30. Lucia
thirty
Lucia
We’re barely three days into Spring Training, and I’m already about to go off on Logan.
He’s as misogynistic as ever, but he’s being an absolute douche to the new guys, Nathan and Greg.
They’re both younger than we are—mid-twenties, I’d guess; they don’t seem like they’ve been out of school long—and he’s just acting like an entitled know-it-all prick.
I mean, that’s nothing new, but before, it was only directed at me as the only woman on the training staff.
Since Logan isn’t pulling his weight with the new trainers, I’ve decided to take them both under my wing instead. They’re both nice guys and seem really eager to learn how we do things on the Stars.
“How’s this?” Greg asks, brushing the shaggy brown hair out of his face as he gestures to the tape job he just finished for our backup catcher, Arturo Rivas.
“Looks good, Greg,” I say, commending his work.
“This will really help with his stability.” I turn my eyes to Rivas.
“I need you to be careful on that, Arturo. I know you want to jump all in on the new season, but you already missed time last year with an Achilles sprain on this same ankle. You need to take it easier while you’re healing.
I don’t want to recommend placing you on the IL, but if you’re doing too much too soon, I will so you don’t injure it further. We need you to be healthy.”
He gives me a sheepish smile. “I’ll take it easy. Thanks, Luc.”
“Get back to your room and ice that. I know you only rolled your ankle today, but you’re still going to have swelling.”
“Got it,” he says, limping slightly as he leaves the training room in our practice facility.
“Thanks for the help,” Greg says nervously.
I give him a soft smile. “Don’t be so unsure of yourself, Greg.
You’ve done well down here with us. I know you’re new, and you still have new-guy nerves, but give yourself some grace.
Rivas’ ankle should do better with how you taped it up.
Now, if he actually just takes it easy, we can keep him off the IL. ”
“He’s going to listen to that, right?”
I place my hand firmly on my shoulder. “First thing to learn about professional athletes: most of them respect us and our opinions, but still do what they want. Arturo is stubborn as hell. We’ll be taping him up again tomorrow and probably the day after that as well.”
Greg lets out a breath. “So much for helping them prevent injury.”
“We do what we can,” I laugh. “We’ll never prevent all injuries; that’s just impossible.
But we can help the team keep injuries to a minimum.
You should be good to get out of here now, though,” I state.
“You can take Nathan back with you. I just need to check in with Dr. Coltrain, so you don’t need to be here for that. ”
“I’ll see you tomorrow then, Lucia,” he waves as he heads out the door, leaving me alone to talk to our physician.
At least, I thought I was alone.
“There’s no hope for anyone that needs that much help,” Logan scoffs from behind me.
I roll my eyes before plastering on a fake ass smile and turning to face him. “I was here when you joined the training staff, Logan. It took you a little bit to get comfortable, too.”
“You basically had to hold his hand the entire time.”
“No, I didn’t,” I state. “I watched him, but he did the work himself.”
“It’s probably a shit tape job,” he huffs.
I cross my arms and narrow my eyes. “He did it the exact way I would have done it.”
“My point exactly.”
I sigh. “I’m not interested in your commentary right now, Logan. Let me be on my way so I can talk to Dr. Coltrain before I head back to the hotel.”
He sneers when he doesn’t get the reaction from me that he wants, and then he stalks out of the training room.
I turn on my heel and head to the back of the room to Dr. Coltrain’s office door. I knock once before he bellows from the other side. “Come on in.”
I step inside and find Dave already sitting across from him in one of the chairs. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize you were here, Dave. I can come back in a little bit.”
He chuckles. “You’re fine. I was actually just in here talking to Dr. Coltrain about you.”
“About me?” I ask, taking the remaining open seat. “Have I done something?”
It’s Dr. Coltrain’s turn to laugh now. “No need to worry, Lucia,” he reassures me, and I sigh in relief. “Dave and I were talking about how impressed we are with you already taking on the mentor role for Nathan and Greg.”
“They’re honestly really ambitious and excited about working with us. I’m more than happy to help them out and give them direction when they need it.”
Dr. Coltrain smiles. “Believe me, that doesn’t go unnoticed.”
“Thank you, Dr. Coltrain. I appreciate that.” I tamp down my grin and focus instead on why I’m here.
“I wanted to fill you in on what happened today. Rivas ended up rolling his ankle during batting practice. Greg taped him up, and it looked good, so I’m hoping that gives him some good stability.
I know he had that Achilles sprain, so we’re trying to make sure he can keep off the IL. ”
“Do you think he’ll keep off the IL?” Dr. Coltrain raises his eyebrow in curiosity.
I let out a breath. “I don’t. Arturo doesn’t like to take it easy when we tell him to. I already prepped Greg on us likely needing to tape him up again tomorrow.”
He sighs and pinches his brow. “He’s going to end up on the IL again.”
“I’m still going to try to avoid that.”
“I know you are. You’re great at what you do, Lucia. In fact, why don’t you come up with an injury prevention plan for Rivas? I’d love to see what ideas you have to help keep him healthy.”
I can’t fight my smile. I’ve been asked for input on plans before, but I’ve never been given the opportunity to create my own.
This is something that would really help showcase how well I’d fit in the Head Trainer position next season.
“Of course, Dr. Coltrain. I’ll work on that tonight.
I can have a plan for you in the morning. ”
“Perfect. Thank you for filling me in. I look forward to hearing your plan tomorrow.”
I smile and wave as I exit his office and walk out of the training room with my head held high.
I know I’m not guaranteed that position, but this sure feels like a step in the right direction.
Ari
I haven’t tasted your cum since we were on the plane
Lucia
Appreciate the bluntness *laughing emoji*
Ari
I’m pretty sure I’m dying over here
Lucia
You poor baby
Ari
Can you make me feel better then?
Lucia
Tempting
But I can’t tonight
Dr. Coltrain asked me to put together an injury prevention plan for Rivas
I told him I’d have it for him tomorrow morning
Ari
That’s good, right?
Lucia
Yes
It’s going to help me as I go for that promotion next season
Ari
Then, congrats, Spitfire
Lucia
Thanks, Casanova
Probably going to be up half the night getting it together
Ari
I can help you with that
Lucia
What does that mean?
Ari
You’ll see *winking emoji*
Lucia
Ari, what does that mean?
Ari
ARI
Turns out Ari ‘helping me with that’ was actually his way of saying he was going to get me a giant peppermint mocha so I had some extra caffeine.
I thought he was being dirty.
Maybe I don’t give him enough credit.
Though to be fair, he is absolutely filthy.
The extra boost of energy has definitely helped. I’m just about halfway done around eight, and I take a break to video chat with my girls.
“I’m so jealous you’re in Florida right now,” Ella chides as soon as everyone joins the call.
“Cold in New York?” I ask.
“It’s New York,” Rory deadpans. “Of course, it’s fucking cold.”
I laugh at their dramatics. “It’s raining down here. It might be warm, but it’s not like the weather is great.”
“I’m so excited to come down next weekend,” Harlow chimes, and Olive nods in agreement.
“You guys just want to come fuck your husbands,” I laugh.
“I’m not married,” Olive says, not at all denying that she wants to come down here to have sex with her man.
“Semantics,” I say with a dismissive wave of my hand. I take another sip of my coffee, and Ella looks at me, surprised.
“Are you drinking coffee right now, Luc?”
I shrug. “Ari grabbed it for me. I need the extra caffeine. I’m working on an injury prevention plan for Rivas. I’m only about halfway finished.
Lo lights up. “Ari got you the coffee?”
I roll my eyes. “I tell you guys I get to make a plan for Dr. Coltrain, and you hyper-fixate on Ari buying me a coffee?”
“We’ll get to that part in a minute,” Rory says, leaning forward. “Why did Ari get you a coffee?”
“Because I’m going to be up all night working on this?”
“What coffee did he get you?” Liv asks, holding back her smile.
I bite my lip. The girls know my favorite coffee, so I know exactly why they’re asking.
“Um… a peppermint mocha.”
“He knows your favorite coffee!” Ella squeals.
“You realize we live together, right?” I chide, pretending that that’s why he knows my coffee order.
In reality, Ari’s just perceptive. He pays attention to the mundane details, which is more than I ever got from any of my exes.
And Ari and I aren’t even together.
Not in a relationship kind of way, at least.
“You two really are getting along now, aren’t you?” Harlow looks on with a sweet smile.
“We are. We’ve put the past behind us, and we actually get along really great.”
“In and out of the bedroom,” Ella teases with a smirk.
“Yes, Ella. In and out of the bedroom.”
“I still can’t believe Ari has a pierced dick,” Rory laughs, and I can’t help but laugh with her.
“Believe me, I was surprised myself.”
“Can you imagine how much that hurt?” Olive says with a horrified expression.
“Fucker did it five times, too,” Ella chuckles, and I swear Lo’s eyes fall out of her head.
“Five times?!”
“Can we please stop talking about Ari’s dick?” I ask with an exasperated sigh.
We finally move on, and I tell the girls all about the plan I’m working on.
They’re excited for me, and they’re incredibly supportive.
While they’re going on about that, my phone buzzes next to me.
I expect to find another message from Ari, likely asking me if I want to take a break, but it’s not Ari.
It’s Matt.
Matt
Will you stop ghosting me, Lucia?
I just want to talk to you
I sigh and slide my phone away, thankfully without the girls realizing it.
I don’t want to talk to him, and I have no intention of doing it.
I can’t help but wonder if his girlfriend knows how much he still tries to reach out to me.
But that’s not my problem.
And I’m staying out of it.