“Everything okay, son?” He waves me in, gesturing to the chair opposite his desk.
“I’m okay. It’s uh,” I sit on the edge of the chair leaning my elbows on my knees before clearing my throat. “It’s Br— Gabby, sir.”
“What about her?”
Fuck, I didn’t think this through. Standing, I rip off my hat and drag my hand through my hair while I begin to pace behind the chairs.
“Did you come in here early to tell me you’re in a prohibited relationship with a member of the front office?” He crosses his arms and leans back in his chair.
“Yes. No.” I heave out a sigh. “Fuck.” We haven’t publicly announced our relationship, but he knows we’re together even if we’ve never outright confirmed it.
“Chase, sit down,” he holds his hand out as if that could stopmy internal spiral. “I wasn’t born yesterday. I saw this coming a mile away. Pretty sure Grant knows too.”
I hang my head and wipe a hand down my face. This isn’t going how I anticipated. Not that I had a plan, really, but if there was a plan, this wouldn’t be it.
“It’s not about that.” He must read the devastation on my face because he circles his desk and claps me on the shoulder.
“Well, why don’t you sit down and tell me what it is about then, hm?” Not waiting for a response, he guides me back to the chair and shoves me down into it. He leans back on the desk, crossing his arms again while he waits for me to get my shit together.
“Yes, I’ve been seeing Gabrielle. It’s serious, Coach.”
“So, what’s this about?” he responds earnestly.
“She had a health scare recently. Miller knows about it, but she doesn’t want Taylor and Ivory to know. She swore us to secrecy so if she knew I were here right now telling you then she’d probably kill me. After she ends things between us.”
“I can’t promise I won’t say anything because I don’t intentionally keep things from Ivory and I’m a parent, so I reserve the right to overrule any of my kids if I think it’s in their best interest.” Ivory may be his only biological child, but he looks at Taylor and Bree as his as well. The same with his players. We’re all a family and when one of us is hurting, all of us are there to pick up the slack. They did it with me when I got into trouble, going so far as volunteering with me when I had to put in my time. Hell, Miller even adopted a damn dog from the rescue mission hosted in my name.
“Understood.” I swallow the lump in my throat.
“This is really eating you up. Is it more than a scare? What’s the prognosis?” He stands to his full height, worry written on his face.
“We don’t know yet. She has a procedure today to find out what happens next.”
Am I really about to ask my coach if I can skip warm-ups andgame day prep? After finally overcoming the arrest nightmare? Put everything on the line when I’m finally back in his good graces. Back on track. This could cost me my starting position.
It’s Bree. I’d do anything for her.
“But I don’t want her to go alone. She said she was fine, but I don’t believe her.”
“You love her,” he says casually.
“Yes, sir. I do. I love her.”
It’s the first time I’ve ever said those words to anyone other than her. I love baseball. I love stealing bases. I love the thrill. And I fucking love Gabrielle Pierson.
“When’s the procedure?”
I check my phone again. “Approximately ninety minutes.”
“How long is it?”
“I’m not sure, sir.”
“Does she have to go under?”
“It’s a biopsy. From what I’ve read online, they do it while she’s awake and she should be able to leave almost right after.”
“From what you read online? You haven’t talked to her about it?”
