said and done. So they really just up and fired you in front of everyone and then fed you to the wolves with the press ?
When she put it that way-so straightforward and blunt-it hurt even more to think about. I mean, fired is a bit of a stretch since I technically still have a spot in the league, but yeah, more or less.
What assholes.
I knew it was coming though, and I guess I can vaguely remember a few other players over the years being told they’d been traded in front of the rest of the guys, but I never imagined I’d be in that situation.
Still… the Knights are going to regret letting you go.
We’ll see.
They will, she reiterated sharply. You’re going to go out to Los Angeles, gel with the guys on the Royals, and make a great run for the Cup in the playoffs. Hell, soon enough you’ll probably look back on your time with the Knights and be thankful they traded you.
I don’t know about that.
Too much ? she asked sheepishly.
Maybe a little, I mused, but thanks for the vote of confidence.
No problem. You’re a great player, Derrick, and just because you’ll be playing for another team now, that doesn’t change the fact that you have skills. Skills millions wish they could have.
I know, I think it’ll just be a bit of a readjustment once I get out there, I said, pausing for a moment before taking the opportunity to address the other elephant in the room. Or elephant on the line. Speaking of which…
Yeah, she replied softly, trailing off with the understanding of where I was going.
With me out in Los Angeles, we won’t really be able to see each other all that much. I know you’re busy with your research and I’m going to be up to my neck in new plays as I figure out how to fit into the team dynamic, so-
Derrick, it’s fine, really, she insisted, her voice genuine. We’ve been casual about things for a reason, and I think we both knew this was coming.
Right, I said, nodding, but I guess I was wondering how you felt about still being friends ? Because while the sex was obviously great-
She laughed. Obviously.
-so were conversations like this one. It’d been so long since I’d been comfortable talking about anything and everything with someone, because while my teammates had been close, we didn’t really chat about things below surface level. And now I was leaving all those guys behind too. I needed one constant to hold onto as I headed out west, and I wanted it to be Lia. So… what do you say ?
About being friends ?
Yeah.
Derrick, we are friends. Just because the dates and sex are going away, that doesn’t change things.
Great, I chirped, a little too happily. A wave of relief rushed through me, knowing this wasn’t a goodbye call, but there was also a part of me that wanted her to know I did want to see her again, if the chance came up. Clearing my throat, I continued. You know, the Royals are playing the Knights in a few weeks, so I’ll be back in Boston for a day or two. If you wanted to catch up that is.
Yeah, just let me know when you’re around and I’ll see if I’m free, she replied. Until then, I’ll be drowning in all the extra work I made for myself before my defense.