Chapter 47

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

Cole

I don’t want to wake up. Staying in bed with Adriana all day sounds much better. I’m curious if she will join me for practice. I know she’s coming to the game tonight. I hate that I have to leave her for hours and won’t have eyes on her for that long.

It’s been different when I just have to leave for a little while to go work out or run an errand. The past ten days of being home with her has had my brain at peace. I know she’s okay and I don’t wonder if she’s on her own and something is happening to her. I don’t know what I’ll do if anything like what happened a week and a half ago were to happen again.

I worry that she’s going to leave me and quit working with Heather because of what happened. I’ve never had so much anxiety over a relationship before. But then again, I’ve never loved someone the way I love Adriana. She is my person, the one I want to celebrate my wins with and the one I want to be consoled by during my losses. She is the person I envision my future with, and her leaving me would devastate me.

My alarm goes off on the nightstand and I hit the stop button.

“Is it time already?” Adriana asks from beside me.

“It is.” I reply as I pull her into me.

“You ready to get the rust off?” She jokes with me.

“Yeah, you’re still coming tonight with Heather and the girls?”

“Yes sir. I can’t wait to see my man out on the field. I’ve missed it.” she answers.

“Me on the field or me in my pants?” I ask her.

“Both?”

I laugh.

She has told me when the season ends, I should wear my uniform around the house at least once a week. I told her I’d see what I could do for her. I know damn well I’ll be putting my uniform on during the offseason for her, anything to make her smile.

Reluctantly, I kiss the top of her head and get out of bed to start my day. I go through my normal routine for game days. Ty is meeting me here since I’m driving us over to the stadium. I go find Adriana in the kitchen to say goodbye.

“Alright babe, I’m heading out.” I say to Adriana.

“I’ll see you later, Casanova. Kick ass tonight. I love you.” She says as she walks over to me.

“I love you too, Sugar.” I tell her.

Adriana pulls me by my t-shirt so she can kiss me. I willingly go to her. I don’t want to leave her, but we hear a throat clearing and I know that it’s time.

We break apart, but not before I lay another quick kiss on her lips.

“Hey Ty.” Adriana says with a giggle.

“Adriana. How are you feeling?” Ty asks.

“Good. Happy we are getting back to normal.” She tells him.

“Glad you’re doing good, sis. Heather is excited for girls’ day,” he says.

“Me too! Now you two go. I won’t be the reason for your lateness.” She shoos us out the door.

We leave the house and get in my truck. I’m quiet and it’s because my head is going a hundred miles a minute of all the things that could happen.

“Stop it, little brother. She’s going to be fine.” Ty tells me.

“How?” I ask.

“I know you. You did this after mom and dad died too. You’re worried about all the things that could go wrong. About what would happen if she weren’t here and worse if she leaves you.” Ty hits the nail on the head.

“You’re right. I don’t want her to leave. She tells me she doesn’t blame me, but I don’t know how she doesn’t.” I respond.

Ty laughs at what I just said. He full on laughs and it’s making me angry as fuck.

“Cole, I don’t mean to laugh, but how the hell is what happened your fault? If anything, let’s be real here. Heather hired A. I laid out that she was off limits. I’m surprised you haven’t thought about that already. I feel bad because I feel like I put a target on her back and Heather does, too.” He tells me.

“Crawford is a dick and his ego is too big. He doesn’t know how to hear the word no. That’s not either of your fault. It’s his. I let her out of my sight when there was a threat and I didn’t protect her.” I tell him.

I feel so much shame that I couldn’t protect her. The love of my life I let get hurt.

“Cole, you did protect her. You got to her before it was too late and rescued her. You did what you had to do to get to her. Don’t doubt that. She isn’t blaming you or acting that way, so don’t do it to yourself. If you do, all you are going to do is drive her away.” He tells me.

I think about what he just said. She hasn’t treated me any differently in the last week and a half. Adriana is herself. She has had a few nightmares, but that was the first few nights. She has been amazing and I know she is going to see the team therapist this week, too. Maybe I should too.

“I know you’re right, but I still feel guilty. How is she supposed to trust that I’ll always be there to protect her, though?” I respond to him.

“You will not always be with her. You travel for work, she has a job too. Adriana doesn’t seem like the type that wants you hovering twenty four seven brother. She’s independent. She’s very much like Heather.” He says.

“I know. I’ll figure it out.” Telling him to end the conversation.

We get to the stadium, so I don’t have to worry about him trying to continue talking. We get out and head straight into the locker room. I make my way to my locker and get ready to head to the field for warmups.

King is starting on the mound today and that helps ease my mind a little bit. He walks out of the dugout and comes straight over to me.

“You good to go?” he asks.

“Yeah, I’m ready.” I tell him.

“Liar, what’s wrong?” he questions.

“I’ll feel better when I have eyes on her, you know.” I tell him.

“How is Adriana?” He asks.

“She’s good. Healing up quickly. Minus the hand.” I answer.

“Good. She’s a strong one, Cole. Don’t doubt her when she says she’s okay. Trust her.” He lets me know.

“I know. Can’t help that I don’t want her to leave or get hurt again.” I tell him honestly.

He laughs at me. Why is everyone laughing at me for worrying about her leaving me?

“She’s so in love with you that’s not happening. And she knows you love her.” He tells me.

“I hope you’re right. Now get on the mound.” I tell him.

We get through warm-ups and are heading into the dugout so all the events of the pre-game can start. Right before I make it to the top of the stairs, I spot the girls. I turn to walk over to where they’re sitting. Normally I’d just wave, but the sense of relief that washed over me has me needing to hear her voice too. I take my mask off so she can hear me clearly.

“Hey Sugar.” I greet.

Adriana’s eyes go wide, Heather, Dani and Laine all grin.

“Hi Casanova. Are you going to get in trouble for coming over here?”

“Nah, it’s fine. I just wanted to hear your voice. Come to the net.” I tell her.

She gets up from her seat and takes the one step so she’s directly in front of the net. I reach my hand into the clear spacing and she does the same with her good hand.

“Missed you.” I tell her.

“Cole. It’s only been a few hours. But I missed you too.” She responds.

“I know, but I just worry about you.” I say.

“You don’t have to, but it’s nice to know, Casanova.”

I smile at her, and she smiles back at me. I fucking love this woman and I don’t care if the world knows it. In fact, I want them to know.

“Do me a favor? Walk over to the side there where you can get on the field.”

“Okay.” she agrees.

We both walk that way. Eyes following us from the people already in their seats. We reach the point where the netting is no longer protecting the onlookers from wild pitches or foul balls. I lean over the top of ledge and give her a pg kiss.

“Now I’m ready to play.” I tell her.

Adriana rolls her eyes but mouths the words I love you. I return the sentiment, and we both walk to where we need to be for the time being.

I take my usual seat in the dugout. Dean comes to sit on one side and King on the other, just like normal.

“That was cute.” King says.

“It’s going to be all over the internet soon.” Dean states.

“I don’t care. That’s my lady.” I say.

“She sure is.” King confirms.

“MMhhmm.” Dean agrees.

“I know I already said thanks, but again, thank you for coming with me that day.”

“Stop, we’re friends before anything. Of course we came with you. I think I can speak for all of us when I say we would do it again. You would do the same for us.” Dean responds.

I nod because I know he’s right. These guys aren’t just teammates or friends, they’re family. We all protect our family.

After the national anthem is sung, the game gets underway. We are on fire. Well, the rest of the team is. Being behind home plate isn’t feeling like home right now. While I’m happy to be back on the field, I keep seeing flashes of what happened in the stadium. I see the way Adriana looked when I found her. I see blood from Crawford’s body. How do I know that besides Ty, King, Dean and Dane that no one else on this team would betray me? The truth is, I don’t.

We win despite me overthrowing on a steal to second and striking out at each at bat. We all head into the locker room when coach taps me on the shoulder and nods to his office. I follow him silently.

“What’s up, coach?” I ask as I sit down in his office.

“You tell me. Your head wasn’t in the game.” He says.

“I know Coach, I’m sorry.” I reply.

“What’s going on?” He asks.

“This whole thing has me fucked up, coach. How do I know someone else who comes on the team won’t do the same thing to her or someone else?”

“Son, I get it. I think every guy here has your back. Has anyone said anything to you?” He asks.

“No, everyone reached out and asked if we needed anything. They sent stuff to the house for Adriana.” I tell him.

“They’re your family. Crawford is an asshole and will get what’s coming to him. But not everyone else is him. Don’t push them away. I want you to talk to the therapist. Until he clears you, I need you on the bench.” Coach says.

FUCK! That’s not what I thought he was going to say.

“Fine.” I tell him.

“Good, you have an appointment tomorrow at eleven am. Now go back to your girl.”

I leave his office and go to my locker. My mood just went from sour to shitty.