Chapter 64
“Are you sure about this?” Mel asked softly as they waited for Denny and Sonia to get out of the back of the car. Well, Sonia. Denny practically launched themself through the door when they’d pulled into the parking lot. They weren’t sure Denny let Rhys put the car in park. “Is it even allowed?”
“Taking you and your siblings on a tour of the facilities?” Rhys asked. “I don’t see why it would be a problem. It should be fairly empty today, since we have the day off. There’ll be some people around, but we won’t get in their way.”
“I meant taking them onto the field. Won’t that cause any problems?”
He hesitated as if not considering that before making his impulsive offer. “It shouldn’t,” he said. “Unless someone else is out there practicing. If that’s the case, we can use the bullpen for catching practice.”
“I can see inside an actual bullpen?” Denny bounced over to them. “You don’t even usually see much of it during a game. Just the dugout.”
Rhys chuckled. “It wouldn’t be too exciting to see a bunch of pitchers sitting until shortly before they’re needed.”
“Up yours, Molson,” a tall, Black man crossing the parking lot yelled. His shoulders hunched. “Sorry, kids.”
Rhys grinned and waved his fingers at the man. “Love you, too, Kione.”
He rolled his eyes and kept walking into the clubhouse. “Interesting dynamic you have with your teammates,” Mel said.
Rhys threw his arm around their shoulders. “They love me and they know it. Come on, I need to talk to someone before we start.”
“To get permission?” Mel asked.
“For me to actually toss a ball, yes. Otherwise I might have to get Kione there to pitch to Denny.”
“I thought your shoulder was better.” Mel thought about what they’d done the night before, and hoped they hadn’t done anything to mess it up more.
“It is, but I don’t want to ruin all of that and be on the bench even longer.”
He stepped away from them and knocked on an office door.
A woman answered, her hair pulled back in a loose tail and hands on her hips.
Was this the same woman they’d seen on the screen when he’d been injured?
From this distance, Mel couldn’t hear her low words, but she did not look happy with Rhys.
They really hoped this wouldn’t get Rhys in trouble.
They could have gone to the park or something.
Rhys gestured to them and seemed to be pleading his case. He didn’t throw his usual charm into it. Didn’t lean in closer to her or flash that smile. Not the way he had with them every time he’d come into the coffee shop. The woman looked at them then back at Rhys and shook her head.
Rhys’s shoulders slumped, and the woman handed him a bright green sheet of paper before patting him on the back.
“Are you in trouble?” Denny asked as soon as he rejoined them. “I don’t want to get you in trouble. I’m good at it for myself, but I don’t—”
“It’s fine,” Rhys said. “Maggie reminded me I’m still on the injured list and haven’t been cleared for more than these exercises.
” He held up the sheet of paper. “I’ll probably be on injured reserve starting Wednesday, which means I could play if they need me, but not if I strain my shoulder before it’s fully healed. ”
“So, we can’t practice,” Denny said, and Mel could hear their disappointment.
“You saw Kione when we were coming in. Maggie said he’s not the only pitcher who has come in already today. We’ll find someone who can throw to you, and I can give you pointers on your stance.”
Denny’s eyes brightened at that. “Really?”
“Yes.” He put a hand on their shoulder. “Come on. Maggie thought there was a spare set of gear that should fit you. Let’s go dig it up.”
Once they’d found it, and he’d sent Denny into the visitor’s locker room to change, Mel turned to look at him. “You didn’t flirt with her.”
He blinked at Mel then looked at the locker room door where Sonia had gone in to help Denny. “The trainer or medic or whatever she is. You didn’t flirt with her to get your way.”
“Was I supposed to?” Rhys still appeared confused.
“I thought you flirted with everyone.”
“When she holds my future in her hands?” Rhys asked. “Absolutely not. Anyways, I’ve met her wife. She scares me.”
Mel burst out with a laugh. “I didn’t think anything scared the great Rhys Molson.”
There was a small smile on his face but shadows clouded his eyes. He leaned in so his cheek brushed theirs. “Sometimes you scare me more than anything else.”
Mel scoffed and nudged him away. “Yeah. Right.”