There was only one way to find out what he was offering, so with that in mind, I headed inside to relax for a few minutes before heading out again.
*****
Charlie wasn't hard to spot – he was a pretty distinctive-looking guy. Not quite handsome, but definitely different looking. He grinned broadly as I walked in, and he offered me his hand. I shook it, and he almost crushed my hand with his bear grip.
“Sit down, Mr. Vinson, sit down!” he said with a smile.
“Thanks. Nice to meet you, Charlie. And please, call me Wade.”
“Sure thing, Wade. Now, as I said, I don't have much time. So, let me cut right to the chase. I know it's early in the season, but I've been sent on a mission to find the best female volleyball players in the country. I'm starting out here on the East Coast, and heading all the way across the country. I have a lot of stops to make, so I'm only looking for the very top players from every college. And so far, two of your players have caught my eye.”
“Let me guess,” I said. “Eryn and Leena?”
He smiled. “Those very two, yep. They really do have amazing talent.”
“That they do.”
“And, I imagine you probably don't want to let 'em go. Without 'em, your team is likely to drop a few places in the league, and this winning streak you're on is likely to end.”
“That's true. So, what are you offering in exchange for these players?”
“I'm from Stanford, and we want to put together the best female team in the country. For the players, we're offering full scholarships. I'm talking no fees, accommodations taken care of, everything, the works. Those girls won't pay a cent as long as they play at the level they're currently operating at. We'll take care of transferring academic credits from Florida State, too. Everything will be sorted out.
“In return, we'll compensate FSU to the tune of...well, I can't say yet, as we'll have to negotiate the amount, but let's just say a handsome sum. And you, as coach, will get some of it as commission.”
I nodded. I wasn’t really sure about the logistics of it, but if it was on the up and up, it was great news for Leena and Eryn – fantastic news, in fact.
But for me, not so much. In fact, it was terrible news. Not only would I lose my two star players, but I'd lose the girl of my dreams. And she'd not only be moving across the country, she'd be going right to the state I'd just done everything to escape from.
Still, it was selfish of me to be thinking about myself. This was a golden opportunity for both of them, and it wasn't up to me to decide whether or not they should take it.
“That sounds like a very generous offer, Charlie,” I said, my words careful and measured as I tried to disguise the disappointment and concern in my voice. “Is this just a courtesy meeting, then? Can’t say I’ve ever been in this situation before.”
“Well, as their coach, I'd like you to talk to the girls about this offer first. If they're interested, you can put them in touch with me, and I'll make sure everything happens as it should.”
I nodded. “All right, I can do that.”
He smiled and handed me his card. “Here you go – you can call me on this number anytime, day or night, or just email me if you want. But please, don't delay too long, all right? My boss has made this a priority, and if they don't show interest in the offer soon, I'm sure I'll find plenty of other girls who will; you get what I'm saying?”
“I understand. I'll let them know as soon as possible,” I assured him.
“I hope you do. They really are immensely talented players. And you know, they could really go all the way, if you know what I mean. The next Summer Olympics are less than two years away, and Team USA could really use some fresh talent. I know your reputation, Wade, so I know you won Olympic gold a few years ago. I'm sure you'd want the same honor for your players, wouldn't you?”
I nodded. “I sure as hell would.”
“Good. I know you have their best interests at heart. Just please tell them about this offer as soon as you can.”
“I will.”
*****
Once our lunch was over, I made a few phone calls to check on the legitimacy of Charlie’s offer. Once I was satisfied, I drove home still in a daze.
Of course, I wanted the best for Eryn. I wanted, more than anything, for her to realize her full potential and for her dreams to come true. She had what it took to make it to the very top, and this was the opportunity of a lifetime.
But it would take her across the country, which meant away from me. And as much as I cared for her, I’d try to make it work. She’d probably do the same and we’d imagine that the distance thing wouldn't be a factor.
Except...it would.