Out of Left Field Read Free

conversation and the injection in your file. You know that, right?”
    “ Yeah, but by the time anybody finds out about it, the game’ll be over and I’ll have come clean.”
    She shook her head, a knot forming in her gut. “I don’t feel good about this.”
    “ But you’ll do it?” His tone was so hopeful, his expression so pleading, she knew she was about to become the biggest, stupid idiot of them all.
    She sighed. “Yeah. Okay. I’ll do it. On two conditions.”
    “ Name them.”
    “ I want that shoulder examined. If it’s too injured, the deal’s off.”
    His shrug looked more like a flinch than an actual shrug. “Fine. Whatever. What else?”
    “ As soon as the game’s over—”
    “ Yeah, no pro—”
    “ Let me finish, X.” She waited for his nod. “As soon as the game’s over, you go to Coach and come clean. I’m not even going to give you ten minutes. If he gets wind that I knew you were playing injured he could have my job. You want me to lose my job?”
    “ No! Hell, no.”
    “ Good to know.” She held out her hand. “Do we have a deal?”
    He took her palm, but instead of shaking it, he pressed his lips to her knuckles. She pretended the flutters in her stomach were a touch of indigestion.
    “ Deal, sweet thang. Get your needle.”
    She managed to keep the shiver to herself. “Examination first.”
    His smile turned sultry. “Examine me, Doc.”
    “ Knock that off.” She stuck her head out the door and called for Jeff.
    The trainer came into the office, looked from Frankie to Xavier and shrugged. “What’s up?”
    “ He wants a Cortisone shot. I want him examined first.”
    “ Uh, okay.” Jeff knew, as did everybody else in the room she could do the eval herself, but she really needed the little CYA buffer Jeff’s opinion would give her. “I guess we’ll have him sit on the edge of your desk, so I can reach him.”
    Xavier moved without glancing her way. Yeah, she’d pulled a fast one, and she wouldn’t feel sorry for it. If her tactic meant he got the help he needed, so be it. Jeff stepped up next to Xavier and put the shoulder through its paces. Xavier stared straight ahead, jaw locked, completely emotionless.
    Jeff stepped back. “Anything?”
    “ Nope.” Xavier shook his head.
    Jeff looked at Frankie like she’d lost her mind then sauntered out of the room. When the door clicked closed, Xavier reached for his shoulder, bent at the waist, and gritted out a long, drawn-out string of curse words.
    “ What the hell, Doc? Are you trying to kill me?” When his eyes met hers, tears twinkled in the hazel depths along with a bone-penetrating hatred that had her taking a step backward.
    “ No, I’m trying to protect you.”
    “ How about protecting me a little less next time?” His eyes became slits. “Can I have the damned shot now?”
     
    ***
     
    Prayers did come true apparently. Xavier stood in left field, praying the ball wouldn’t come his way. Top of the ninth and the thing had avoided him like he had the plague or some shit. Even better, there was an out. Two more and he could be done acting like he was a-okay.
    The runner on third led off.
    The crack of the bat made X’s blood curdle. The bastard runner tagged up on third and headed home.
    Instinct took over. Xavier eyed the ball coming directly at him. He watched it fall from the sky like manna from heaven to land with a solid thump in his glove. Without thought, he cocked his arm back and sent the ball on a one-way ticket home.
    His shoulder hollered.
    So did he.
    Pain ripped through his entire body. He clutched at his arm, checking to see if it was still attached, actually surprised when it was.
    He dropped to his knees.
    What a pussy!
    His weakness would be all over every sports show nationwide by dinnertime. His rocking motion would surely be the cherry on top. He tried to get to his feet. His body swayed, but he managed to get upright. The stadium blurred. He blinked and a tear slipped down his