13. Holden

13

HOLDEN

One month down, one to go.

The last four weeks went by so fast. I really wish time would slow down. In less than a month, I'll be back on the field, and Cat and Cole will be gone.

I just finished my stretching, and Cat walks into the therapy room, smiling ear to ear and clapping her hands together. “Are you ready to start throwing?”

I suck in a breath but nod my head. My arm feels good. Hell, it feels better than it’s ever felt, but I’m still nervous.

Cat doesn’t seem nervous at all. She’s worked me hard this past month, and she feels confident in my abilities. She sticks her thumb up and points at the door. “Come with me. ”

But I don’t follow her. “What? Right now? We’re throwing now?”

She shakes her head and smiles. “No, I want to show you something first.”

She doesn’t wait for me. She turns on her heel with a bounce and then practically skips out of the room. I follow behind her, trying to ignore the way she looks in her leggings and tank top. I made a point to keep my distance from her, especially after everything with Clark. I don’t want her to be worried that I’m going to expect anything from her even though I want her more every day.

As I follow her into the living room, she turns on the television. “I’ve been watching tape.”

I look between her and the TV. “You’ve been watching tape?”

She laughs and then sits down on the sofa. “Yeah, sit down and let me show you.”

I sit down next to her, and she pulls out her phone. She screen shares a video to the television. “This is you four years ago. Watch your arm.”

She shows a short video and then shows another. “This one is from three years ago.”

She then shows another. “Last year.”

I tune into the television, but I’m not seeing whatever it is she wants me to see. “What are you showing me?”

She gets up and moves to the television, sitting down in front of it. “Okay, watch and I’ll slow it down.” She points at my arm slot as she replays the video.

“Three years ago. Look at your arm. See how it doesn’t go back as far as the year before?”

She plays the two videos again, and I can barely notice it. “Okay, look close, here you are four years ago.” She plays it and then plays another video. “This is from this season. Look at your arm slot. You’ve been slowly losing flexibility in your arm. There’s a lot of reasons for this, but mostly it’s from overuse and lack of stretching. I’m going to record you throwing today, and I’m pretty sure you’re going to see a difference.”

I have her play the videos over again, and I see exactly what she’s talking about. How did I miss this? How did my trainers miss this?

We go outside, she sets up her camera, and after warming up, she wants me to throw to her from twenty feet away. “I can’t throw with you, Cat. I’ll hurt you.”

She rolls her eyes and shoves her fist into her pink glove. “It’s not like you’re pitching to me. We’re tossing the ball, just checking your arm out and seeing how it feels.”

We toss the ball back and forth, and as we throw, she slowly starts putting more distance between us. “How does it feel?”

I nod and throw it again. “Good. I feel good.”

“Good, now try and throw it a little harder.”

“I don’t—”

She puts her hand on her hip. “You’re not going to hurt me. Throw it, Holden.”

I pick up the speed, and we toss for a few more minutes. “Good, now let’s watch.”

Instead of going back inside, she grabs her phone and plays back the video. As she points at my arm, she cheers. “Yes, look at that, Holden. Look at your arm. The flexibility is there. How’s it feel?”

I roll my shoulder, and there’s absolutely no pain. “I feel good. Fuck, it feels really good.”

She jumps up and down. “All right, that’s it for throwing today.”

I point out at where we were standing. “But I could go—”

She laughs and takes my glove from me. “It’s a throwing plan, Holden. Can we do it my way? Don’t worry, we’re going to increase it, but this is good for today. Now let’s go and do some recovery. ”

I want to push myself, but Cat has proven she knows what she’s doing. I’ve given her my all this past month, and I’m going to continue to do so. “Sure, let’s do it.”

I follow her back to the therapy room and mentally prepare myself for the torture that is coming. Her hands on me is torture, but it’s become an addiction.