Chapter 51
Checking the time on my phone for the thousandth time this morning, I open the door for the player entrance of the clubhouse. It’s still too early for any of the guys to be here, but Coach is always here in the mornings and I’m hoping he’s available to talk before anyone else arrives.
Bree’s appointment is in a couple hours.
I hated seeing her so detached this morning.
Even last week in her office where she gave me the most epic blowjob of my life, I could tell she had her guard up.
She enjoyed herself—I made sure of that—but afterward, her walls went back up.
She insists on not telling the girls, convinced she’s a burden and that not talking about it will make it go away.
I know logically she knows that’s not true, but my girl has built a fortress to keep from any appearance of weakness.
But she’s not fucking weak. She’s the strongest person I’ve ever met.
Rounding the corner, I head straight for Coach’s office.
My hands shake and my arms tingle from the anxiety humming in my veins.
Telling Coach about Bree’s appointment could ruin everything.
Not only would it disclose something extremely private, but it could also mean the end of us for good.
She’s made it abundantly clear she doesn’t want anyone in her orbit outside of Miller and me to know about.
But I have to. There’s no way she can go through this procedure on her own.
She was alone before.
She’s always been alone. Felt alone.
Before me.
Not anymore. She’ll never feel alone again if I can help it.
I know Miller offered to go with her— he wanted to be there even if it was just in the waiting room—but she refused.
More than anything, she worried stepping foot inside a cancer center again would trigger him.
Losing his sister to the same disease his chosen sister could be fighting if things don’t go well today would be hard on him.
Coach’s door is open at the end of the hall. I slow my steps to calm my nerves. He’s a great coach but an even better man. If he knew what was going on with Bree already, he would make sure she knew how loved she is.
He looks up when I step up to the open doorway, a puzzled look crossing his face.
“Bennett, you’re here early.”
“Hey, Coach, sorry to interrupt. I was hoping you had a few minutes to talk.”
“Everything okay, son?” He waves me in, gesturing to the chair opposite his desk.
“I’m okay. It’s uh,” I sit on the edge of the chair leaning my elbows on my knees before clearing my throat. “It’s Br— Gabby, sir.”
“What about her?”
Fuck, I didn’t think this through. Standing, I rip off my hat and drag my hand through my hair while I begin to pace behind the chairs.
“Did you come in here early to tell me you’re in a prohibited relationship with a member of the front office?” He crosses his arms and leans back in his chair.
“Yes. No.” I heave out a sigh. “Fuck.” We haven’t publicly announced our relationship, but he knows we’re together even if we’ve never outright confirmed it.
“Chase, sit down,” he holds his hand out as if that could stop my internal spiral. “I wasn’t born yesterday. I saw this coming a mile away. Pretty sure Grant knows too.”
I hang my head and wipe a hand down my face. This isn’t going how I anticipated. Not that I had a plan, really, but if there was a plan, this wouldn’t be it.
“It’s not about that.” He must read the devastation on my face because he circles his desk and claps me on the shoulder.
“Well, why don’t you sit down and tell me what it is about then, hm?” Not waiting for a response, he guides me back to the chair and shoves me down into it. He leans back on the desk, crossing his arms again while he waits for me to get my shit together.
“Yes, I’ve been seeing Gabrielle. It’s serious, Coach.”
“So, what’s this about?” he responds earnestly.
“She had a health scare recently. Miller knows about it, but she doesn’t want Taylor and Ivory to know. She swore us to secrecy so if she knew I were here right now telling you then she’d probably kill me. After she ends things between us.”
“I can’t promise I won’t say anything because I don’t intentionally keep things from Ivory and I’m a parent, so I reserve the right to overrule any of my kids if I think it’s in their best interest.” Ivory may be his only biological child, but he looks at Taylor and Bree as his as well.
The same with his players. We’re all a family and when one of us is hurting, all of us are there to pick up the slack.
They did it with me when I got into trouble, going so far as volunteering with me when I had to put in my time.
Hell, Miller even adopted a damn dog from the rescue mission hosted in my name.
“Understood.” I swallow the lump in my throat.
“This is really eating you up. Is it more than a scare? What’s the prognosis?” He stands to his full height, worry written on his face.
“We don’t know yet. She has a procedure today to find out what happens next.”
Am I really about to ask my coach if I can skip warm-ups and game day prep? After finally overcoming the arrest nightmare? Put everything on the line when I’m finally back in his good graces. Back on track. This could cost me my starting position.
It’s Bree. I’d do anything for her.
“But I don’t want her to go alone. She said she was fine, but I don’t believe her.”
“You love her,” he says casually.
“Yes, sir. I do. I love her.”
It’s the first time I’ve ever said those words to anyone other than her. I love baseball. I love stealing bases. I love the thrill. And I fucking love Gabrielle Pierson.
“When’s the procedure?”
I check my phone again. “Approximately ninety minutes.”
“How long is it?”
“I’m not sure, sir.”
“Does she have to go under?”
“It’s a biopsy. From what I’ve read online, they do it while she’s awake and she should be able to leave almost right after.”
“From what you read online? You haven’t talked to her about it?”
“I’ve tried. She won’t talk about it. You know how she is. She won’t tell you anything unless she wants you to know about it.”
“That girl is locked down tighter than Fort Knox sometimes.” He pinches the bridge of his nose.
“Coach, I wouldn’t normally ask this, but I’d like—no I need—to be there.”
“What would you do if I said no?”
“Respectfully, sir, my asking was a courtesy. I know I’ve already caused trouble since you called me up. I’ve disappointed you and violated your trust. I did exactly what you told me not to—I got arrested and put the spotlight on the team for a non-baseball related reason.”
“Go on.”
“But I would also like to believe that I’ve made amends for those poor decisions. That I’ve shown myself to be a contributing and valuable member of the team. I know what I’m asking for is a lot and it puts the team in jeopardy and you in a hard spot to fill my starting position tonight.”
He swipes a hand down his face, resting his chin in his hand as he thinks.
“So, you’ll miss batting practice and warm-ups. You know that’s not how we do things. If you’re not here, you don’t play.”
“I know.”
“And you know we need your bat and your fielding especially at this point in the season?” I give him a solemn nod. We’re still leading the division but a bad run for us and a good run for the second and third place teams could knock us out of playoff contention if we aren’t careful.
“The only reason I’m even entertaining this is because it’s Gabby.” He points a finger at me in warning. “I should call Ivory myself and tell her about this. Send her to sit with her friend.”
“Sir—”
His hand shoots up, silencing me. “But this isn’t my news to tell. She will tell them when she’s ready and they’ll support her. The fact she let you in means something. You must be important to her, and I can see how much you care about her.”
Saying I only care about her feels inadequate at this point.
“You have to be at the game. I can take you out of the lineup for the night, but a no show wouldn’t go unnoticed.”
“Understood.” I’m already nodding my head. I’ll agree to anything he says if he lets me leave his office and head back to the parking lot instead of to the locker room.
“Be back here by five at the latest. Alone. I expect you to be ready to support your team. This is heavy stuff, but part of this job is to leave it at the door when you come in. Baseball doesn’t care what’s going on outside of this stadium.
When you’re here, you have to give it your full attention.
To make it in this game, it has to be your sole focus.
We’re only human so I get that’s not always the case beyond these walls, but it’s also why there are rules about fraternizing with the staff.
” He gives me a pointed look. Already broke that rule, didn’t I?
“It was broken from day one. Before day one and I’m not even sorry about it.”
“Keep that attitude in check.” I nod, properly chastised. “I don’t know the details and I don’t need or want to know. But you need to keep it under wraps unless you’re ready for the entire world to know about the two of you.”
“Yes, Coach.”
“You probably only have an hour now. Better get going if you’re going to make it.”
Jumping from the chair, I rush to the door.
“Thanks, Coach.”
“May want to change before you get there.” He looks me over and I follow his eyes looking down at what I’m wearing. I didn’t even think about dressing for a doctor’s office instead of the field. Everything about me screams athlete heading to the gym.
“Good looking out.” I cross the threshold, but he calls out again.
“And Chase,” I look back over my shoulder at him.
“Take care of her. See if you can’t get her to tell the girls.
” His grim smile is the only evidence of how hard it is for him to hear this news and not reach out.
After hearing about Bree’s lack of relationship with her blood relatives, it makes me respect him even more for being a father figure to Bree.
“I will.” Knocking on the doorframe, I retrace my steps back to the car. This time much faster and with a clear purpose—get to my girl as quick as possible.