Chapter 6
JUNIPER
“I left Tennessee to get away from all the madness. Please tell me how I wound up here?” I laugh, taking in the glorious sight before me.
Makers Park. Home of the Atlanta Strikers.
Val loops her arm with mine as we walk through the main stadium entrance. “You can thank one of your tiny little humans for that, babe. I, for one, am proud of you. What a way to break in the new city, huh?”
That’s an understatement. When Adeline Briggs invited me to a baseball game after knowing her for a whole five minutes, I knew I couldn’t not show up. Her energy was infectious. I also might have gotten a little bit of a high off of watching how uncomfortable her dad was at first.
His princess bow about sent me to my grave.
I can tell she’s got him wrapped around her little finger.
Makes sense, though. She’s adorable, and I’m very rarely affected by a child’s charm, given I see hundreds of them monthly. But Addie is a special one.
“I’m trying new things, remember? Keyword: trying. Besides, if you were cornered by a six-year-old in a butterfly tutu, you’d be a prisoner to her cuteness, too. I couldn’t say no. And kids remember everything. I’d never be able to show my face again if I didn’t come and she called me out on it.”
Val shakes her head. “Sounds like a cutie. Guess I’m gonna need to thank her for it when we see her.”
I adjust my glasses and smile wide. “My god, Val, she had the most bouncy ringlet curls and the brightest blue eyes. Absolutely adorable and she knows it, too.”
“Look at you, turning sappy for a patient,” she teases.
I think back to Addie calling herself the Queen of Emerald City and wonder what that means. The only Emerald City I know of is in a country song.
Upon entering the grand stadium, I immediately notice how much of an outcast I am already.
I’ve barely lived in Atlanta for a month and clearly missed out on the black and yellow memo.
Team colors and lightning bolts are everywhere that meets the eye.
I’ve got the black part down, but I’m not exactly portraying team spirit.
Guess I’ll have to make a stop at a vendor booth for some merch. I already made it here, might as well go big or go home, right?
The stadium lights glitter beyond the elevated bleacher entrances, food concessions, kids’ games, and cash bars make the energy feel electric.
Tangible, even.
Anthems blast from the surround sound, the crowd chanting back as they join in on whatever game the announcer is leading. We must have come to the busiest game of the season because “Opening Day” signs are plastered on every free surface.
I never really went to ball games or concerts in Nashville, more so because so much of my adult life was centered around advancing my education. Med school was extremely taxing and didn’t leave much free time for fun.
Now that I’m established in my career, this is my time to do all the things I missed out on. Experience new experiences.
“I’ll grab us a drink. What do you want?” Val yells over the loud cheers.
“A beer works,” I tell her before nodding to the merch stand beside us. “I’m gonna go buy a shirt. Try to spirit myself up a little,” I laugh.
Val nods and takes off, meeting back up with me minutes later, beer in her hand and my newly refined team spirit at large. “Damn, girl. You look hot.”
I glance down at my outfit, which was once a basic black tee, black cut-off shorts, and all-black Dr. Martens. Now, however, I look like I’m wearing much less. I hold my hands up in misfortune. “They only had an XL left. This is as good as it’s gonna get.”
The hem of the shirt reaches my upper thighs, only a small amount of distressing from my ripped shorts peeking underneath.
Val twists her lips, dragging her eyes down my body. “You won’t hear any complaints from me. That XL just turned your attempt at a shirt into a minidress. Trust me when I say, no one minds.” Her head spins in circles around us, attempting to point out the watchful eyes.
“Would you stop it?” I shove her playfully and reach for my drink. “Gimme that beer. We’ve got a game to watch.”
Val smiles. “I think you’re going to like it here, Junip.”
I think so, too.
“So, that’s how they warm up, huh?” I gulp, my eyes indulging in harmless lust. Yeah, lust is a mild term to describe my take on the view.
Val’s eyes split wide as she drinks a long guzzle of her spiked Cherry Coke Slurpee. “Isn’t it wonderful?”
I smirk, not at all disagreeing with her.
“Beyond, actually. And since I’m going to be sad and assume they all have spouses, they’re okay with this?
” I wave my hand in circles, gesturing not so gracefully to the stretch of six players lunging across the plush green field.
And this isn’t some leisurely little stretch.
Big booty Judys are emphasized while hamstrings are being pulled as far as humanly possible, guaranteeing they aren’t the only thing warming up.
How ever will their ball sacks survive?
Maybe we should head down and find out? Offer up our medical services? There’s got to be some serious elasticity in those knicker pants.
“According to my thorough research, most of them are married, aside from a few. I think it kinda comes with the territory, ya know? Gotta know what you’re marrying into,” Val tells me, our gazes locked in on their tall and muscular frames, now separated into pairs to throw.
I should come to baseball games more often.
“Go, Strikers!” I yell abruptly, surprising even me and earning myself some crazy stares.
“Game hasn’t started!” an older woman yells from behind me, and I spin on my heels, suddenly feeling spontaneous.
“Who cares when you’re cheering for the winning team?” I splay my arms out wide and don’t even recognize myself.
This is so much fun.
“Dr. Wilde!” a newly familiar voice calls from somewhere close by. I was wondering when I’d see the royal lady herself.
“Someone’s calling you, Dr. Wilde,” Val tells me as if I’m completely unaware.
“You don’t say?” I tilt my head and scope out the stadium park. There are hundreds of fans everywhere, all in the same yellow and black colors. There’s no way it’ll be that simple to find a cute little girl with ringlet curls amongst this rowdy crowd.
“Dr. Wilde! Dr. Wilde!” she calls my name again, except this time her voice is closer, and I know the moment I spot her.
Less than ten feet away and running up the stairs is Queen Adeline Briggs of Emerald City, my six-year-old patient who immediately made a friend out of me. And what a friend she’s been.
Her hair is thrown into a mountain of curls on top of her head with a black-and-yellow lightning bolt bow, the number 37 in bold on the right side.
She must be a true fan because her dress is, once again, a tutu with the Strikers logo on the front, and the same pink-and-white Nike Blazers on her feet I remember her wearing that day in my office.
I love her style. Who needs heels to complete a look when sneakers will do just fine?
We’re moments away from hugging when I realize Addie isn’t alone.
A freakishly tall guy covered head to toe in all black, a walkie-talkie, and the word SECURITY planted across his chest in neon orange stalks beside her.
I know right away he’s another one of her faithful minions just by the light-up glow stick in his hands.
“Man, I work out, but this kid has got some serious energy,” the security guard mumbles breathlessly, coming to a stop behind her.
“Somehow, they never tire,” Val calls out to him, earning herself a knowing glance.
I hand Val my beer and circle to greet Addie. “Is that the queen I see?” I sigh in wonder. “You seem to be quite the celebrity, little miss.”
She stops in front of me, gap-toothed smile on display with her hands planted on her hips. “Indeed, Princess Wilde,” she squeals through laughter before abandoning the formality and hugging my leg tight. “You came!”
I return her hug, all while attempting to search out her dad. Seeing as he’s nowhere to be found, I look to the security guard for approval, assuming he’s the one in charge of the extroverted queen. He nods before saying, “I’ve been told you’re to be trusted, Dr. Wilde.”
For some reason, knowing I’ve been cleared doesn’t come as a shock.
“Actually, it’s Princess Dr. Wilde, Sergio,” Addie spins to face her big friend. “What time is it now?”
Sergio checks his watch, tucking the light toy under his arm. “It is…six fifteen.”
“Perfect!” Addie shouts before questioning him again. “So, how many more minutes?”
Sergio smirks, looking toward me in amusement. “Fifteen minutes until game time, Addie girl.”
“And how did I get the honor of being called Princess?” I ask Addie.
“That’s easy.” She grins. “You have black hair like Princess Jasmine. She’s my second favorite.”
“And who’s your first?”
“Rapunzel!” Addie squeals while Sergio chimes in with his thoughts. “Depends on the day, ma’am.”
Val must feel left out, finally joining the conversation. “You’re one cute kid, Queen Addie.” She holds out her hand. “I’m Valentina. Princess Dr. Wilde’s best friend.”
“She’s a doctor just like me,” I tell Addie, nodding at my blonde friend.
Addie’s mouth drops open, shock registering across her face. “No way! Do you fix boo boo’s, too?”
I choke out a laugh. “Something like that,” Val tells her. “It’s nice to meet you. You must come to these games a lot, huh? Even got the security guard following you around.”
“Every time there’s a home game. My daddy loves baseball.”
Taking me by surprise, small fingers reach for my hand and connect with mine. I look down and find Addie already looking at me. “Oh! We should go say hi, Dr. Wilde! Daddy will be so excited.”
Doubt that, but I’ll go with it. “Sure. Where is your dad, anyway?”
Sergio’s walkie sounds off, and he excuses himself to the end of the aisle, nodding at me to watch Addie.
She jumps up and down, pure giddiness vibrating through her. “He’s right there! On the field!”
On the…what? “On the field?” I stammer. “Where?”