Colby (Season Two: The Ninth Inning #6) (20 page)

I’M IN TUNNEL. I can hear people talking around me, but I can’t open my eyes. My body is so tired, and all I want to do is sleep. I try to force my eyes open, but nothing happens.

“Don’t make me wait too long. Please, don’t make me wait too long.” Colby begs me and I want to answer him, but I’m just too tired.

I can see the bright light behind my eyelids. Is it the sun? A flashlight? I carefully open my eyes, and I blink to focus my vision. Dad and Mom are at the end on my left side, both reading the newspaper. Alizeh is at the very end of my bed on her tablet, while Duke is next to her, on his phone. But it’s Colby right next to me, holding my hand and looking down at it. He looks exhausted. Has he even slept?

“Is your leg elevated?” My throat is so dry, I’m not even sure I got all the words out before my entire family jumps up.

Colby is the first to jump up and cup my face as he kisses me. “Good morning, beautiful.”

“Hi.”

Before he can say anything else, Mom damn near knocks him over. “Ariella Craft, if you ever scare me like this again and cause me more gray hair than what I already have, I will tan your hide.”

I smile. I love when Mom gets so angry because she uses old sayings that I know she’ll never follow through with. “I promise.”

Dad leans down and kisses my cheek as does Duke, but it’s Alizeh who loses it and sobs on my left shoulder. She’s crying so hard, I try to reach out my right arm to hold her, but I can’t move it. It’s wrapped up and is against my body.

“Alizeh, it’s okay now.” I try to console her.

“I’m so mad at you.” She sobs harder.

“I know, but I’m here and I’m fine.” At least, I think I’m fine. I’m not sure why my arm is wrapped like this. “Alizeh, I love you.”

“I love you too, Sissy.” She raises her head, calling me my childhood nickname.

I look at Duke. “Did we get him?”

“Yes. He confessed too.”

“He did?” I’m in shock. I figured he would never say a word. “Great.” I try to move and a sharp pain runs through my right shoulder, and I grunt in pain.

“You can’t move your right shoulder for a while.” Colby tell me softly and takes my left hand.

“Why? What’s wrong with it?”

Mom steps up and tell me about the bullet nicking my artery and the surgery I had. I’ll be wrapped for a week, and then I’ll be in a sling and start rehab to regain my strength. I know this means I’m off work, or on desk duty once I start rehab. More than likely, I’ll take some of the sick time I’ve accumulated through the years. I never use it, except a few times when I’ve been with Colby.

Before I can ask any more questions, a nurse comes in to check on me. She does the usual blood pressure, temperature, and pulse before heading out and telling us she’ll get the doctor.

“May I have some water?” I ask Colby, and he grabs a cup already full of ice-cold water. “Thanks.” I sip on the straw.

“Ariella, are you hungry? I’ll go get you something.” Dad offers, but the mention of food makes my stomach turn.

“No. I’m fine for now.” I shake my head, and I squeeze Colby’s hand. I ask where Lil D is and Alizeh, who has finally calmed down, tells me he’s with Duke’s parents just as the doctor comes in.

“Ms. Craft, I’m Dr. Mui. I’m glad to see you are awake and alert.” He smiles and tells me he’s going to examine me and check my bandages. My family say they’ll step out, but Colby never moves from my side.

Dr. Mui pulls the covers back and I can see how tightly wound I am. It’s like the shoulder of a mummy. It starts at my shoulder, around my breast, and then my hand is resting on my chest.

“The surgery went well, Ms. Craft. I didn’t see the bullet do any damage anywhere else, except the small nick in the artery. It was pretty much a through and through. You’re very lucky.”

I nod. “Thank you, Doctor. When will I be able to go home? Or take a shower?” I’m sure I didn’t smell like a bed of roses right now.

“I’m going to keep you here at least another twenty-four hours, just to make sure there are no other issues. If there are none, then you can go home and
rest
.” He’s stern with the last part. “You will stay wrapped until the stitches come out, which is about seven to ten days. Until then, it’s sponge baths for you, because they can’t get wet.”

I figured. “Okay.”

Dr. Mui then tells me I will be on clear liquids for a little while because of the pain medication. Colby thanks him and the doctor leaves the room.

Colby steals another kiss before my family comes back in. Mom tells him to sit down and elevate his leg, which he does without hesitation.

“You guys you don’t have to stick around. I know you have other things to do. I’m fine.” I shoo them away with my good hand.

Mom is staring at me hard, and I know she doesn’t want to leave. “Fletcher, maybe we can grab some breakfast?” she suggests.

“I’ll go check in at work.” Alizeh takes Duke’s hand, and he says the same thing.

After my family finally leaves, I turn my head to Colby. “You can go home too. I’m sure Buster has destroyed the house and you need to rest.”

Colby leans in close to me. “Alizeh and Duke took care of him last night. The team has been messaging me all day and if I need to, I can send one of them over there.”

“The team? They know?”

“Duke came and got me from the locker room. He was covered in your blood.” Colby stops and shakes his head, not sure he will ever erase that image.

“I’m sorry. It was such a dumb mistake to not check the corner.”

“Duke told us. Your dad isn’t happy about it. I’m sure you’ll hear about it more when you’re out of here.” He kisses the back of my hand. “I’m glad you’re okay. I don’t...I don’t ever want to be in this position again.” Colby’s blue eyes fill with tears, and I feel a tug on my heart.

“I promise. I’m not careless. I just wanted him in custody so damn bad.” I shake my head.

“I know. I know you did, but Ariella, when I saw Duke, I can’t even tell you how scared I was thinking you were hurt or...dead. I can’t feel that ever again.”

“I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Colby kisses me. “I love you, beautiful.”

“I love you.”

“WE’RE PITIFUL,” I laugh once we’ve finally settled and are alone at Ariella’s house. “I have a bum leg and you have a bum arm.”

“I know. I’m honestly surprised my parents left.”

“Me too.” Allison wanted to stay because she said we’d need the help. It’s already going to be hard to get rid of her during the day, but there’s no reason she needs to spend the night here. “My family is coming next week. We’ll be a sight to see.”

Ariella frowns, and for a moment, I’m confused. “Does that mean you’ll go back to staying at your house while they’re here?”

“I was thinking it would be better if I stayed with you. Then my parents can have my bed, and my sister and her husband can have the spare bedroom. The girls could sleep on the foldout couch. They’ll get a kick out of it because it’ll be a sleepover.”

She smiles. “That sounds good. How are the guys doing?”

The Angels have made it to the Divisional series. Their second game was earlier today and let’s just say that my injury sucks more than ever. I’m proud that they’ve made it this far though. “They won, so it’s tied now.”

“Wish you were with them, don’t you?”

I sigh. “On one hand, I do, but with what happened with you, I’m glad I’m out.” It’s a mixture of relief and disappointment that I’m not playing. “And I’m definitely not complaining about you being out of work because that means you get to spend more time with me.”

She leans into me. “Me too.”

More than anything, I’m happy she’s home and healthy, aside from her injury. It was pure agony waiting for her to wake up, to hear her voice, and see her eyes. I already knew that I love her and that she means the world to me. However, it taught me that while I don’t mind riding the wave, I’m ready to make us a little more permanent.

“So, I’ve been thinking.”

Ariella lifts her head. “About what?”

“Well, what if we could fill this house up a little more?”

“What are you talking about?”

“What if I moved in?”

Ariella sits up a little straighter. “What?”

I chuckle. “I’m already here a lot and we both like your house more. I’ve told you that I want a permanent home. That’s wherever you are, beautiful. It wouldn’t have to be immediate, but a slow move, especially with us not in full working order.”

“I promised you I wouldn’t have any more girly flip-outs, but this is serious and fast. Are you doing this because I’m hurt? Or is this something you’ve thought through?”

“I wouldn’t have mentioned it if I hadn’t thought it through, Ariella.”

“I know we love each other, and I want
more
with you, but only if you’re completely sure. Because I don’t want you to think you
have
to move in with me. I guess you can say we’re practically living together anyway, right?”

“Why would I think I have to move in with you? You haven’t told me I have to. I want to move in because I want to live with you and because I love you.”

“Have you been reading my romance novels?” Ariella says jokingly. “Colby, I would love for you to move in. I really would.”

“Good. Then I will.” I lean over and kiss her to seal the deal.

“Are you sure you want to go?” I ask Ariella. I’ll be heading out in a few minutes to go to Game 5 of the Divisional playoffs. This is the test for the team. If we lose, we’re out. I keep thinking she’ll be uncomfortable with her arm.

She tilts her head at me. “How are you going to get there?”

“Who says I want you to drive with one arm? We’d probably be better off with me driving with my left leg.”

Just then, there’s a knock on her door. I hobble over and open it. There stands Duke, Alizeh, Allison, and Fletcher. “Are y’all ready to go to the game?” Duke asks.

“I didn’t know y’all were going,” Ariella answers from next to me.

“It’s a big game; I invited them,” I explain.

“Well, let’s go,” she says. She lets Buster out one more time and then we head to the game.

I got us tickets to sit with the other family members, but I’ll be heading down to the locker room for a few minutes first. Once everyone is in their seats, I head down. If I can’t play, then I’d still like to see the guys before the game. The usual chatter is there, but the overall mood somehow seems simultaneously subdued and upbeat. The boys are about to head onto the field for warm-ups.

“Sugar Daddy!”

Figures Hector is the first one to spot me. Heads turn as I walk into the room.

“Y’all ready?”

“Hell yeah, we are,” Tanner hoots.

“Wish you could be out there with us,” Jordan says.

“There’s always next year. I had better head back. It’ll take me forever to get to the seats again.”

“No words of wisdom?” Felix asks.

I think about it for half a second. “Play hard. That’s all I got.” With that, I turn and slowly make my way to Ariella and her family. I wasn’t lying when I said it would take me forever. The guys are already on the field and nearly done with warm-ups by the time I sit down. Only to have to stand for the national anthem.