“Thanks for coming,” Ian said, extending his hand.
Alex shook it hard. Man to man, he thought wryly and settled into a chair, making himself comfortable. Sitting across from Ian, Alex acknowledged how far their relationship had progressed. They were in the same room and having a conversation. It was huge.
“Before we go into the conference room, I wanted to fill you in on the proposition I have for you.”
“I’m listening.”
Ian inclined his head. “You must realize that your injury brought to light the deficit in the league as far as preparing our players for life after the game.”
Alex stiffened, as he always did when talk of his career-ending concussion arose.
Ian ignored his reaction and went on. “The fact is, you could have continued to play, taken the risk, and down the road, you’d have been dealing with severe head trauma and mental deficits. You were smart enough to step back. Not a lot of guys are.”
Alex raised an eyebrow. “You’re complimenting me?”
Ian rolled his eyes. “But now that you’re retired at the age of twenty-six, what do you plan to do with your life?” He held up a hand before Alex could answer. “Hang on. That question is part of why I asked you here. It’s also a question the league should want all players to consider before they’re injured and forced out of the game.”
“Where are you going with this?” Alex asked, warning himself not to get defensive.
Ian cleared his throat. “I plan to institute a training program that teaches the players to think about the future, do smart things with their money, and take informational classes that will prepare them for later on.”
Interested, Alex merely studied the other man and waited.
“Did you know seventy-eight percent of retired athletes are broke within two to five years?” Ian asked. Without waiting for an answer, he continued. “Statistics show fifty percent of ex-pro football player marriages end in divorce because couples aren’t ready for the pressures of life after the game. So I want spouses involved in preparation and education.”
“You’ve really thought about this,” Alex said, impressed despite himself and his lingering resentment of Ian.
Ian inclined his head. “It’s in motion. I have a social worker on board, and I want you running things along with her.”
Alex reared back in surprise. “Why me?”
He and Ian weren’t close. Ian came from t
heir father’s legitimate family. Alex and his siblings were the man’s illegitimate secrets. But secrets didn’t stay buried, and the explosion, when it had come, had rocked both families deeply. Alex and Ian had remained on opposing sides for ten years.
Until Riley.
Ian cleared his throat. “Why not you? Or should I say, who other than you? You will have the unique ability to convince the players this is important. You definitely have media presence when this goes public. And let’s face it, you have nothing else lined up at the moment.”
“And there’s the asshole I know.”
Ian grinned. He fucking grinned, as if he already had Alex exactly where he wanted him.
“Come meet the woman in charge before you make any decisions.”
Alex nodded. Why not? He was impressed with the program and interested.
As he followed Ian to the conference room, passing the hall of champions, life-sized photos of past and present Thunder All-Stars, Alex still wondered why Ian had chosen him. But he couldn’t deny the importance or brilliance of the program. There were so many ways guys’ lives did a one-eighty after retirement, forced or otherwise, that training and preparation would only help.
“Riley’s really behind the idea,” Ian said as they approached the closed wooden door.
“Way to try and sway me, man.”
Ian shrugged. “I do what I have to in order to get my way.” He paused and looked Alex in the eye. “So about the woman who will be working alongside you—”
“I haven’t agreed.”
“About her,” Ian went on as if Alex hadn’t spoken. “I’m trusting you to be professional.”