Page 13 of Dare to Embrace
The latter thought made me shiver slightly as I remembered the hardness to Kade’s tone when he’d said, “Tara is your agent, which means she’s calling you because she has an opportunity for you.” I knew what he was thinking—kids.
I’d promised him when my contract was up that we would start our family. Granted, I still had one year left before any notion of getting pregnant was practical. But I’d never thought that a Triple-A team would come knocking.
It wasn’t because of my performance. I was a great pitcher. It was the industry and being a female in an all-male arena. Prior to signing me with the Sea Dogs, Tara had worked her tail off to find a team interested in me. Most of the organizations she’d spoken with had been leery of signing a female. So when the Sea Dogs bit, I had jumped on the opportunity.
Regardless, I didn’t want to spend the short amount of time during this break arguing with Kade over contracts, careers, and kids. But it was inevitable.
Dread sat heavy in my stomach at the thought of how the conversation between Kade and me would play out. Yet excitement wiggled its way in. The Iowa Cubs had sent Tara an email that morning, asking when she would be able to discuss me. After our conversation the night before, Tara hadn’t expected to hear from them until well after the All-Star break.
Things were happening too fast. I needed to talk to Kade before she made any deals, though.
Someone tapped on the table before the sound of a chair dragging along the floor resonated.
I blinked to find my BFF with her head angled and worry in her dark eyes. “Are you okay?”
I popped up and threw my arms around Becca. “You look fantastic.” She was dressed in pink scrubs. Her dark hair was styled in one of those French pull-through braids that I’d seen on a waitress recently. Her makeup was flawless, and her nose ring glinted in the lights of the cafeteria. She seemed to be in her element working at the hospital.
She squeezed me hard. “I miss you.”
We embraced for a long second, then I eased away. “When did you get the piercing?” I pointed at her nose.
Smiling, she swept her gaze over me. “A couple of months ago. Talk about looking great. I wish I was as toned as you.” She gripped my biceps. “Work out much?” She snickered.
I rolled my eyes, returning to my seat. “All part of the game.”
She sat in the chair opposite me. “Please tell me that you and Kade are all right.”
I reared back. “What makes you think we’re not?” I shouldn’t have been surprised she could sense something was up since she was my best friend.
She twirled her finger around my eyes. “Girl, I see it. Something is bugging you. And as much as I love you and want to see you, you should be home with that sexy husband of yours.”
“He’s dealing with Marcus at the moment. And can’t I see my best friend?”
She laced her fingers together on the table. “Tell me what’s going on. Wait. Let me guess.” She licked her red lips, studying me. “You have a glow about you. So your marriage is fine, which I guess means you had monkey sex this morning.”
I glanced around the cafeteria, hoping no one had heard her, especially the little boy behind Becca. Nevertheless, I blushed hard, only because someone had to be listening. Sure enough, I locked eyes with an older couple two tables over who were looking at us.
Leaning over the table, I said, “Just let the entire room know.”
She laughed loudly. “Do you know what goes on in this hospital?” She waggled her eyebrows.
I held up my hand. “Don’t want to know.”
“So if you and Kade are fine, then what is it? Unless you’re pregnant.” She sat back in her chair. “That’s the only thing that could make you freak out because of your career.”
I took in a breath. “If I am, I might have to sue the IUD company.” I’d switched from the pill to an IUD over a year ago and only because the bloating and occasional nausea had become too much.
She leaned in. “IUDs are not one hundred percent preventive. You know that, right?”
I wasn’t naive to that tidbit. “I’m not pregnant.”
“Then what?”
I felt selfish that the little time we had would be spent with her listening to my problems.
That’s what friends are for.
Still, I wanted to hear all about her job, her sex life, and all those things friends shared with one another.
