Balk

by Joy Eileen

  My phone alerted me of a text message, but I ignored it as I made my way farther into the locker room.

  Claire stared at me wide-eyed when I moved to stand next to her. “You were really with Coach Butler this whole time?” she hissed in my ear.

  “What?” I asked quietly so the team couldn’t overhear.

  “Do you really not know? Or are you more devious than I gave you credit for.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I wasn’t able to finish because Coach Mae pinned us with a glare before addressing the team.

  “I’m sure you’ve heard there have been some developments we need to address as a team.”

  The girls snickered and I was almost certain they glanced at me instead of Claire. My stomach crawled up my throat and I chastised myself for not staying in bed.

  Coach Mae cleared her throat to get the team to settle down. They peeled their eyes off me, but the side glances didn’t stop. “I’m sure you saw the pictures.”

  “What pictures?” I asked Claire, swallowing loudly. My legs wobbled and my head throbbed to the rhythm of my heart beat. Whatever was happening was not going to be good.

  Coach Mae shot me a look with anger in her eyes. When she saw me sagging against the wall her anger switched to pity. “Sit down, Raine, you look awful. I don’t need you passing out.”

  “Maybe she’s pregnant with Coach Butler’s love child. I heard pregnant women are prone to fainting,” Kylie, our third basemen, said, causing the team to snicker.

  “Enough. There’s more going on than what some stupid tabloid has printed, and the future of our team is in jeopardy. Today the dynamic of the team will be shifted and we need to be mature about it.” Coach Mae’s words sobered the girls.

  I slid to the floor and tried not to think of the millions of germs I was introducing to my system. Claire nudged me before handing me her phone.

  The picture would have been one of the most romantic things to have ever happened to me, if it wasn’t for the ugly bold black words on top of it. Someone had snapped a picture of Trip kissing me senseless in the parking lot beside Dora. Renee and Brian were next to us, smiling at each other.

  There was a series of pictures documenting our kiss and Trip putting me in Dora before buckling my seatbelt. The quality wasn’t the best, so I could only assume someone snapped the pictures on their phone.

  Most likely someone from my team.

  Snide comments under the article showed the hate people felt for me breaking up Trip and Robin. Whore, wrecking ball, power couple slayer, and worse were branded next to my name.

  My heart beat erratically, realizing this was exactly what Trip was trying to protect me from.

  Well, I believe him now.

  My fingers itched to write responses to every one of the spiteful comments. To be able to give them my side of the story.

  “Don’t bother. They aren’t worth it and they won’t listen,” Claire told me, taking the phone from my hand.

  “I refuse to play with a whore. Robin is one of us. How could you betray a player like that?” Cheeks asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “I won’t play with her either,” came shouts from most of the team.

  Coach Mae ran her hand through her hair, blowing out a breath. She looked over at me and Claire and shook her head.

  “They’re idiots. Just wait until they find out I’m getting kicked off the team. They’ll run right back to you.” Claire moved to sit next to me, but I stood next to her instead.

  “They won’t get a chance. I told you I’d fix this,” I said, moving so Claire was behind me.

  “McKenna, what are you doing?” Claire hissed to the back of my neck.

  “I’ve already turned in my letter of resignation from the team. Hoffer will be your starting pitcher, and I have all the faith in the world that she’ll carry this team to victory.”

  “Well, that’s good and all, Raine, but there are other things we need to discuss,” Coach Mae said as if I needed to be reminded of Coach Rutching and Claire getting it on in his office.

  “I don’t really see the need to discuss those things with the team,” I answered her with wide eyes, hoping Coach Mae would let it go.

  “Since I have to find another pitching coach, again,” she stressed, “I do feel the need to discuss those things.”

  “What, did you seduce Coach Rutching too? Don’t act like we didn’t see you flirting with him. Were you trying to break up his marriage? You’re disgusting,” Drayanna, our shortstop, sneered.

  “You girls are out of line. All of you sit down and shut up. There are other things not involving Raine that will impact this team things you know nothing about. And, Raine, you’re not quitting.”

  “She has to. She violated the rules,” Cheeks said, her finger trained on me.

  “That has yet to be determined,” Coach Mae answered.

  “What? There are pictures of her kissing Coach Butler all over the news,” Jennifer, our right fielder, insisted.

  “Coach Mae, I’m through with the team. Claire’s the right pitcher for the job. And what Coach Mae has been trying to tell you is Coach Rutching made inappropriate remarks and actions toward Claire yesterday. That’s the reason he’ll no longer be coaching here, or in any school if I have anything to say about it.”

  “You’re out of line, Raine.” Coach Mae ground her teeth together as I overrode her team meeting.

  “McKenna.” Claire placed her hand on my back, but I refused to let her get in trouble for making a stupid mistake I perpetuated.

  “Is that true?” Cheeks asked, rushing to Claire, pushing me out of the way so she could hug Claire.

  “I knew he was a scumbag. He gave me the creeps,” Jennifer admitted.

  Claire gave me a questioning look and I shrugged my shoulders. The team was embracing her, and if Coach Mae went with it, her spot on the team would be cemented even more than before.

  Coach Mae gave me a small smile before schooling her features and addressing my claims. “It’s true. I caught Coach Rutching making advances toward Claire and wasn’t sure what would have happened if I hadn’t walked in when I did.”

  The team murmured as they closed around Claire. I stepped back and let them bond.

  Claire looked over the girls and mouthed, “Thank you.”

  Shooting her a wink, I moved farther out of the locker room.

  “Raine.” Coach Mae’s words stopped me before I could make it to the door. “Girls, go out and start practicing. I’ll be out there soon.”

  The team shuffled out, shooting me dirty looks as they went. I smiled widely and waved at them. Claire rolled her eyes and laughed before running up and hugging me, garnering curious looks from the team.

  “Are you sure this is what you want?” Coach Mae asked when the room was clear.

  “I’m positive. Thank you for giving Claire another chance.”

  “That was all you, Raine. You’re a good person. I really do wish you’d reconsider.”

  “I can’t. I was caught red-handed with Coach Butler.”

  “He’s no longer your coach. Did you two do anything before when it would have been a violation?” Coach Mae studied my features and I realized how much I was going to miss her no nonsense attitude.

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  Coach Mae smiled and patted me on the back. “Good luck, Raine. And by the way, I like you way better than Robin Sands.”

  My mouth hung open as Coach Mae walked away. After picking my jaw off the floor, I took the time to empty my locker before driving home. If I was lucky Trip would still be there and we could do a naked workout.

  When I parked and grabbed my phone out of my purse, it was then I saw it had been blowing up with calls and texts while I was in the locker room.

  My stomach knotted when I noticed a voicemail from Dr. Bert. Not wanting to find out my fate over the phone, I put Dora back into gear and drove to the office.

  “I can’t believe you made out wi
th Trip Butler,” Jessica said with wild, jealous eyes before going into a patient’s room.

  “McKenna, I’m glad you came in. Please come to my office,” Dr. Bert said when he noticed me.

  I nodded and smiled at Harriet, the front office lady, who was always nice to me. She gave me a sympathetic smile and I guessed my fate had already been sealed.

  I sat down in the same chair I always sat in. It was a chair where I received praise for my work with the patients since I started. The chair where Dr. Bert discussed his hope of me taking over when he retired. It was the chair I used to look forward to sitting in.

  Now it was the chair where I was reprimanded for becoming friends with someone I eventually fell in love with. And from the frown on Dr. Bert’s face it was the chair where my occupational dreams were going to be ripped away.

  “McKenna, I’m very disappointed in you. I thought after our last discussion I wouldn’t have to revisit this topic.”

  “Honestly, I didn’t think we would ever have to talk about my private life again either.”

  If Dr. Bert was going to judge me on what he read in the tabloids, I refused to give him the respect he used to receive freely from me.

  “Your personal life has banged on our back door until it broke inside and flooded our office.”

  “I don’t understand,” I told him.

  “Harriet has been answering phone calls all day with patients trying to find out if you were the same girl as the one in the tabloids. We had more than one patient cancel their appointments because they refused to be treated by the girl who broke up Trip Butler and Robin Sands.”

  “Am I fired?”

  Dr. Bert frowned harder. I’d worked with him long enough to know he was expecting an apology. Hell, he probably wanted a promise that I’d stop seeing Trip altogether.

  The old McKenna would have jumped on the opportunity to keep her future plans from crashing down around her, but I wasn’t that girl anymore.

  I’d learned doing the right and safe thing sometimes wasn’t what was good for you. Things weren’t always black and white, and I wanted to live in the gray if it let me spend more time with Trip. This time I was choosing to do something for me.

  “Your behavior does go against the code of conduct contract you signed when you started.”

  He had me there. I did sign the contract, never once thinking I’d be put in a position where the best kiss I’d ever had was plastered all over social media.

  “I don’t want to fire you. Your father and I have been friends for a very long time, and besides your poor choices when it comes to Mr. Butler you have been an exceptional employee. One who I thought I was molding to take over my office.”

  “But?”

  “I just can’t have you on my staff any longer. I’ve lost patients because of your choices, and my first priority is the success of this office.”

  I nodded and got up without saying a word. There was nothing else to say.

  Harriet rushed to me and hugged me when she saw my face when I exited Dr. Bert’s office.

  “Oh, honey. Just give it a couple weeks and let it blow over. You are the best PT he has. He’s going to be crawling on his hands and knees to get you back. He’s just being a stubborn old fool who forgot what it’s like to be in love.”

  I hugged Harriet harder as I soaked in her words. They were soothing, but in a completely different way than what she wanted them to be. She was right. I was a damn good PT and anyone I oversaw was going to be damn lucky to have me as their doctor. If Dr. Bert came crawling back I wouldn’t take his offer.

  A weight lifted off my shoulders. My world had somewhat crashed in around me. People I’d never meet were spreading vicious rumors about me. I lost the only job I ever wanted, but I was fine.

  I was surviving, and Trip loved me.

  I climbed into Dora and dialed Trip, putting him on speaker while I drove to my favorite coffee shop. I thought about the huge calorie filled drink I was going to order and smiled. It was my day. I deserved it.

  “McKenna, where have you been? Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. I had to set a few things straight. I’m on my way to get sugar loaded coffee. Do you want one?”

  “What happened?” Trip asked, his voice going soft over the phone, making me feel loved.

  “I quit the team and tricked Coach Mae into keeping Claire on the team.”

  Trip whistled. “Damn, darlin’. I knew you were a miracle worker, but I’m wondering if you can walk on water now.”

  “I can if there’s a really long sandbar.”

  “I’m sorry about the tabloids. I will think of a plan to fix it all. I just need you to be patient.”

  “I can be patient. Look how long I pretended to be your friend just to get you naked.”

  “Sexy and devious. You complete me.”

  “That’s good because you may be supporting me.” I joked, knowing Trip was going to blame himself when he found out I was fired.

  “I will gladly support you for the rest of our lives. Wait, why do I need to support you?”

  I ordered and paid for my coffee, tipping the barista generously as I sipped on the sugar goodness.

  “Raine.”

  “Dr. Bert fired me today.”

  “He can’t do that. We can sue the shit out of him and take his whole office down.”

  “Technically, he can. I signed a code of conduct contract when I started.”

  “You were kissing the man you love the most in this world. How’s that against conduct?”

  I smiled at his attempt of humor. He was taking this harder than I was. “Patients called and canceled their appointments saying they refused to be treated by someone so evil. Dr. Bert thought it would be best for me and the office if I sought employment elsewhere.”

  “Dr. Bert’s a douche. If you want to get your job back, say the word. I have lawyers who could bury him if he didn’t comply with their requests.”

  “Let’s save the lawyers for later. I’m sure we’ll need them when I say something stupid to the wrong people. I mean, it’s bound to happen.”

  “Are you okay? Fuck, I knew this was going to happen. I’m sorry. This is what I was trying to keep you away from. Please don’t think differently about our relationship.”

  “I really am fine. I’m a phenomenal PT, and when I find an office where I’m appreciated they’re going to be kissing my feet.”

  “That’s my girl.” I could hear the smile in his voice.

  “As for the tabloids, it sucks, but it happened. You’re Trip fucking Butler, you’re going to be in the spotlight, and since I agreed to be with you I’m going to be in it too. I can handle it. Words someone prints or articles splashed on the Internet aren’t going to change who I am. Or who I want to be with.”

  “I love you.”

  “Good, because I love you too.”

  “I’m going to fix this. I don’t know exactly how yet, but I’m going to fix this.”

  “Butler, get on the field,” someone called out.

  “I’ve got to go, but I promise everything’s going to work out.”

  At home, I rearranged my closet. The sugar coursing through my system made me jittery and I wasn’t sure the last time I blinked.

  Renee and Norah showed up while I was in the middle of cleaning out the kitchen cabinets.

  “Aunt Kenna.” Norah ran to me and jumped, knowing I’d catch her.

  I whirled her around and giggled when we landed on the floor.

  “Sugar rush, huh?” Renee asked, kicking my foot lightly.

  “What can I say? It makes everything better.”

  “How are you holding up?”

  I moved with Norah, until we were piled on the couch. Norah got lost in her favorite cooking show and I moved to answer Renee.

  “Better than I thought. It was hard not responding to the comments on the Internet, but I figured it wouldn’t help.”

  “Those people made me so mad. Brian took my phone away. That’s wh
y I didn’t call you before coming over here.”

  “Brian’s a smart man.”

  Renee nodded. “Tell me everything.”

  After I relayed my day, Renee was pacing the kitchen. Norah kicked us out of the living room when Renee kept making frustrated noises.

  “How can you be so nonchalant? You were planning to take over Dr. Bert’s office for as long as I can remember.”

  “Because I know I’m good at what I do. I’ll find another opportunity and maybe life isn’t about having plans but seeing how it unfolds.”

  “Holy shit, you’re in love with him.” Renee grabbed my face and moved it back and forth as if she was looking for a sign.

  “I am,” I admitted, not bothering to hide the truth.

  “Damn, woman, when you decide on something you make it happen. I guess Norah might have an Uncle Trip out of this after all.”

  My stomach flopped at the thought of marrying Trip. “We just got together. If that happens I’m sure it’s years away.”

  Renee smirked and rolled her eyes.

  “What?”

  “Look how fast Brian and I moved in together. When you know, you know. These Pappies boys don’t seem to like to wait when they find the woman of their dreams.”

  I flushed and plopped down on the kitchen chair.

  “Stop,” Renee ordered when she saw my face.

  “What if this is just a phase? I’m pretty sure I’m the first girl Trip has been friends with. He said it helped him get to know me and fall in love with me before we were together, but what if now that the chase is over he doesn’t want me anymore?”

  “Stop. This isn’t McKenna, and you know it. It’s something you feel you should say because you aren’t supposed to accept happiness. Now tell me what you really feel.”

  I smiled. Renee was right. And hadn’t I just agreed with myself earlier that I wasn’t going to disrespect Trip like with stupid doubts?

  “You’re right. I love him and he loves me. If he asked me to marry him today I would. It shouldn’t be this good this fast, but it is.”

  Renee laughed and I gave her a questioning look. “Only you would think things were going good, after you had to quit your team, got fired from your job, and a bunch of ignorant asshats are talking shit about you.”