City of Champions

by Barlow, Chloe T.

  Jenna had never talked or acted that way with a guy before. Yet, it came naturally to her with Wyatt. Above all, freeing herself from her own self-imposed rules and shackles at such a terrifying time seemed so important, that she couldn't imagine behaving any other way.

  But until then, she had no choice but to make the call. She put on her glasses to read his phone number. When Dr. Kannan answered his direct line, it took Jenna a moment to speak.

  "Hello, Dr. Kannan. It's Jenna Sutherland returning your call."

  "Yes, Jenna, thank you. And I already told you — please call me Raj."

  "Of course, Raj, sorry, I forgot," she answered, bouncing back and forth on her feet in agitation.

  "I completely understand. I'm sure the last couple days have been stressful for you. How are you feeling after the biopsy? Any tenderness?"

  "A bit, but it's much better today."

  "Good. Well, I have the results. I appreciate your patience. I'm sorry to have to deliver results over the phone, but…"

  "It's no problem. I know you squeezed me in… Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you."

  "It's fine. Well, Jenna, my initial thought was correct. We are dealing with fast growing phyllode tumors. At your age, that was a likely culprit. From the biopsy, ultrasound, and MRI, it appears we are looking at borderline phyllode tumors, meaning the cells are exhibiting both benign and malignant mutations."

  "Oh," Jenna said softly. His words were floating in her head, as if suspended in a series of delicate bubbles that gently bumped each other, before coasting over to another corner of her brain.

  This must have been how it began for my mother, she thought. It would've started with just a series of words for her, too: aggressive, malignant, borderline, radiation.

  These words are no different than any other — a collection of consonants and vowels, pushed together to communicate something to another person. But there is nothing innocent about them. They just lead to even worse words, until the only one that had been left for my mother was the most viciously brutal one of all: death.

  "Jenna, are you still there?"

  "Yes, Raj. I'm sorry. Please go on."

  "The good news is they are not clearly malignant. However, since they are borderline, we still have a lot to be worried about. We can't be certain what we're dealing with until they're removed through a lumpectomy. I will want to do that very soon. Followed by radiation to be sure we've gotten everything. It's very targeted, so you shouldn't have hair loss beyond the sight where we conduct the focused treatments. We do need to be vigilant though, Jenna. There's a chance with borderline phyllode tumors that they can metastasize, spreading cancer and malignancy throughout your body. Even if that doesn't occur, they can come back after surgery if we haven't effectively addressed the problem. These tumors can be very aggressive. I don't want to take any chances here…"

  "Malignant phyllodes are what my mother had," she answered, her voice sounding distant to her own ears.

  "I know. Your gynecologist, Laney, told me."

  "And you think a lumpectomy is the way to go for me?"

  "That is up to you. Lumpectomies with targeted radiation have been very successful, though a double mastectomy is the most powerful weapon I have."

  She sat down, waiting for a moment in silence, before deciding.

  "I'd like to try and keep my breasts. If this doesn't work, we can go from there," she whispered, the words seeming like they were coming from someone else, who was very far away.

  It felt to Jenna as though she were watching a movie — seeing and hearing the conversation. She was judging the scene from the comfort of her theater seat. All the while having the safety of knowing she could leave when this horrible film was finally over.

  But it wasn't going to end. The credits weren't going to run across any screen. She wouldn't watch the lights come back up.

  Because this was her life, her story, and there was no guarantee of a happy ending.

  "Very well, Jenna. A lot of women make that choice. I understand. However, it means the radiation course I mentioned is vital after the lumpectomy. The size of your available breast tissue will actually increase the chances I can remove a sufficient amount of the area surrounding the tumors, too."

  "Finally having huge boobs will make my life easier," she said, with a dry laugh.

  "I can't promise that, Jenna, but we'll get to the bottom of this. I wish I could've told you they were definitely benign and that we'll be out of the woods soon. But we're just going to have to fight some more, is all."

  "Fight? I can do that," she said.

  "Good. Now, I'd really like to get this lumpectomy scheduled right away. Unfortunately, Christmas Eve is only a couple of days away, and I don't think I have to tell you that scheduling procedures around the holidays is a nightmare. I spoke to my team already, in the hopes you wanted to go ahead and schedule. The soonest we can see you is January third."

  "That works," she answered. Aubrey was set to be in Denver until January sixth. Jenna would let her know then, after the procedure was over. She saw no reason to worry everyone for no reason.

  "You'll need to have a couple weeks of recovery and be prepared for the radiation course. After I have a chance to look more closely at these tumors and at your body's response to their removal and treatment, we will know if…"

  "There is cancer?"

  "Right. It will also let us know if we've actually gotten rid of any and all concerning tissue. Now that we have a plan, I'll just need you to tell me who will be accompanying you, so I can pass that information on to my nurses."

  "No one's coming. I'm not planning on having anyone there with me for the procedure. I'll make arrangements for a car service to bring me home."

  "Oh, Jenna, I'm not comfortable with that."

  "We have this under control, Raj. I don't want to worry anyone. I'll sign a release…"

  Out of nowhere, Jenna felt someone from behind her grab the phone and remove it from her hand, causing her to jump out of her seat with a gasp, before spinning around in terror.

  "What the hell…" she said in shock at seeing Trey standing behind her, a worried look on his face. "Trey, give me back the phone."

  But he was already speaking to Dr. Kannan.

  "This is her friend, Trey Adler. Hello. No, I will call you Dr. Kannan. That works for me. Don't worry. I'll be there with Jenna. Yes, I'll take her home. Of course, thank you. Let me give you back to her."

  Trey held the phone out to her, simply waiting for her to take it back from him. She was still agape with shock, but she finally managed to grab it from him and struggle out a few words again.

  "Thank you, Raj."

  "You’re welcome, Jenna. There's nothing to do now but wait. So, please try to relax and enjoy your holidays."

  "I'll try. Happy Holidays to you, too, Raj."

  Jenna hung up and slowly turned to look at Trey's face, guilt rushing through her at being caught with her secret.

  Trey put down his coat on the kitchen table and Jenna jumped with nervous surprise.

  "A little jittery, huh, Jenna?" he asked.

  "Yeah, a little, I guess — especially when you barge into my apartment like this."

  "I didn't barge in…Aubrey let me into the building when I passed her in the parking lot."

  He looked at her intently enough to convince her he'd heard every word of her conversation and Jenna felt the features of her face fall in resignation. Somehow, keeping her fear a secret from everyone had made her feel more in control of the situation, but that had been a foolish crutch. She knew that now.

  "Why don't you have a seat, Jenna," Trey asked, pulling out a chair for her.

  "Huh?" she asked ineloquently, only to feel him push her down into the chair.

  "What are we drinking?"

  "You want a drink, Trey?"

  "Sure. You want one, too. Where do you keep the hooch?"

  "Cabinet next to the fridge. Glasses are to the right of that," she answered, al
most dazed by his casual ease as he walked around her apartment, when her own emotions were tumbling over themselves with fear and dread that he would reveal her secret to everyone they knew.

  "Great."

  Trey moved quickly around her kitchen as though it were completely ordinary for him to be there.

  He was in jeans and a plain white tee shirt that revealed multiple tattoos up and down both arms. Jenna chose to stare at those colorful markings instead of reflecting on the inevitable conversation she still wasn't ready to have.

  Before she knew it though, he was sitting at the table and looking at her again with friendly concern that sent a spasm through her chest.

  "I went with bourbon," he said simply, placing the bottle down on the table along with two half full glasses. Handing her one, he clinked it with his own, "Cheers."

  "Cheers," she mumbled, taking a sip and counting each silent second. He didn't speak for some time. Instead, he let her drink her bourbon while he leaned back in his chair sipping his own.

  Oddly, his patience was almost maddening and Jenna couldn't bear the quiet anymore.

  "What brings you here, Trey?"

  "Well, I needed to get some stuff for Tea for Christmas. She said you have all the holiday stuff, not her."

  "I do, I hadn't even thought about that. Ever since Jack died suddenly right before Christmas six years ago, she couldn't be near the stuff without having a panic attack. That's why it's all here."

  "Wow, that's too bad. Well, I guess she's trying to rip the Band-Aid off," he answered simply, taking a last sip of his drink and refilling their glasses.

  "Yeah, it looks like it. So you're spending the holidays with them?"

  "Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day, at least. They invited me to everything, but I figure they need some privacy. New family and all."

  "You're pretty settled in here in Pittsburgh, then?"

  "For a while. The feds still need help trying to figure out who bribed David. He claims not to know. Either he's more terrified of them than the US Government, or he really has no clue."

  "God, I can't believe that all of that is still going on."

  "It feels like that to you, but this case is still a baby, trust me."

  "How do you know?"

  "I just do," he said, with a hard edge to his voice.

  "Tea and Griffen aren't worried about it, are they?"

  "I don't think so. What are you doing for Christmas? You know Tea said you were welcome to join us for Christmas Eve."

  "I know."

  "And Aubrey said you have a computer you need fixed when she let me in?" Trey continued.

  "She was probably trying to get you to service something else. She thinks sex is the cure for any bad mood."

  "I can't say I disagree — generally speaking. But I don't think it would help your situation right now. I mean…"

  "You heard everything, huh?" Jenna leaned back in her seat and watched him. He had a calming influence on her, like a brother she never had.

  Trey had loads of money, classic good looks, and a lean muscular body, offset by piercings and numerous tattoos. Not surprisingly, most people thought she was insane for only wanting to be his friend. Yet, they'd hit it off in a purely platonic way ever since he came to Pittsburgh to continue assisting in the investigation into Jack Taylor's death. Which meant she must be the only woman in America — hell, the entire world — that didn't want to sleep with him.

  "I did. I'm sorry. But in my defense, I am constantly listening in on things."

  "That's your defense?" she asked, with a snort.

  "I didn't say it was a good one. It's a tool of my trade."

  "You mean your computer hacker, residing in the gray area of the law, trade?"

  "Something like that," he answered with a small smile. "Listening in or not, I had a feeling something was bothering you when we talked at the Christmas party. It also now makes a lot more sense why you're hooking up with that McCoy guy. He didn't seem like someone I pictured you dating."

  "What are you talking about, Trey?"

  "I saw you with him, leaving the coatroom at Carol's party, right before all hell broke loose."

  "Oh, God." Jenna threw her face in her hands, completely mortified.

  "I'm guessing no one else knows about you two?"

  "There's nothing to know."

  "There's not? You two didn't seem like 'nothing' to me. But what do I know? Look, do what feels right for you right now. You've got a lot going on."

  "Are you always so nosy?"

  "Yeah, pretty much."

  "Does that mean you expect me to tell you all about what you heard?"

  "Not if you don't want to."

  "I appreciate that. Please don't tell anyone about any of this. I'm just not ready for them to know."

  "It's your decision to make, so I'll keep it to myself. How about you get me some Christmas decorations so you can have some time to yourself?" he asked gently, and she smiled.

  After gathering years of holiday decorations, they walked out to his car and loaded it up with lights, figurines, and any other tacky festive goodies they could find.

  Jenna looked at him and said, "Thank you, Trey."

  "For what?"

  "For talking to me, for taking me to my procedure when it comes…"

  "Of course, I'm your friend, Jenna. I'm not going anywhere."

  "You seem like such a tough guy, it's all a bit surprising."

  He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "I like nice girls, but shh, don't tell anyone. Come here, you," he added, pulling her into a hug that smelled like leather and comfort.

  Jenna allowed one tear to slide down her cold cheek, before rubbing it off on his jacket and backing away.

  "You'll be all right, Jenna?"

  "I hope so. Thanks," she answered with a soft smile that he returned.

  "Call or text me if you need anything."

  She nodded and walked away. After she'd made it almost halfway through the parking lot Trey yelled after her, "And let me know when you want me to pick you up after the New Year, okay?"

  "Okay, bye," she said, with a smile and a wave.

  Her emotions still felt incredibly raw as she turned back toward her building. Jenna had only made it about ten more yards before she saw Wyatt waiting for her, barely hidden behind the back end of his SUV.

  She gasped a bit in surprise as she took him in — his arms were crossed and the expression on his face was one of pure fury.

  "Jesus, Wyatt, you scared the hell out of me," Jenna said to him, her eyebrows raised and a hand to her heart in a cartoonish image of shock. Her cheeks were pink from the cold and her eyes a little red.

  She looked beautiful to him, but he didn't let himself care. He was too busy feeling like punching a wall, or strangling her tattooed clandestine visitor.

  "Get inside and get your stuff, Jenna."

  "Oh, it's Jenna now, is it? Not Doc? What are you doing here? I thought we were meeting at your place?"

  "I said get inside — now. Unless you want me to lose my shit in your parking lot."

  "Don't tell me what to do, Wyatt."

  "It looks like maybe I have to, seeing as how I'm gone for one game and you're all over that asshole."

  "You're kidding, right?"

  "Fuck no, I'm not kidding. Is that why you said you didn't want anything to do with me after New Year's? Because that guy is coming by to pick you up?"

  "That's what you think that was?"

  "It sure as hell is what it looked like. If it's not, then just tell me what you're really up to with him."

  "Right, because that's the only possible reason why he’d be here. I'm not really enjoying being around you right now, you know. I guess you're perfect and don't have anything you keep to yourself."

  Wyatt couldn't speak. Everything was getting out of his control so quickly. He'd practically raced to Jenna's apartment from the airport. She was all he could think about while he was gone, though he didn't risk asking hims
elf why he felt that way.

  Her opinion about his shoulder had been the last thing on his mind. His mind had played over multiple scenarios of how she'd act when he saw her again, but none of them involved her hugging a guy who was far too close a friend for Wyatt's taste. They also didn't include her freezing him out like this.

  It felt to him like she was making all the calls on the field, and he'd never gotten a chance to see the playbook.

  How can one person turn everything upside down for me so quickly? He wondered.

  All he'd understood was he needed to see her, especially after she sent him that picture of her chest. He felt like he was fourteen again, drooling over a perfect pair of tits.

  It had shocked him how much he'd actually missed her. He didn't even go home first. Instead, he'd headed straight to her apartment to start their planned holiday together. He was even excited to talk to her about the game.

  Had she watched it? Did she notice how much better I'm playing right now?

  "Oh, so now you're silent. Fine, Wyatt. You're unreal. I'm going inside now, by the way. Not because you told me to, but because I'm cold, I've had a shitty morning, and I want to go inside. You can stay here by your car and brood by yourself until the cows come home, for all I care."

  Jenna walked briskly into her apartment and Wyatt stalked after her.

  She opened her door and he could see her hand shaking slightly on the knob.

  It was clear she was upset and part of him wanted to comfort her, but the rest of him was too overcome with frustration and anger to do anything but seethe. He needed her to be out of control, too — for her to remember he affected her, as well. Maybe she was mad, but he had to make her be glad to see him.

  She threw off her coat, her back to him. Wyatt tossed his jacket on top of hers. This conversation wasn't over.

  "I came here because I was looking forward to seeing you and getting our holidays started. But it looks like you didn't even notice I was gone," he growled out to her.

  She spun around so quickly, that her blonde hair whipped aside with her, slapping her cheek. Gone was her cool exterior. Everything about her was raging and hot.

  She pushed his chest forcefully and said, "Maybe I was thinking about you while you were away. Maybe I couldn't wait to go and see you. Maybe I was sure that seeing you would turn this day around. Maybe you'd know I felt that way if you let me speak before you started acting like a Neanderthal."