Page 101 of Hard Hitter
O’Doul shrugged. He really didn’t want to get into it.
“But there’salwaysa better way,” Mulvey pressed. “If a guy found he couldn’t keep going just the same way, there are people he could talk to about it. For example, you should know that your team psychiatrist enjoys complete doctor-patient privilege. The things a player says to him in confidence will never be repeated. Your team sports-medicine specialist,” he pointed at Dr. Herberts, “is contractually obligated to tell management about health issues which affect an athlete’s ability to play.”
O’Doul nodded. He knew that.
“But one of the reasons Nate Kattenberger employstwophysicians for his team, is to accommodate his players’ health in a way which allows for privacy when strictly necessary.” The shrink grinned.
“Interesting,” O’Doul said slowly. That distinctionwassomething he really ought to tell his guys, if indeed they were still his guys when the whole scandal had burned itself out. It was potentially useful information.
“In fact...” The shrink patted his pocket and drew out a business card. “I think it makes sense for the team captain and I to discuss it privately later this week. Just to be sure we’re on the same page.” He extended the card to O’Doul. They locked eyes.
He hesitated, but not very long. Talking about himself sounded like no fun at all. But if it kept his head in the game, he’d give it a shot. Once. He took the card and shoved it into the back pocket of his jeans. “Thanks,” he said gruffly.
“Thank you for your time,” Herberts said, rising. “If you have any further questions, my door is always open.”
“But mine is opener,” the psychiatrist said with a wink.
O’Doul remained in his chair until they had both disappeared. Then he let out a giant sigh of relief. He’d passed the drug test. It wouldn’t make sense for the team to get rid of him now. They wouldn’t do it right before play-offs unless the publicity was so awful they couldn’t avoid it. Coach Worthington would have to let him play tonight, too, or there would only be more gossip on the blogs.
So that was one hurdle cleared. But there were plenty more. He needed to speak to Ari, to lay his sorry story at her feet and ask for forgiveness. She thought he’d gotten close to her only to preserve his good name. But that was exactly the reverse of what had happened. The moment he realized Vince and Ari were connected, a smarter man would have kept his distance.
He wasn’t a smarter man, though. He was a smitten one. Convincing her that he was worth the trouble was going tobe an uphill battle. But he’d do it. He’d do anything for more of her attention.
But first, it was game night.
***
After a rest at home, O’Doul walked to the stadium alone. The security guard at the players’ entrance let him in as usual. So that was another hurdle jumped.
The first person he saw inside the door was Ari. She was trailed by an older version of herself—an attractive woman with long wavy hair shot through with gray streaks. And a very elderly man.
“Sweetheart,” he called out before he could think better of it.
She turned around, surprise on her face. “Hi.”
“Hi,” he said a little awkwardly, wondering how friendly he should be in front of her family. Maybe she hadn’t mentioned him to her mother.
Ari closed the distance between them, stood up on tiptoe, and kissed his cheek. “Mom, Uncle Angelo, this is Patrick.”
Her mother beamed. “Thank you for all the help you showed our baby girl,” the woman said.
“Mom,” Ari warned.
But her mother cackled. “Sorry, love. But I still worry, no matter how capable you are.”
Patrick shook both the visitors’ hands. He was glad Ari had her family around her. “Are you back in the house on Hudson Street?”
“Just got back in this afternoon,” Ari said, her eyes on her shoes.
He should have felt happy for her, but it meant she wouldn’t be sleeping in his bed tonight. “That’s great,” he said with as much conviction as he could muster. “I’d better...” he pointed toward the locker rooms.
“Yeah,” Ari agreed. “Have a great game. Take care of yourself out there.”
“Thanks.” He gave them a wave and moved down the hallway.
Ari’s mother murmured something to her daughter as he walked away. It sounded like, “He’s so handsome.”
Her daughter’s response was to shush her mother.
