“Thanks,” I reply. “I’ll be fine. I just need some time, and I’ll refocus on what’s important.”

Anderson scoffs. “Cut the shit, Dawson. There’s nothing more important to you than her.”

He’s right, but I push back anyway. “There’s a lot of other things I care—”

“I know you care about other things, Dawson.” Anderson sighs. “Okay, look. I got knocked out my sophomore year of high school, the same way you did. When I came to, do you want to know what my first thought was? Trisha Adkins. I was planning to ask her to Homecoming after the game. Been planning it for weeks. It was all I thought about. If your first thought was anything other than her, then you’re right. She’s not the most important thing to you.”

“She was there. For the first time in months. I’m not sure that’s an objective test.”

“It would have been different if she wasn’t?” Anderson challenges.

I’m silent. “This call hasn’t cheered me up much.”

Anderson laughs. “That’s kind of my point. All we talk about—or avoid talking about—is her. Call the beauty queen. Go out with her again. Avoid anything that could involve squash.”

I laugh.

“You’re not going to get over her unless you try to, Jace.”

His use of my first name emphasizes his serious tone more than anything. He hardly ever calls me by it.

“I know. Thanks for talking, man.”

“Anytime, Dawson.”

I hang up the phone and slouch further on the couch. Anderson is right. About how I feel; about what I should do. The problem? I don’t want to get over Viv. I don’t want to forget about her. And I might not have to.

The following morning, I wake up with the same resolution I fell asleep with. I want to do this. I just don’t know if I can. While frying some eggs for breakfast, I call my agent and ask him to meet me at a local coffee shop.

“How’s my favorite client doing?” my agent, Jeremy Michaels, asks as he sits down, smiling widely.

“I bet you say that to all your clients, Jeremy.”

“I do,” he admits. “But I only mean it when I tell you. Not only have you turned out to be incredibly lucrative, your only ‘scandal’ involved a princess that portrayed you as a complete gentleman and resulted in you becoming the best-known player in the entire league.”

I shift uncomfortably at the mention of Vivienne. Jeremy notices.

“Fuck, I knew you were too good to be true, Dawson. What is it? Drugs? Prostitutes? Gambling? Don’t be shy, I’ve seen it all.”

“It’s nothing like that,” I assure him. “I just want to know my options.”

“Regarding?”

“Exiting my contract early. Now, to be specific.”

Jeremy’s jaw literally drops. “Exiting your contract now? Your multi-year, extremely generous contract we negotiated for weeks over? The one that’s ensuring you’re making millions? Every little boy in this country dreams of becoming a professional football player. Forget that. Do you know the percentage of successful college football players that make it to the pros? Never mind being the first pick? People would kill for the opportunity you’ve been handed. You’re only months into your contract, and the Sharks are undefeated. You…” Jeremy heaves out a breath and takes a large gulp of water. “Is this some sort of power play because of the recent publicity? Are you trying to play elsewhere? Earn more?”