Behind in the Count: A Portland Pioneers Novel

by Micah K. Chaplin

  “Now, she might seem sweet, but she can definitely keep Mike in his place,” Ken said. “I saw her take his teasing and give it right back. That’s how I know she’s a keeper.”

  Their approval was clear, and Derek glanced at his brother while they were talking. He wasn’t sure he’d ever seen Mike smile like that.

  “And you were nervous about introducing her to Mom and Dad,” Derek said.

  Mike shrugged. “Like I said. It’s a big step. You’ll understand when it’s your turn.”

  “Speaking of which, are you seeing anyone, Derek?” Linda asked.

  Derek made a face at his brother for sparking this subject.

  “No,” he said. “I don’t really have time for dating.”

  “Nonsense,” Ken said. “I know your schedule is busy, but surely you can make time for a nice girl.”

  Derek sighed and looked down at Brynn. “This girl’s the only one I want to spend time with.”

  Ken shook his head and Linda looked sad.

  “What?” Derek asked, looking at both of them.

  “Brynn should be a priority, but she can’t make up for a girlfriend or a wife,” Linda said.

  “Why does everyone seem to think I need a girl lately?” Derek asked.

  Derek was immediately sorry for the way he answered.

  “Define everyone,” Mike said.

  “Reid and Carson have been on my case about it too,” Derek said, admitted.

  “No one knows you better than those two,” Mike said. “But it’s been a while, right? Since you went out with anyone?”

  Derek gave him a look. “Can we not go into this? I’ll tell you the same thing I’ve told them – relationships take a lot of time and work, and I have too much going on in my life right now. I’m just not in a place where I’m ready to meet someone.”

  “It might sneak up on you when you’re not ready,” Linda said. “Just try and be open to it.”

  Derek nodded, but only to appease his mother. He thought again about the morning incident with Zella. He was still adamant it meant nothing, but if it held any hint of significance, it was proof he wasn’t ready to meet anyone. His subsequent efforts to forget about what had nearly happened showed he definitely wasn’t open to it either.

  And he wasn’t willing to analyze why Zella’s face appeared in his mind when his father mentioned a nice girl.

  Chapter Seven

  “Of course I can handle that,” Zella said. “Not a problem.”

  She hoped her tone conveyed more confidence than she was feeling. She wasn’t prepared to explain why she couldn’t handle the task Kate was giving her – or rather why she didn’t want to.

  “Thanks Zella,” Kate said. “You’re doing me a big favor here.”

  Zella hung up and looked down at the numbers on the notepad in front of her. A time. A flight number.

  When Kate had called and asked Zella to pick Derek Beaman up from the airport, Zella’s first instinct had been to suggest a cab instead. But she held back. Kate was her boss, and this was a reasonable request. Kate went on to explain Derek was returning from spring training early to see an arm specialist after experiencing soreness during his most recent start. It was supposed to be his last start before the regular season, but he only made it one inning before being pulled from the game. Zella had been listening to the game hours earlier while she worked, and her heart immediately sank for Derek. And she understood her boss’ request. Injury was what had sparked Derek’s first downward spiral. Even though this was just a precaution, she knew Kate was worried it might have an effect on Derek’s mental state. That’s why Zella was to pick Derek up and immediately drive him to the clinic for evaluation. Kate had arranged for an emergency appointment. She didn’t want Derek to have too much downtime before having an answer about his prognosis.

  Zella was still nervous about her assignment though. It’d been two weeks since she was last alone in a car with Derek, but she still remembered it all too clearly. Despite her best efforts to forget – wine, extra workouts, and a girls night out with Ashley – she hadn’t quite been able to shake the memory of the way Derek had looked at her. The way his eyes had settled on her mouth. The way he had started to lean closer to her. It was almost as if he was about to kiss her. She wondered if he would have if they hadn’t been interrupted by a car horn. He didn’t look at her again the rest of the drive, and at the airport, he couldn’t get away from her fast enough. Clearly, the idea of kissing her had been a fleeting one. And an unwelcome one.

  She had hoped to have more time before she encountered him again. More time for both of them to put the awkwardness behind them. More time for her to stop thinking about kissing him. More time for her to stop thinking about him that way period.

  But she didn’t. According to the clock, she had exactly two hours.

  She quickly finished up the project she’d been working on before Kate’s call. Her focus was shot, but she managed to tie up enough loose ends so she could pick it up the following day. And she had just enough time to make it across the city to the airport.

  Her nerves were on edge as she waited just past the security checkpoint. She tensed up even more once she caught sight of Derek. All of that quickly faded though as she studied him – downcast eyes and sagging shoulders. Any fear of awkwardness was gone. Now she was just worried about him.

  She called out to him as he walked past her. At first he didn’t seem to hear her, so she followed him, continuing to say his name. Finally, he turned and looked, surprise registering in his expression.

  “Kate asked me to pick you up,” she explained.

  His surprise turned to annoyance, and he turned away from her again.

  “I can get a cab,” he said.

  “I’m here, so that would be ridiculous,” she said.

  She followed him but his legs were longer and she was wearing heels, so she was struggling to stay within a few steps of him.

  “No. What’s ridiculous is that Ms. Marks thinks I need a babysitter,” he said.

  “I’m more of a chauffeur than a babysitter,” she said, hoping a little teasing would relax him a bit.

  It didn’t.

  “Same thing,” he said, angrily. “She thinks I’m going to have a meltdown so you’re here to keep an eye on me.”

  “That’s not it at all,” she said. “She knows an injury can be stressful and she wanted you to have a familiar face waiting for you.”

  “And she sent you?” he asked. “I barely know you.”

  It was true, but his words still stung as much as the first time he’d said them. She was speechless for several moments while they continued walking through the parking garage. At least he seemed to have abandoned his notion of calling a cab. He was following her, apparently conceding to riding with her. She stopped next to her car and turned to face him.

  “Why do you keep doing this, Derek?” she asked.

  “What am I doing?” he asked.

  “Pushing me away,” she said.

  “What? Since when?” he asked.

  “Every time I’ve tried to be nice to you and show some concern, you remind me that I don’t know you,” she said. “And you’re right. I don’t. I would like to get to know you better, but you’ve made it clear you don’t want anything to do with me. And that’s fine. Whether I know you or not, I care about you, and driving you to the doctor is my job at the moment. Now get in the damn car so I can get you to the clinic for your appointment.”

  She unlocked the doors and climbed in the driver’s side. He hesitated a moment before getting into the passenger seat. He didn’t say a word and that was OK with her. She didn’t want him to talk. She just wanted to get him to his appointment and away from her. That’s obviously what he wanted too. Traffic had picked up while she was at the airport so it required all of her attention. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his head turn her way a few times but he still didn’t say anything. Not until she stopped her car in front of the medical center.

/>   “Aren’t you coming in?” he asked.

  “I think I’ll wait out here,” she said. “You don’t need a babysitter, remember?”

  Derek nodded and looked toward the door to the clinic. Then he looked back at her.

  “What if I asked you to come in with me?” he asked.

  “And why would you do that?” she asked, finally turning her head to look at him.

  “Because it would be nice to have you there,” he said.

  She frowned, confused by his words.

  “But you hate me,” she said.

  “That’s not true,” he said.

  “Twenty minutes ago, you wanted nothing to do with me,” she said.

  “Also not true,” he said. “Look, Zella, I’m stressed about this injury. Or potential injury. And I guess I was kind of rude to you.”

  “Kind of?” she asked.

  “Alright, I was very rude to you,” he said.

  “And it wasn’t the first time,” she said.

  “You’re right. I’m sorry,” he said. “But I never said I hate you.”

  “You don’t have to say it,” she said. “Your actions say enough.”

  “And what actions are those?” he asked.

  “We don’t have time for this discussion,” she said. “You’re going to be late for your appointment.”

  “You’re really not going to come in?” he asked.

  He sincerely sounded like he wanted her to come with him. He was almost desperate about it. And it was confusing, given his reaction to her picking him up at the airport. She sighed.

  “Fine,” she said. “Go get checked in. I’ll be there in a minute.”

  “Thank you,” he said.

  Zella parked the car and then entered the lobby. She told the receptionist she was there with Derek Beaman. It was such an odd statement. If Zella hadn’t been so annoyed with him at the moment, it might have made her blush. Instead, the words were grating and she trudged down the hallway to room eight where Derek was sitting on the table looking nervous.

  “Hey,” she said softly.

  “Hey,” he said. “They said it would just be a few minutes.”

  Zella nodded and pulled out her phone, quickly sending a text to Kate to let her know Derek had arrived and they made it to his appointment. She tucked her phone away as the door opened and Dr. Harrison entered the room.

  “Mr. Beaman. Nice to see you,” the doctor said. “Tell me about the pain you experienced.”

  “It started during my warm-ups,” Derek said. “Just kind of a dull ache in my forearm. I thought maybe I just wasn’t loose enough, but as I kept pitching, it didn’t go away.”

  “Did it get any worse?” the doctor asked.

  “No,” Derek said.

  “Scale of one to ten?”

  “About a four. It’s not bad. But … I’m just worried it might be something more serious.”

  “Understandable. Your surgery wasn’t that long ago, and you had a heavy workload last season. How were your winter workouts?”

  Derek outlined his routine for the doctor.

  “It sounds like you kept it fairly light,” Dr. Harrison said. “I don’t think this is an overwork issue.”

  “So what is it?” Derek asked.

  “I want to do an MRI and some other tests to be sure,” Dr. Harrison said. “But I think it might just be a small strain.”

  “How long would I be out?” Derek asked.

  “That’s hard to say,” Dr. Harrison said. “Could be that a few days of complete rest will have you good to go. It might be a few weeks.”

  “So I’ll definitely miss the opening series,” Derek said.

  It wasn’t a question. It seemed doubtful that he would pitch at the start of the season.

  “I’m sorry, Derek,” Dr. Harrison said. “I’ll go order those tests right now. I’ll have a nurse come get you when it’s ready.”

  Zella followed Derek from room to room. She wasn’t entirely sure what she should be doing or what to say, so she just stood nearby, hoping her silent support was enough. Most of the time, she wasn’t sure Derek was even aware she was there. He seemed to be in his own world.

  An hour later, as they sat in his office, the doctor confirmed there was no significant ligament or joint damage. He stuck with his diagnosis of a slight strain and ordered Derek to take a break from all pitching. He offered some pain medication as well, but Derek declined it, saying he’d stick with rest, ice, and heat.

  “I will communicate the results to Ms. Marks,” Dr. Harrison said. “I’ll also call to check on your progress in a few days.”

  “Yeah, thanks,” Derek said.

  Zella didn’t have to look at him to know he was disappointed. The tone in his voice was clear, and it matched his posture. His shoulders sagged even more than they did before. She hadn’t thought that possible. Without thinking, she reached over and took his hand. Derek looked down at their joined hands and then up at her.

  “This sucks,” he said.

  “I know,” she said, squeezing his hand. “But you’ll battle back. You always do. You’re tough.”

  “Nice girl you got here, Derek,” Dr. Harrison said. “It’s good to have a cheerleader.”

  Zella immediately pulled her hand away.

  “Oh, we’re not …,” she said.

  “We’re just friends,” Derek said. “But, you’re right. It’s good to have someone who cares.”

  Zella turned and looked at Derek. He gave her a small smile, but it didn’t ease her confusion at all.

  She was still trying to analyze Derek’s words as they walked out to her car. He called Ms. Marks and gave her a quick update on the appointment. Zella stopped him before he made another call.

  “I need to know where to take you,” she said.

  “Oh, right,” Derek said. “Do you mind taking me home? I’ll put my address in your GPS.”

  While Zella drove, Derek called the people he needed to update on his arm. His brother was first, and since Mike was at their parents’ house, he didn’t have to make another call. He kept the conversation brief and then dialed Reid, who was at dinner with Carson. Derek was a little jealous. He should be there with them. After providing the necessary information, he planned on hanging up, but Reid threw a curve.

  “Did Zella really go with you to the appointment?” Reid asked.

  “How did you know?” Derek asked.

  “I was with Kate when Zella texted her. The way she phrased it made it sound like she was with you,” Reid said. “Did she hold your hand?”

  “No,” Derek said, even though that wasn’t the whole truth.

  He’d been caught off-guard when Zella took his hand earlier. He hadn’t expected it, but it felt nice. He was disappointed when she pulled away, though he understood why she did. The doctor’s assumption had made her uncomfortable. Especially after their heated discussion at the airport. Well, heated on her part. She’d laid into him with a tone he hadn’t expected out of her.

  “Missed opportunity,” Reid said. “But now that you have some downtime, you could ask her out.”

  “Don’t you have anyone else to harass?” Derek asked.

  “I have lots of people to harass, but you’re my favorite,” Reid said.

  “Or just the most convenient,” Derek said.

  “There might be some of that too,” Reid said, laughing. “Take it easy, Beaman. See you in a few days.”

  Derek was hanging up the phone as Zella pulled into the driveway of his condo complex. He let out a breath as she stopped in front of his unit. He turned to look at her, but she was looking straight ahead. He wondered if she was still worked up about their earlier conversation. Her words were still ringing in his ears, so it was a distinct possibility. It was also possible she was mad at him for being so rude to her.

  “Do you have dinner plans?” he asked.

  “No. Why?” she asked, fiddling with the steering wheel. She still wasn’t looking in his direction.

  “Co
me in. I’ll order takeout,” he said.

  “Why?” she asked.

  “To thank you for the ride,” he said.

  “It’s no big deal,” she said. “I’m getting paid for it.”

  “And to apologize for being such an asshole,” he said.

  “I don’t know …” she said.

  “Come on,” he said. “It’s been a long day, and I’m sure you’re hungry too. We can hang out for a little while. Then I can’t keep saying you don’t know me.”

  That got her attention. She finally turned her eyes on him.

  “Only if you order Thai,” she said.

  He grinned. “Sounds good. Let’s go.”

  Derek wasn’t sure what had inspired him to invite Zella in for dinner, but he was glad he had. Over green curry and pot stickers, they talked about baseball, Portland, and their respective hopes and goals for the upcoming Pioneers season. At first, she’d been a little reserved. Probably because of the lingering tension between them. But once he got her talking, Derek discovered she was funny and smart. She knew a lot about baseball, and the way her face lit up when she talked about it told him she really loved it too. And there was no ignoring the way her eyes sparkled, especially when she laughed at something he said. Which she did often.

  When the subject of Brynn came up, Zella asked to see some photos. Derek was all too happy to pull out his phone and flip through the gallery of his daughter.

  “She’s adorable,” she said. “She looks like you.”

  “You think so?” he asked.

  “Oh yeah,” she said. “And look at the way she’s smiling at you here. She loves you.”

  “I hope so,” he said with a sigh.

  “Why wouldn’t she?” she asked.

  “I’m not around very much,” he said. “And if my ex gets her way, I’ll be around even less.”

  Derek told Zella about the visitation battle. The attorneys were still going back and forth on the proposed terms. Derek’s attorney was holding strong to monthly visits and Keely’s attorney was still fighting for every other month. Derek might have to concede to every six weeks, which didn’t thrill him much, but he supposed it was better than every eight weeks.