Guarding His Heart by Synithia Williams

Author:Synithia Williams
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mills & Boon Kimani Romance
Published: 2018-08-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

“You’ve got to be kidding me. You’ve got at least two more good seasons in you.”

Kevin looked up from the cup of coffee he wasn’t drinking into the incredulous eyes of his agent, Clive Green. Kevin started working with Clive ten years ago, after realizing his first agent, who’d snatched Kevin up the second he showed potential in high school, didn’t have his best interests at heart. Clive had done wonders for his career. Gotten him better endorsement deals and sparked his interest in using his money in other areas to help spread his wealth.

“This isn’t a joke,” Kevin said. He looked around the restaurant, but no one had overheard. He and Clive met here often when they needed to discuss business. Many Gators players attended the place and the owner always put them at tables near the back where they could discuss business without being in the direct line of sight of the other patrons.

“I’ve thought things over and my mind is made up. I’m not going to renew my contract with the Gators,” Kevin told him.

Clive shifted in his seat and drew his brows together. “Do you mind telling me why? You’re at a good place with the Gators. Your championship run has made you the hottest team out there and you are a major reason why they’ve done well. The owners are ready to offer you a lot of money to renew with them.”

Kevin tamped back the need to immediately agree. He wanted to play. He was going to miss the team, the guys who’d become friends, the rush of going out onto the court before a game, the joy of winning and even the crush of defeat.

“I don’t want to retire,” Kevin began. He held up a hand when Clive’s eyes lit up. “But I can’t play anymore. The aches and pains in my hands and knees aren’t just soreness. I’ve got rheumatoid arthritis. What I want doesn’t matter. My body is telling me to stop.”

Clive shook his head. He tugged on the neck of his white button-up shirt as if it were choking him. “That’s ridiculous. You’re young.”

“I know. It’s not the typical diagnosis for someone my age. That’s why my doctor didn’t test me for years. But he did after I dropped the ball in the playoffs. I knew then that something was off.”

“This doesn’t mean you have to quit playing. There has to be a way around this. Drugs, exercises, something you can do?” Clive ticked off each idea on his fingers.

As if Kevin hadn’t gone through each of these scenarios. “We’re working on a treatment, but that doesn’t mean I can keep playing. I need to take care of myself. I’ve played ball since I was eighteen. It’s time for me to consider other things.”

He tried to infuse his voice with confidence. If Clive got a hint of Kevin’s inner turmoil and bitterness over the breakdown of his body, then he’d try to talk Kevin into staying. Kevin hated leaving, but he didn’t want to make his body break down faster because of his pride.

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