He gave advice to a lot of the guys. Sometimes they just needed a different perspective, one from a person who knew exactly what they were going through. And, quite honestly, you couldn’t always trust the team psychiatrist either. They were hired with the interest of the football club at heart. Jamie had seen them steer players toward solutions that were in the interest of the team and not the individual.
Being on call might have annoyed some people, but he didn’t mind it. He owed it to his guys. You couldn’t be a winning team unless everyone moved as a unit.
Not to mention that he was good at it, and when he managed to help someone win, it felt rewarding. A couple months ago he’d helped his cousin Vivienne with the man she was interested in, and it gave him a great feeling every time she texted him a picture of herself. He knew better than to think that it was because of him—after all, she’d decided that was what she wanted. But he’d sherpa’d her toward it, and seeing her so radiant was a joy.
He hadn’t had many joys in his life lately. It’d all become as routine as his stretches.
It made him all the more determined to help Erik get what he wanted.
First things first: a barber to solve the immediate physical side of Erik’s hair problem. After what he’d witnessed last night, he realized the psychological aspect was going to take a little more thought on his part to figure out.
Jamie found one with excellent reviews not far from their location. It was first come, first serve, which was perfect. He’d make sure Erik was waiting outside the door at opening time.
Next, important but not as critical as the hair: Coco.
Jamie
I need you.
Her reply was immediate. It was midday her time in Paris, so she’d likely been working for a while, even though it was Saturday. As much as Coco liked to party, she was as disciplined as he was.
Coco
Of course you do.
Jamie
??
Coco
Tell me.
Jamie
We need clothes appropriate for Chicago, so we blend in.
Coco
Bespoke suits won’t do? Ha ha…
I’ll look at fashion in Chicago and have some clothes couriered to you.
Jamie
Do you need our sizes?
Coco
I know yours. I can look up the others if you give me their names.
Jamie
Didier Pascal and Erik Nilsen.
Coco
Got it.