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threw a football. “Rest up, ice and heat and all that. You need to get back here.”
    â€œIf you have trouble with press, let me know. I’ve been there. I can give you a few pointers.”
    â€œPositive healing vibes, positive healing energy,” Josh said, feeling a little panicked. He sank down onto the couch, heedless of the fact he was still dripping wet and would regret it later when his cushion was crusty with dried sweat. “Keep it positive, man.”
    â€œJust prepping you for the worst. And when Simon comes to you to give you the rundown on media training . . .” Trey grunted. “Everything with a grain of salt. Be yourself. That’s my best advice.”
    â€œThanks, that’s great, but you’ll be back.” Josh forced his voice to stay firm. “So this is a moot point.”
    â€œHere’s hoping,” Trey said lightly.
    Josh waited a beat, then realized Trey wasn’t done with the conversation. “So, uh, how’s marriage? Cassie seems pretty great.”
    â€œShe is.” Sounding smug, Trey chuckled. “Marriage . . . it’s not so bad. Anyway, last piece of advice before I get off here. Find someone who’s gonna give you shit.”
    â€œThat . . . makes no sense.”
    â€œFind someone who, no matter what happens, won’t be impressed with you. Who won’t let you get a big head. Even the most humble of guys can get caught up in the PR trap. Family, friends, whatever. Find that person and let them keep you grounded.”
    Trey hung up before Josh could ask a follow-up question. He set his phone down and used the tail of his T-shirt to wipe his face.
    Family . . . that was his mother. And while she knew nothing about football—except to cheer on her baby boy—she thought he walked on water, more or less. She wasn’t the one to prick his ego. Tony and Derrick . . . God love ’em, but they’d probably get more excited about his added play time than he would.
    Would
he get excited? Josh had no clue how he’d handle it. He’d been loved in high school, but that had never felt real. In college, he’d been revered again, and maybe he’d liked that a little too much, but he’d been a young guy, fresh into adulthood. Lacking maturity.
    Now that he was almost twenty-eight, how would he handle the attention? The loss of anonymity? Something inside him clutched at the idea he might like it a little too much.

Chapter Six
    You leave for training camp in two days, and we’re having dinner to say good-bye. Tonight. So be here.
    That had been his mother’s mandate left on his voice mail while he’d been working out. Knowing better than to argue with her, Josh planned ahead and rearranged his schedule, pushing his Last Meal with Tony and Derrick to the next evening. They understood: When Gail summoned, you followed. End of story.
    But she hadn’t mentioned anyone else. So when he showed up at his mother’s home, wearing the sports jacket she requested, a bouquet of flowers in his hand, he was shocked that Carri had beaten him to the door and opened it from the inside.
    She gave him an assessing once-over while lounging in the doorway, not letting him in. “You clean up.”
    â€œI’ve been known to shower and shave on occasion.” He took the chance to soak in her appearance. She was barefoot—his mother’s no-shoes rule applied to everyone, even guests—but wore a skirt with bursts of color all over it and a top with a neck that scooped low enough that he knew he could see the shadow of her breasts if she bent over slightly. “You don’t look wrecked.”
    â€œFlattery and flowers. What will the NFL teach him next?” Carri snatched the bouquet from his hand before he could think to stop her. The cellophane crinkled obnoxiously. “Nice touch, Leeman. Your mom’s setting the