Page 28 of Dare to Live
“You were just brought in.” Blaire pricked me again, that time taking blood from my arm.
“The team won,” Kade said in a flat tone, like he didn’t even care.
I imagined he didn’t. He liked baseball, but he didn’t live and breathe the game like I did.
I blew out a breath. We’d been up by two runs when I took the mound. Still, I didn’t want to be responsible for a loss.
Kade swung his gaze between the nurses. “What would cause low blood pressure?”
Steph typed on a computer that was bolted to a rolling cart. “Dehydration and diet are a couple of factors.”
Thetap, tap, tapof the keys was in sync with the beat of my pulse as I continued to stare at my handsome husband. “There’s nothing to worry about.”
He angled his head and gave me one of his blank expressions that drove me batshit crazy. Although I knew him as well as he knew me. He was silently shouting all kinds of cuss words in his head. His internal war probably went something like,I shouldn’t have let her leave for the field. I should’ve insisted that she call in sick.
The problem was that players didn’t call in sick. If for some reason I couldn’t play, I still had to show up to the field. Then the team doctor would assess me before any decisions were made about whether to put me in the lineup. Regardless, I hadn’t felt dizzy or sick when I’d arrived at the field.
Kade only grinned. I could sense he was waiting for us to be alone so he could vent his frustration. Not to mention he wanted to hear from the nurses or a doctor that nothing was seriously wrong with me.
I suspected I was tired, stressed, and dehydrated. I swear that the food I’d eaten for dinner the night before hadn’t tasted good.
“Can someone let the team know I’m okay?” I said more than asked.
“I will,” Kade replied, gripping the edge of the bed like he was holding on for dear life.
“I’m fine, Kade,” I felt compelled to say again.
A phone rang. Kade pulled out his and lifted it to his ear as he walked out.
I sighed heavily as though he’d just given me oxygen that I desperately needed.
“He’s worried.” Blaire flicked her gaze at me as she finished taking my blood. Then she zipped out of the room.
“He worries too much,” I mumbled.
If Steph heard me, she didn’t say a word but rather dove into her many questions. How many times had I puked that morning? Had I been nauseated every morning? What had I eaten last night? The list went on and on and on to include my medical history.
She rolled the computer away and stood at my bedside. “Final question. Do you think you could be pregnant?”
My mouth dropped open. “What? No! I’m using an IUD.”
She deadpanned. “Have you missed a period?”
Then Becca’s words came flashing back.“IUDs are not one hundred percent preventive. You know that, right?”
A shudder tiptoed up my spine.Pregnant?
“I hardly get one,” I whispered only because my voice was nonexistent.I can’t be pregnant.I started counting nine months out in my head. That would have me delivering in April when baseball season officially started. I was happy the Sea Dogs would support me, but I wasn’t ready to have a child now. I wanted to finish out my contract at least. Maybe if I got pregnant midway through next season, I could deliver when baseball finished in the fall. Then I could play without having to go on the disabled list. If I could manage that, the team would see that I could play and be a mom without any interruptions.
My face burned hot and bright as tears readied themselves to spill at any second.
“Makes sense,” she said. “Women athletes have been known not to have periods. The blood tests will tell us. Sit tight.”
Sit tight?I wanted to laugh. How in the world could I sit idle while I waited for test results?
“I can’t be pregnant,” I muttered.
Steph had just reached the curtain that was used as a door to the room. “Rest for now. The doctor will be in soon.”
