When we left, I knew one thing for certain: Coach Wilson meant what he said. I discovered a focused man. He wasn’t complicated, and in that sense, I felt that I’d found a kindred spirit in him. His process was eerily similar to my life goals that I used to guide me, and I attributed much of my success to always staying conscious of my goals.
I could see that once I bought into the process, it would drive my life at Alabama. It felt right, like it was something I could easily step into and be successful at. If Coach Harrington hadn’t talked to me yesterday, I would have accepted his offer to play here before I left.
After we left Coach Wilson, we returned to the hotel to do the DNA testing. Scarlet had texted me that the testing packages had arrived at the hotel.
◊◊◊
Tim, Wolf, and their parents came back to the hotel to pick up their bags. Tim didn’t look happy.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“They don’t have an architecture program,” Wolf said.
“I thought you found that out yesterday when you talked to the academic people. What’s really going on?” I asked.
Both my mom and Brook turned to me, impressed I’d figured out that wasn’t the real reason Tim was upset. I was learning.
“My offer isn’t committable,” Tim explained. “They have other linebackers they’re recruiting, and I was told that if those fell through, that they would accept me.”
The first I’d heard of this practice was when Florida State had made an offer to a kid a couple of years ago. It was discovered it wasn’t committable when the kid made a big public announcement that he was going there. What it amounted to was that they made the offer and told the recruit they were a Plan B or C option. In Florida State’s instance, they went ahead and made his offer committable in order to fight the PR shit-storm that followed. The kid got smart and bailed. He ended up at Clemson.
“Oh, shit! I might’ve jumped the gun. We had a long talk with Coach Wilson about the future of Alabama and how they could prepare me for the NFL,” I said.
Both Wolf and Tim froze. This was the first Brook was hearing this, and she didn’t look happy, either. I wondered how she determined she would get a vote on where I went. I would talk to her and was sure we would discuss it, but the decision was mine—or so I thought.
“We got the same talk. We agreed to compare notes before we committed,” Wolf said.
“Bullshit! You’re a terrible actor,” Cassidy announced as she pointed at me.
“Hey, how do you know?” I asked.
“You have so many tells it isn’t even funny,” Cassidy said. “I can easily see if you’re telling the truth or not.”
“But I didn’t lie. I never said I committed,” I defended myself.
“You’ve never been able to lie,” Mom assured me.
“So, you didn’t accept?” Tim asked.
“No, I was just busting your chops.”
I could see Brook, Tim, and Wolf relax.
“I really want to come here,” Tim admitted.
“Even though they don’t have an architecture program?” I asked.
“Even though.”
“Wow. I take it you were impressed.”
“Weren’t you?” Wolf asked.
“Oh, yes. We would be wearing championship rings for sure. It would be all about football, though,” I said.
“I know what you mean. Jim said he constantly works out or is doing something football-related. He told us that when you add in school, he has almost no time for a social life,” Tim shared.
“Would that be so bad?” Mom asked.
None of us were touching that after I’d just had to do a paternity test.
◊◊◊
Before we left, I met with the girls and their parents. It gave me a chance to say goodbye to my children.
“I understand that Scarlet’s going home with you,” Ashley said.
I turned to my mom and then to Scarlet, and they both nodded.
“It seems so,” I said, and then turned to her parents. “Are you okay with this?”
Clay, Scarlet’s supposed boyfriend, walked away from the group. Scarlet handed me Carol and hurried after him.
“Clay’s not taking it well. Frankly, none of us are, but this is what Scarlet wants. At first, I told her no, but have since been convinced otherwise,” Wyatt said.
From the look his wife gave him, the subject was closed. I suspected that Wyatt usually got his way, but he was bending on this one for some reason. Mom and Dad took Scarlet’s parents aside to talk. It seemed a lot was going on that I wasn’t part of. I turned my attention to Ashley.
“We’ll be in touch and get everything worked out. If you need anything, give us a call.”
“I appreciate that. I feel much better about everything now,” she said.
“If we’d let her, I expect she’d be on the plane with Scarlet. I’ve promised to back off on the matchmaking,” Hiram explained.
“I noticed Brett wasn’t around,” I said with a half-smile.
“Well, I’m just glad he showed his true colors in front of my parents,” Ashley admitted.
“Maybe we can get you all to come up for Thanksgiving,” I suggested. “It would give you a chance to meet all of my family and take in my state championship game.”
“He doesn’t lack for confidence, does he?” Hiram asked.
“If he says something will happen, you can count on it,” Brook said.
