Colby (Season Two: The Ninth Inning #6)

by Lindsay Paige

  “No, I swear. He called Mom.” She holds up her right hand.

  “He did. Are you ready?” Mom nods over to the door.

  “Let’s go.”

  I love hanging out with my family. Alizeh is going on about Lil D and his new daycare. Alizeh had a tough time letting him go, but it’s easier since there is a new director who actually seems to care about the children. Mom is enjoying retirement. She and Dad have booked their first cruise and can’t wait to start their new chapter.

  When we arrive at the stadium, I’m shocked to see we are right above the dugout. When we reach the row, I notice Sofia, Scarlett, Zoey, and another girl, whose name I can’t remember, but I saw her at the luncheon.

  “Ariella.” Sofia waves while one hand rests on her belly. “Colby told me you were coming.” She beams and hugs me. I introduce my mom and sister and we take our seats.

  Zoey tells Mom and Alizeh about when I pulled her over and gave her the go for it speech. Mom gets a huge kick out of it.

  Soon after we arrive, the guys go running out on the field and I’m glued to number thirty-three’s ass. Seeing Colby up close in baseball pants is worth the half a day I took off.

  “There’s something about those pants.” Sofia nudges my shoulder, and I laugh.

  “Yes.” I watch Coby laughing at something Hector said while Tanner is jumping all around him like a little money. Where does the kid get his energy?

  “I see Tanner got into the Red Bull again.” The younger girl at the end points and everyone giggles.

  When it’s time for the guys to come off the field, Colby winks at me and I smile at him. Felix calls out to the younger girl, and I realize she’s the lucky charm Colby told me about. She’s Abigail. Blake is standing next to Felix and shakes his head before heading down the dugout, but not before he smirks at Sofia. You can see their love is real.

  “Are you two married?” I ask her.

  “Oh no. Blake and I are happy the way we are.”

  “That’s sweet.”

  “I think Hector is close to asking,” Zoey blurts out.

  “What are you going to say?” Abigail is wide-eyed.

  “I don’t know. I’d like for us to live together full-time first before I say yes.”

  “Why? So, he can pull pranks on you all day?” Abigail teases.

  “Hector has never pranked me. Although, he has startled me a few times, but it’s because I wasn’t paying attention,” she points out.

  I smile and try not to think too far ahead for Colby and me. We’re still very early in our relationship. Mom and Alizeh are going on about the seats and the view. I’m grateful to Colby, and I owe him an additional reward.

  The guys come back out on the field and the national anthem plays. I’m nervous because I have a perfect view of third base, and I know I’ll be staring at Colby the entire time, and I don’t want to make him self-conscience.

  In the third inning, the score is tied one to one and Roman comes up to bat with Colby on deck. I bite my lip and stare at Colby’s back as he practices his swing. Roman makes contact with the ball and easily runs to second. Colby comes up and, on the first swing, sends it high into right field, making it to first base. I watch Blake up next and Sofia sits on the edge of her seat. She’s really into baseball but considering her job and everything, it’s natural.

  Blake sends the ball sailing into centerfield, and I thought for sure it would be a homerun, but it lands just shy of the wall. Roman makes it to home plate and Colby rounds second headed into third. The third baseman is standing on the base path, and I know Colby will have to run him over to make it to the base.

  Instead, Colby tries to slide. I jump to my feet; this isn’t going to be good. He lands on his thigh, but the baseman tangles his foot in with Colby’s, and I swear I can hear the crunch from my seat.

  And then, Colby groans loudly and grabs his knee.

  The entire crowd is up on their feet as Colby rolls in pain on the field. The trainers and doctor run out to him, and I can see the pain all over his face. I want to jump the rail to go check on him myself, but Sofia grabs my arm.

  “Come with me.”

  I look back at Mom and Alizeh and they tell me to go. Sofia tugs on me and I follow her. She uses her pass to get us down to the dugout and into the locker room.

  “Fuck.” I hear Colby bellow and moan in pain. My heart hurts to hear it.

  An older gentleman came out and looks at Sofia. Before he can say anything Sofia says, “She’s family,” and points to me.

  “He’s going to need an MRI. I think he’s torn his ACL.”

  I cover my mouth with my hand to hold back the gasp. He’ll be out for the rest of the season, at least, and I’m not sure how much longer after that for rehabilitation. “May I see him?”

  “Ariella?” I hear him call my name, and I don’t wait for permission. I go in to see Colby laying on an exam table with part of his pants cut off.

  “Colby.” I take his hand. “Is there anything I can do?” I ask not knowing what else to say.

  “No, but you can go to the hospital with me.” He tries to smile, but there’s pain all over his face.

  “Okay.” I’ll be there for him no matter what happens. I care too much about him not to be there.

  “I WANT TO go to my house, Ariella,” I sigh. I’d had to have emergency surgery, and now that they’re close to discharging me, Ariella wants to take me to her house.

  “You’ll need help, Colby.”

  “Then help me at my house. The stairs at your house won’t be any fun for me,” I add, hoping that’ll do the trick. I’m exhausted and ready to go home. I’m stuck on crutches for the next several weeks and will have to keep my knee elevated and iced.

  “Stop giving her a hard time.” I almost groan at the sound of Hector’s voice.

  My recovery room begins to fill with members of the team. Sofia manages to wiggle through everyone and stand next to the bed.

  “What do you need us to do for you?” she asks. She doesn’t give me a chance to answer. “Who would you prefer to drive your car to your house since you won’t be driving any time soon? I’m sure some of us can help out and make sure you get fed and stay off your knee as much as possible.”

  “I won’t be helpless,” I interrupt.

  “Don’t argue,” Blake’s gruff voice comes from behind Sofia.

  “How about Jordan drives your car to your house,” Sofia starts again. “Blakey and I can take you home and get you settled while Ariella goes to her house and gets her things to stay with you?”

  I lean my head back against my pillow and close my eyes. “I don’t care who does what as long as I go home.” My eyes pop back open. “What happened at the game?”

  “We won,” Tanner answers with a grin.

  “Good.”

  “You going to be out for a while?” Felix asks, though I think everyone already knows the answer.

  “Done for the season,” I confirm. Between healing from the surgery and then rehab, it’ll be awhile before I’m good to go again.

  The doctor laughs as he enters the room and makes his way over to me. “Looks like you’re popular, Colby.” He glances briefly at his chart and then to me. “You’re all set to go home. A nurse will be in in a few to help you out as long as you don’t have any more questions for me?”

  “Nope, I’m good.”

  The next twenty minutes is a flurry of activity while plans are apparently being made for how I’m going to survive while injured. I’m all set in Sofia’s car when Ariella leans down to talk to me.

  “Are you okay with me coming over?”

  “Of course, beautiful. Don’t forget Buster, too. Someone will have to keep me company while everyone works.”

  A gorgeous grin graces her face. “Okay. But you know it’ll be easier to let Buster out at my house.”

  “Once I stop feeling tired, we’ll switch if you still want to be my nurse. Hey, you should get a uniform.”

  Sofia and Bl
ake laugh from the front seat. Ariella shakes her head, still smiling. “I’ll see you shortly, Colby.”

  “Need anything else before I sit down?” Ariella asks. We have settled in and just finished eating dinner.

  “Do you know where my cell is? I haven’t called my family yet.”

  “Um.” She walks over to my duffle bag that Jordan brought when he returned my vehicle. After a moment, she retrieves it from the side pocket. “Ta-da!”

  “Thank you for all your help, Ariella,” I tell her as she hands it to me. She sits next to me, resting her head on my shoulder. “You’re welcome. Call your family. They’re probably worried already.”

  She’s right. There’s numerous missed calls and texts from my parents and my sister. I call my mom first.

  “How bad is it?” she answers.

  “Done for the season. I had surgery, and now I’m at home resting.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry, son. Do you want your father and me to come stay with you for a while?”

  “Mom,” I start.

  “We can help take care of things,” she continues.

  “Mom,” I try again.

  “And you wouldn’t be putting us out because we just returned from a trip and have time before the next one. We could catch a flight out tomorrow and—”

  “Mom,” I say firmly. “It’s fine. I’ll be fine. There’s no need for y’all to come down.”

  “But you should have someone there to help you.”

  “I have the team, their girlfriends, and my girlfriend. There are plenty of people here to help me, Mom.”

  There’s a long stretch of silence. “Girlfriend, Colby?”

  “Yeah. I figured Karen would would have told you.” Mom and Dad aren’t always reachable when they’re on their trips and since I travel a lot too, Karen is designated as the person they talk to first.

  “She didn’t mention it when we called.”

  “Oh, well, Mom, I have a girlfriend.” Ariella giggles softly. “Her name is Ariella, she’s a detective, and she has a dog named Buster. You can meet her whenever you visit.”

  “That’s a pretty name. So, it’s serious?”

  “Yep.”

  “Are you happy?”

  “Yep.”

  “Good. I’m very happy for you. We’ll have to talk more later. You’re probably tired, so I’ll let you go. I’ll call Karen for you.”

  “Thanks, Mom. I’ll talk to you later. Love you.”

  “Love you too.”

  We hang up, and I set my phone on the end table. “Hey, beautiful?”

  “Yeah?” Ariella lifts her head.

  “Let’s go to bed.”

  She nods, grabs the ice from my knee, and hands me my crutches. While I amble off to my room, she’s probably letting Buster out one last time for the night. It seems to take forever to change and get into bed. Ariella walks in with two throw pillows from the living room.

  “Elevation, Colby,” she reminds me. I grumble under my breath as I lift my leg for her to place the two pillows under it.

  “You should really get a nurse’s outfit.”

  “I already owe you two rewards. If I get the outfit, it’ll cost you one.”

  I seemingly think it over while she rummages through the suitcase she brought over. “I’ll think on it some more. I’m too tired to decide now.”

  She laughs, walking into my adjoining bathroom, leaving the door open. I watch her change and get ready for bed.

  “What do you think of my house?” This is the first time she’s been over because we’ve always ended up at her house.

  “I like it.”

  “That’s it?”

  She laughs. “I like my house better, but yours isn’t so bad.”

  “I like yours better too,” I confess.

  “Buster, bed,” she orders him before climbing in next to me. “Really?”

  “Really.” My eyelids begin to droop, and I know it won’t be long before I’m out.

  “What now, Colby?” Ariella whispers, resting her head on my chest.

  “Now, you enjoy the extra time you’ll have with me until next season. I’ll start some rehab in a few days. Nothing will really change.”

  “So, you aren’t one of those athletes who mopes around while they’re injured?”

  “Oh, there will be moping,” I promise with a chuckle. “But it’ll be minimal and will disappear completely once the season is officially over. I’m about to fall asleep, beautiful. Kiss me before I do.”

  She props up on an elbow and fulfills my wish.

  “I’m lucky to have you,” I whisper before sleep takes me. It’s going to be a long road to recovery, but it doesn’t seem so daunting with Ariella beside me.

  FOR THE PAST week, I’ve been taking care of Colby, and even though it’s been a bit tiring, I know it’s not his fault, and he can’t help it. The worst part is the fact the Apprehension Team still hasn’t found Dice. Even though I have more cases on my desk, this one seems to weigh heavy on me.

  I will catch him.

  “Is Colby coming over?” Duke asks as he gathers up his things to leave.

  “Yes. Mom told him all he had to do is sit on the couch, and she’s moving dinner to him.” I close the folder and file it back in the drawer. Colby is finally coming over for Sunday dinner.

  “Let’s go then.”

  Duke and I have been working this weekend because the next one is the big softball tournament between our team and the firefighters. I’m hoping Colby will be able to make. It might do him good to get out of the house. He’s been resting at the house, but I know he’s going a bit stir crazy. However, his stitches come out soon and he’ll be starting physical therapy after that. I think it’ll be good for him to get out of the house. I just have to figure out how to get him to his appointments since he can’t drive.

  I follow Duke to Mom and Dad’s and see Alizeh has already picked up Colby. He’s sitting on the couch with Dad, laughing. It’s good to hear, because I know he hasn’t been lately, especially when he watches the Angels on TV.

  “You two seem chummy.” I kiss Colby’s cheek and then Dad’s.

  “We were talking about your tournament next week,” Dad informs me.

  “Yep,” is all I can say, because I am a bit nervous about it.

  “Well, I can’t wait.” Colby reaches for my hand and it makes me smile knowing he’s so supportive.

  Mom and Alizeh bring in the food and lay it out on the coffee table.

  “Allison, I can sit at the table.” Coby tries to move, but Mom glares at him.

  “You’re going to sit there and keep your leg elevated and eat. I won’t hear another word.”

  “I’d do what she said.” Duke leans down to Colby. “She’s way scarier than Fletcher.”

  “I heard that,” Dad speaks up, and we laugh.

  “Thank you both.” Colby politely nods.

  “It’s no problem.” Mom smiles at him and we all begin to fill our plates, and I make one for Colby.

  “Thank you.” He gives me a small grin, and I know he hates that I’m waiting on him, but it’s not as if he can walk around and make his own plate while balancing on crutches.

  We all eat and enjoy watching Lil D trying to feed himself, by grabbing the spoon from Alizeh. Mom even goes into details about her and Dad’s first trip and we’re all excited for them.

  “Colby, when does your rehab start?” Duke asks.

  “Hopefully, next week.”

  “Who’s taking you?” Duke looks confused.

  “I am.” I pipe up and Dad jumps in.

  “You can’t take time off during the day that many times a week.”

  “I can work it out.” I try to explain, but even Duke defends Dad.

  “Ariella, if we get cases, you know you can’t leave.”

  “I’ll just take a cab or something.” Colby says a little loud. “I’ll get there.”

  Mom sits her plate down. “Colby, Fletcher or I can take you. It’s no big deal.�
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  “I can’t ask you to do that.”

  She holds up her hand to stop him from talking. “Colby, you’re family, and we help out family. I don’t want to hear another word.” And she ends of the conversation.

  However, the sentence is sitting in the front of my mind. Family? My mom called him family. I try to process the word. It’s not that I don’t want him to be part of my family, but it’s the way she says it. As if he’s on the same level as Duke. As if we’re married. As if we’re in love.

  Love?

  We’re not in love, right?

  Are we?

  I quickly run a list through my head. I’m constantly dropping or rearranging my schedule to be with him. I’m living at his house and have been since he got hurt. I want to be around him all the time, and when I’m not, I want to call to talk to him. I tell him everything about my day, even the silly, dumb things. I almost jumped the rail at the stadium to get to him when he was injured. I was a wreck when he was in surgery, fearing the worst. At the hospital, I wanted to do everything make sure he was okay and comfortable. I don’t mind waiting on him because I know he’s hurt and can’t do it.

  Does he feel the same way and just not said anything? Or am I just a close friend he cares about? No, maybe more than a friend since we’ve had sex, but then again, I don’t know because he’s never said. Or has he and I’m not paying attention.

  My heart stops. “I need some fresh air.” I jump up, rush out of the living room, and out to the back porch.

  I grip the railing tight, and I’m thankful the sun isn’t blazing down on me. I take several deep breaths and try to think of how my life has changed these past few months. We went from talking online a few times a week, to talking almost daily, to meeting each other, and we’ve basically been together ever since. I know Colby is telling me to ride the wave, but eventually the wave hits the shore and then what happens?

  Are we just going to fizzle out like the wave?

  Is it too much too fast?

  I think about Mom and Dad’s relationship and how they’ve always said it was love at first sight. I care deeply for Colby, and I can’t imagine my life without him. Now, he’s hurt and it could change things. What if he gets traded? What if he gets cut altogether? Would he move away then because there’s nothing holding him here in Memphis?