Page 128 of The Strike Zone

Or walk.

And it was probably out of her area of responsibility, but maybe she could also help me fix things with Scout. Because after using the bathroom, and figuring out how to put one foot in front of the other without causing myself excruciating pain, Scout was the priority. I had to fix everything I’d fucked up yesterday, before I’d fucked myself up.

Scout was the number one thing on my list once I was out of here.WhenI got out of here.

A bubble of panic rose in my chest and popped.

Ohshit,what if I never got out of here?

Coach had said being traded was a likelihood if I couldn’t make a decision about my career by the end of the day. End of the day,yesterday.I’d missed my deadline to fix everything. What if this was my punishment and I had to stay here for weeks? Until I fully recovered.

Was this how Coach would trade me? Would he use this injury as an excuse to bolster the team, and the next time I crouched at the plate would be in Seattle? I didn’t want to go to Seattle. I wasn’t built for rain. Scout wouldn’t like the rain. What was I saying? Scout wouldn’t come to Seattle. The long distance wouldn’t work. We’d break up.

This was bad. Really bad.

The machine monitoring my heartbeat had begun beeping in double time. But I needed to get out of here. I could withstand a little throbbing in my groin, because I needed to find Scout. I needed to find Coach. I needed…

Arrrrggghhhh.

“Mr. King. Get back into bed.Whatare you doing?” The nurse rushed over to me, gripping my arm as I attempted to move my left leg back into bed, but honestly the pain shooting through me was crippling to the point where it pierced my brain, and I could do nothing but fall back. “You need to stay in bed and stay still. Tsssk. What were you trying to do? Tsssk.”

I caught sight of her name tag—Deirdre—while she continued scolding me under her breath. I thought it probably wasn’t wise to tell her I’d planned to find the girl who may or may not be my girlfriend and beg her to forgive my stupid ass until she definitelywasmy girlfriend. Oh, and also beg for my job.

Deirdre shut off the heart rate monitor and took my blood pressure. From the soft huff she let out, I assumed that meant it was okay. At least the beeping had stopped.

“Okay,” Deirdre said. “You stay here now. Don’t be trying anything stupid again. You heard the doctor this morning, you can get out of bed this afternoon once your bandages have been changed and we hook you up to a portable IV.”

I don’t remember him saying any such thing, but for the first time, I noticed the small tubes I was attached to, not just the one in the back of my hand.

“Could I get some more pain meds, please?” I croaked, wincing from the expectation that even talking might hurt.

“I’ll see what I can do,” she grumbled, plumping up my pillow and tucking the sheet around me like she thought it would keep me in. “But only if you stay in bed this time. You’ll pull out all your drips if you’re not careful.”

I’d hand over my firstborn if she could stop this throbbing in my balls. That’s if I ever worked up the courage to have sex again. From the way I felt, just taking a piss would be akin to climbing Everest.

“I promise.”

She huffed loudly, giving me the distinct impression she didn’t believe me. She didn’t need to worry about me moving. I wouldn’t move again even if I wanted to, the pain was incapacitating. I was almost too scared to breathe.

I wouldn’t dare tell her I was kind of uncomfortable with the way she’d pushed the pillow behind me, and I didn’t think she’d appreciate me calling after her.

“There he is.”

My eyes flew open to find Lux, Tanner, and Ace walking in. Ace pushed past the other two, marching over to the bed, and pulled me into a hug before I knew what was happening.

“I’m so sorry, Park.” His voice cracked. “I’m so sorry.”

“Hey, you’re all good.” I wrapped my arms around him as best I could without tugging on the tubes, or moving my bodyin any way. “It wasn’t your fault. It was an accident.”

He stepped back, wiping a hand over his eyes. “I’m still sorry.”

“Don’t be, it would have been an awesome ball if I’d caught it.” I grinned. “But while you’re feeling like you owe me something, could you move my pillow, please?”

Tanner fell onto the couch and rearranged the cushion under his head. “You kind of did catch the ball.”

His chest shook as he tried to hold in his laugh. Lux didn’t bother holding it in, even Ace looked a little happier than he had been two minutes ago.

“How long am I going to have to put up with jokes about my balls?” I asked, my mouth twitching with a smile.

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