“Tentatively. I’ll assess once they get here then make the call.” Mike stands from behind his desk. “They should be here any minute. Want to walk with me?”
We make our way down the hall to the locker room, catching up on how the rest of the roster is doing and what the plan is for the games this week to solidify our position into the postseason and keep our rotation in shape.
“Boss man, what are you doing here? Shit, am I getting traded because I added you to the group chat?” Miller calls out when we step inside the locker room.
I roll my eyes. “Not getting traded, but I did come to check in and see if you need anything.”
“Appreciate that. She’ll be okay,” Miller says, as much for me as for himself.
“She will,” I agree as Chase walks in. He sees me standing by Miller and his steps falter.
“Grant, is everything okay?”
Shaking my head, I laugh. “Guess I need to come down here more often. Thought I was a better owner than this. Everything is fine. I just came to check on the three of you after the texts this morning.”
Chase nods. “Oh, yeah, thank you. I really appreciate that. She’s in more pain today than last night, but she seems to be okay right now. Having the girls over will help.”
“And how are you doing?” I ask.
“Fuck,” he blows out a breath and drops into the chair in front of his locker. “I don’t know, honestly. Seeing her like this is hard. I felt so helpless yesterday. I’m trying to stay positive for her and let her know this doesn’t change anything where we’re concerned. I’m all in, ya know? I just can’t fix this for her and that part is hard.”
I drag a chair over from another locker and sit down in front of him. “Look at me, kid.” He looks up and the pain is evident on his face. “You’re doing everything there is to do for her. You showed up when she needed it most. You proved to her that she is your priority. That’s all we can do. She needs to know she’s not alone and that you aren’t going anywhere. Love her through it and you’ll come out on the other side, no matter what happens with the tests yesterday. And if you need to sit out a couple games, that’s okay. Coach will figure it out and your team has your back.”
“I don’t need to sit out. I need to play. I want to play. We’re finishing this season strong and making it to the end,” he says confidently.
“Atta boy.” Miller claps him on the shoulder. “We win for Gabby.”
“Win for yourselves too. This has been a helluva season. You deserve it,” Mike says and I nod in agreement.
“Did I miss a team meeting?” Fields asks, joining our huddle.
“And where have you been?” Miller crosses his arms, glaring at Fields.
“I was helping Ivory take some stuff over to Gabs.”
“Likely excuse. You’re supposed to be the captain, first guy here. Slacking off big time.”
I share a look with Mike and he tosses a thumb over hisshoulder, indicating it’s time to go. Fields and Miller toss barbs back and forth as we leave them to get ready for the day. At least some things never change.
By day three of us hanging out at Gabby’s and waiting on the biopsy results, it’s clear she’s is fed up with our hovering.
“Just leave it be,” Gabby snaps, all but biting my head off when I ask if she wants me to check the bruising and to see if it’s been bleeding like it was the other day.
“Wow, someone’s grumpy.” I look over at Ivory, who watches Gabby with worry.
“I’m not grumpy,” Gabby protests.
“Could’ve fooled me,” I mutter.
Gabby sighs and finally relents. “I’m really okay today. I want to know the results, but I’m also kind of in this weird realm of what do I want the results to be.”
“How so?” Ivory asks from beside the stove where she’s preparing dinner.
“Like I don’t want to have cancer, but also I already feel really dumb about this whole thing if it’s benign.” Before either of us can say anything, Gabby holds her hand up to stop us. “I know that makes no sense, but that’s kinda where I am, and my mind just keeps going back to finding out it’s malignant and what my response will be.”
I round the island and sit down next to Gabby. “So basically expecting the worst but hoping for the best?”
“Yeah, just in my head. Then I’m mad at myself, like ‘am I hoping I have cancer?!What the fuck?’”
