Chapter 42 Taylor
By day three of us hanging out at Gabby’s and waiting on the biopsy results, it’s clear she’s is fed up with our hovering.
“Just leave it be,” Gabby snaps, all but biting my head off when I ask if she wants me to check the bruising and to see if it’s been bleeding like it was the other day.
“Wow, someone’s grumpy.” I look over at Ivory, who watches Gabby with worry.
“I’m not grumpy,” Gabby protests.
“Could’ve fooled me,” I mutter.
Gabby sighs and finally relents. “I’m really okay today. I want to know the results, but I’m also kind of in this weird realm of what do I want the results to be.”
“How so?” Ivory asks from beside the stove where she’s preparing dinner.
“Like I don’t want to have cancer, but also I already feel really dumb about this whole thing if it’s benign.
” Before either of us can say anything, Gabby holds her hand up to stop us.
“I know that makes no sense, but that’s kinda where I am, and my mind just keeps going back to finding out it’s malignant and what my response will be. ”
I round the island and sit down next to Gabby. “So basically expecting the worst but hoping for the best?”
“Yeah, just in my head. Then I’m mad at myself, like ‘am I hoping I have cancer?! What the fuck?’”
Ivory frowns before responding. “I get it. Obviously not what you’re going through, but the thought process of preparing for bad news so you’re not surprised if it is.”
“When will they contact you?” I ask.
“They had to send it to pathology and said that takes three to five business days,” Gabby responds.
Trying to be optimistic, I offer, “It’s only been two, so there’s still time to wrap your head around it.”
“Did they say how they’d let you know?” Ivory asks.
Gabby shakes her head then says, “I’ve been playing that convo in my head too. Like do they just tell you the bad news over the phone? Or do they tell you to come in and that’s how you know it’s probably bad?”
Ivory starts setting out plates in front of us. “Don’t jump to conclusions. They may just want you to come in so they can explain it all. You know medical terminology can be confusing.”
“Yeah, I don’t know. I just keep wondering if I’m just mentally preparing myself and reaction or if I’m manifesting bad news. Almost like that’s what I’m hoping for?”
Looping an arm around Gabby’s shoulders, I pull her close and try to offer as much comfort as I can.
“I wouldn’t say that. I’d just say that your brain is trying to plan out every possible scenario.
That’s what you do, Gabby. You overthink literally everything.
We just need to quiet the intrusive thoughts. ”
I may not have been through this exact experience before, but with my endo diagnosis, I’m familiar with the intrusive thoughts and worst case scenarios that run through your mind on a loop after something like this.
Her words are jumbled from our faces being smushed together when she asks, “Any idea on how to do that?”
“We have dinner and watch our favorite guys on TV,” Ivory says as she finishes plating our food.
I wish I could take it away, but all I can do is be here for her and offer as much moral support and laughs as possible, so I tack on a joke to the end of Ivory’s statement. “Then wait for Miller to text you and ask if you saw something that probably didn’t even happen.”
That does the trick because we all dissolve into giggles as the opening ceremonies start for the game. Halfway through the game, it’s clear the Troubadours are going to win and clinch a top spot in the post season.
When Chase steps up to bat and gestures to the camera, I look at Gabby and notice her blushing. Their secret messages are the cutest thing I’ve seen when it comes to game day routines and celebrations. It makes me miss watching Grant on the mound.
“Happy looks good on you, G.” I grin at her, and she wraps her fingers with mine, leaning her head onto my shoulder.
“That man loves the hell out of you,” Ivory chimes in.
“I love him too. I’m going to get him to sign the HR paperwork so we can go public.” Because Gabby is the general counsel and Chase is a player on the team, they need to document their relationship with the human resources department.
“It’s about damn time,” I cheer.
“He makes me so deliriously happy,” she sighs.
“I’m sure the orgasms help,” I tease.
Gabby blushes the deepest shade of red as she says, “They definitely don’t hurt.”
“Details. Now,” I demand, crossing my legs and turning in her direction on the couch.
“Okay, well you know how he came to family lunch, and it was our first big reveal or whatever? Well, when we got back here, I was trying to explain to him why I was nervous to let more people in on our secret and some of my insecurities about our relationship. So, he stood me in front of the mirror and showed me how good we fit together.”
“Oh. My. God,” Ivory says, fanning herself.
“How exactly did he show you? For research purposes, obviously.” I say.
“Taylor,” Ivory smacks at me, playfully.
“What? It’s an important question!”
Gabby laughs and finishes her spicy story. “He made me change into a lingerie set and then he stood me in front of the mirror and made me watch him as he went down on me. I came from just his mouth on me and him playing with my boobs. And, he came in his pants.”
“That is the hottest fucking thing I’ve ever heard,” I shriek.
“He also tied me to the stairs like a month ago.”
“The stairs.” I point. “Those stairs?! Damn you got some kink in you girl.”
“I love when Preston gets all dirty like that,” Ivory adds.
“I ordered some special lingerie for the end of the season,” Gabby says, picking up her phone.
“Show me, show me, show me. I need to see this right now.” I make grabby hands for her phone and she turns the screen around to show me a three-piece lingerie set in the Troubadours team colors.
“I had them embroider Chase’s number on the back. I don’t even know who I am right now. Like, who does that?”
Seeing Gabby sexually empowered and flustered is cute as hell. I love this for her.
“You’re the girl getting some good-ass dick. I’d let him brand me for sure. Also, I’m going to need you to send me that link, by the way.”
“Me too.” Ivory hands Gabby back her phone. “Should we get matching lingerie sets for the postseason, and instead of wearing something to the game, we just wear them for our men?” Ivory suggests.
“Yes, you should definitely do that. But you also know they’re going to compare notes,” I agree. I’m absolutely ordering one for myself.
“Do you really think they talk about sex?” Gabby asks.
“Are you freaking serious? Have you met Miller? I bet you they talk about this shit all the time,” I tell her.
“Yeah, but Miller’s not having sex with anybody.”
“Do we actually know that?” I question.
Gabby plugs her ears. “La la la la la la la la la. I don’t want to hear about my brother having sex. No, thank you.”
“Oh, come on. You know he’s probably a freak in the sheets too.”
“He totally gives off secret dom vibes,” Ivory agrees.
“I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.” Gabby pretends like she’s going to throw up.
“But really, send that link to the chat.” I point to her phone. I’m totally buying a set for Grant. He’d go feral and I love my husband feral as fuck.
The rest of the night passes with more girl talk and a Troubadours win.
Gabby’s biopsy results come back clear the next day, and the relief I feel is indescribable. Now that Gabby’s feeling better, her, Ivory, and I go to the remaining three home games.
On the morning of the last home game of the regular season, we’re told that Chase and Miller are going to be mic’d up for the game.
It’s a huge opportunity for the team, but especially for Chase after the trouble he was in earlier this season.
I huddle up with Miller and Chase before the game to go over a few notes just in case the announcers ask any off-the-wall questions.
“You—” I point at Miller “—keep it PG and don’t be outrageous.”
“Me? Outrageous? Who do you think you’re talking to? I am nothing of the sort.”
“That’s exactly what I’m talking about.”
“Listen, it’s not my fault that people think I’m funny.” He shrugs.
“And what are you going to do if they ask why you punched that catcher?”
“I’m just gonna tell him he was talking shit, and I got tired of it.”
“Well, I can’t argue with that because I wanted to kill him from doing that, so I guess that’s acceptable.”
Miller nods. “Thank you very much.”
Turning my attention to Chase, I move on with my instructions.
“And Chase, they’re probably going to ask you about your suspension.
Just be honest and sincere. You handled it well in the press conference, so this is no different.
They may also bring up Bark in the Park.
Do you need a refresh on the numbers or do you have everything? ”
“A refresh would be good,” he responds.
“We raised half-a-million dollars for your charity and the local animal rescues. You satisfied all the requirements of your plea agreement. Your charity is set up and you’re looking forward to working with the animal rescues in the city for the long-term.”
Chase nods. “Sounds good.”
“Alright, well I have complete faith in you. Don’t fuck it up and have fun.” I slap them both on the bum and walk away.
“We’re going to the postseason, so this is a walk in the park,” Miller calls after me.
I leave them on the field and join Ivory and Gabby in our seats behind home plate. We love watching from here, in the middle of all the chaos, but also because it has the best views of the diamond.
The game starts, and though I can’t hear what Miller and Chase are saying, it’s clear by the smiles on their faces that they’re having a great time and joking around.
When Miller bats and makes it to first base, his mouth is constantly running, so I assume he’s either talking shit to the first baseman, which is entirely probable, or he and Chase are in a full conversation while the announcers listen in.
Chase hits the ball and Miller advances to second base.
When Preston steps into the batter’s box, Miller takes a giant lead.
Chase is known for stealing bases, but he can’t steal second unless Miller steals third.
Miller cups his hands over his mouth and shouts at Preston, who shakes his head and gets back into his stance.
Both Miller and Chase take a deep lead off their bases and start running as soon as the bat connects with the ball.
Ivory screams for Preston as the ball falls just short of the outfield wall.
“Run!” Gabby and I yell at the same time, watching as Miller rounds third base and Chase rounds second.
They’re both shouting at each other as Chase rounds third, gaining on Miller who looks back over his shoulder and quickly slides across home plate.
Chase crosses the plate seconds before the catcher swipes his glove.
The stadium erupts in a roar, everyone celebrating the two-run RBI and the Troubadours lead.
Miller and Chase celebrate, and then Chase turns to send a kiss to Gabby.
The way he always does something for her when he scores makes me smile.
She turns around and shows him the special order jersey she had made that hadn’t arrived in time for a big reveal on Friday night.
From the details she spilled yesterday, the sexy lingerie the other night was a huge success, so I can only imagine the trouble they’ll get into tonight with her wearing his jersey.
It’s the top of the ninth when I noticed that Grant is in the dugout, not in the owner’s box. He’s leaning on the half-wall talking to the guys, wearing jeans and a Troubadours jersey with the number fifteen on the back—the same number he wore when he pitched for New York.
He’s smiling and joking around with the team, and I love that he’s down there with them instead of sitting in the owner’s box by himself.
Going to the postseason for the second year in a row and so close to winning it all in only their fourth season is astounding.
He should be really proud, and I wish that I was able to celebrate with him out in public tonight the same way Gabby does when the game is over and she runs onto the field jumping into Chase’s arms.
“Well that’s a public declaration if I’ve ever seen one,” Ivory says, running down to the field as well. She runs directly to Preston, who picks her up and spins her around.
Right before I pass the dugout, I’m snagged around the wrist, pulled down the stairs and around the corner. Grant slams his mouth onto mine. We have our own mini celebration before I have to go out onto the field and celebrate with my friends.