“You need to breathe. Follow me, in and out.” He breathes in and out deeply, and I do my best to mimic him.
“Ryker, tell me what the hell is going on,” I demand, frustrated and overwhelmed.
“What the hell is happening with my sister?” Ian joins in, running a hand over the brim of his hat.
“Camille said they were up in the box, and everything was fine. I guess Teagan was complaining about cramps, and when she went to the washroom, there was some blood.”
Everything around me fades away except the rapid beating of my own heart as my blood cools to ice.
“She’s gone to the ER to get checked. Camille just came down and saw me first. She waited with her until they took her. It happened so fast she didn’t have time to alert either of us. She’s sorry,” Ryker says.
“She did the right thing.” Ian’s voice is full of understanding while I struggle to find words.
I make up my mind in that moment as I begin taking off my wrist tape.
“What are you doing?” Ian and Ryker ask.
“Leaving. I’m going to the hospital with her.”
“You can’t leave. It’s the first game of the Series. You’re set to pitch!” Ian shouts, seeming stressed.
“Watch me. Those girls are my life, and I’ll be damned if something happens to them while I’m here,” I snap, not meaning to sound so harsh, but I’m on edge.
“You’re going to get fined or in trouble…” Ian goes on.
“Go,” Ryker says. “I would do the same thing. Get out of here.”
“Who’s going where?” Coach Tran appears beside us, not looking happy.
“Me, Coach. My girlfriend is being rushed to the hospital and she’s pregnant with my baby. I won’t be able to focus on doing my job here today. I need to be with them,” I explain, hoping he understands but also not worried if he doesn’t, because either way I’m leaving. He could fire me on the spot and I wouldn’t care.
Coach Tran gives me a hard glare, then looks away as he says, “Go, Laurent. But you’re paying the fine and I expect you to be ready to pitch for the next game.”
“I will, Coach, thank you.” I shake his hand, then I’m turning on my heel and running to the locker room where I quickly change out of my cleats, leaving my uniform on as I grab my keys and get the hell out of there.
It takes me longer than I’d like to get to the hospital with the traffic downtown due to all the roads closed near the stadium. It’s nearly half an hour later before I get there, and I barge into the hospital like a madman.
I walk up to the welcome desk, not wasting time on pleasantries. “I need to see my girlfriend.”
A woman with gray-streaked hair looks up at me over the perch of her glasses. “What’s her name?”
“Teagan. Teagan Witt. She should’ve been admitted not too long ago.”
“Listen, son, you come in here all fired up and demand to see the greatest Olympic athlete our country has seen. You could be an abusive ex for all I know.”
“Listen…” I look at her name tag, seeing the name Denise there. “Denise. I’m not an abusive ex. I’m her boyfriend. Look it up online if you must. I’m very close to losing my patience, because my life is somewhere in this building hurting, and you’re keeping me from her.”
Another worker approaches the desk, recognizing me. “Quentin Laurent, right this way.”
I wave with a smile to Denise, who looks dumbfounded, and as much as I’d like to call her boss and get her in trouble, I do appreciate that she didn’t let me in easily. Being a celebrity comes with risks like crazy fans whowoulddo something like that.
“Thank you so much…”
“Janice. I’m a huge fan. The custodian saw you on the security camera and told me. Since I know about you and Ms. Witt, I came down immediately to get you up there.”
“I appreciate it a lot. Thank you, Janice.” I smile the best I can, when I feel like I’m dying on the inside because I have no idea what to expect.
We’re silent the rest of the way until we reach a room with the number 224 on the door. “She’s just in here. I’ll leave you to it.”
