Rundown (Curveball Book 2) (41 page)

Grabbing
my face wash, I apply the cream generously before scrubbing like
crazy, hoping that I look like I’m washing rather than hiding.
 He’s only trying to reassure me because he thinks he’s
going to be the one in danger.  

Little
does he know I just might take his place.

“
I
am definitely the luckiest guy in the world.  You know that
right?” he asks.

“
Trust
me,
I’m
the lucky one.”

Drew
leaves me to finish and I step out of the shower and dry myself off. 
I comb through my wet mane and quickly throw on my clothes when my
phone rings.  Picking it up, I growl with annoyance.  

Geez,
don’t they ever give up?  

“
Whatever
you want, I’m not interested,” I curtly answer the phone.

I
probably shouldn’t shout at a reporter but I need to take my mood
out on somebody.

“
Um…hello?”
a timid voice asks. “Ms. Sullivan?”

“
Who’s
calling?” I bark.

“
The
office of Dr. Stevens.”

“
Who?”

“
Dr.
Stevens.  Is this Ms. Sullivan?”

“
Yes.”

Dr.
Stevens…

“
I’m
calling to let you know that the IUD we ordered came in.  Would
you like to schedule an appointment?”

“
My
what?”  
IUD
?
What is she talking about?

Then
it hits me…this is my new gynecologist.  I never went back.

I
never went back.  

I
can’t believe I forgot.  Then again, I’ve forgotten a lot of
things lately.  If my mind wasn’t so preoccupied by Mark’s
return and everything else I wouldn’t be so distracted.

“
We’ve
been calling since before Christmas, but couldn’t leave a message
as your voicemail has been full.”

“
Has
it really been that long?” I question.

“
Yes. 
Nearly two months.”

“
Oh…”

Two
months of missed phone calls.  That’s nearly two and a half
months without protection.  Wow, we’re so lucky.

Oh,
my God.

Grabbing
my hair and tossing it over one shoulder, I twist my fingers through
the damp strands. I back into the wall, causing a resounding
thud
as my head connects with it.

Oh.
My. God. 

No…I
can’t be.  

Staring
at my reflection, I contemplate my symptoms.  Fine, I’ve been
tired, emotional, forgetful and have sensitive nipples…so what? 
Oh, and at times I’m dizzy and lets not forget that I’ve thrown
up.  

Shit.

Just
breathe…it could just as easily be the stress.
 

My
lame attempt to reassure myself that everything’s ok does nothing
but freak me out.  I’ve been to this party several times.
 There’s no point in trying to pretend there isn’t a chance
because the math is simple.  Lots of sex without protection
equals the possibility of an ‘oops’.  

I
conjure up images of a future that involves diapers and bottles,
midnight feedings and crying…oh, the crying.  The
rational side of my brain tells me that going back to that would be
insanity.   The other side, the side that has me
instinctively rubbing my belly, is doing backflips, pleading with me
to have a mini Drew even if I don’t currently have one growing
inside me already.

“
Miss? 
Are you there?”

“
Oh,
sorry.  Um…what were we talking about?”

“
An
appointment.  Did you want me to book you one?”

“
I’m
not sure I’ll need
that
appointment.  Can I call you
back in an hour?”

Completely
flustered, I drag myself downstairs and put on my best game face just
in time to say goodbye to Drew.  Thirty minutes later, the kids
are either at school or daycare and I’m standing at the checkout
line of a local pharmacy, embarrassed beyond belief to be buying a
home pregnancy test.

“
They
had a two-for-one deal on that other brand,” Corinne offers.  

“
Not
another word,” I snap as she pretends to be looking through trashy
magazines.  

This
day just got unnecessarily more interesting.

“
You’re
awfully quiet,” Drew notices.  “You ok?”

“
Mmm
hmm,” I hum.

“
You’ve
barely said two words since I—”

“
They’re
here.”  I cut him off.  

Saved
by the bus.

Standing
on the corner with Maddie in his arms, Colin and Aubrey skip down the
steps of the bus just as Drew’s phone rings.   

“
Mom,
how are you?  Everything ok?” Drew asks. 

Being
that it’s freezing outside, we drove the two blocks between the bus
stop and the house.  As soon as we get in the car, Drew asks if
he can put the phone on speaker.

“
Go
ahead,” I reply.

“
Ok,
Mom.  You’re on speaker.  Go ahead.”

“
Noni!”
Maddie exclaims when she figures out whom Drew’s been talking with.

“
Hold
on, son.  Your dad wants to talk too.”

“
Ace!”
my Dad exclaims.

“
Why’d
he call you Ace?” Aubrey asks from the backseat.

“
Because
dear,” Drew’s dad replies.  “The media is going wild over
Drew’s return.  Ace is a term used to describe a team’s star
pitcher…their number one.  For the Red Sox the ace is Drew.”

“
Ace,”
Aubrey quietly repeats, looking out the window.  I glance at
Aubrey in the rearview mirror just in time to catch the corners of
her mouth pull up into a rare and beautiful smile. 

“
What’s
the big news?” Drew asks.

“
Your
mom and I were going to surprise you.”

“
We’re
coming to see your first game during spring training!” his mother
squeals. 

I
don’t know that I’ve seen Drew this happy, and I desperately want
part of it.   They’ve only been to one of his games
before and he’s been with the Red Sox since he was twenty. 
I’m shocked that they’ve decided to go all the way to Florida for
their first trip, but hopefully it’s the first of many. 
Perhaps they’ve realized how much they’ve missed out on by
refusing to travel.  

“
Are
you serious?” Drew asks enthusiastically.

“
We
bought a mobile home.  We wondered if we left tomorrow if we
could stay a few days with you before we drive down.”

“
That’s
awesome.  It…it means a lot.  I’ll get a couple of good
seats and leave the tickets at will call.”

“
Better
make it six all together,” I say, and I swear he just might cry. 

Thank
God we’re at a red light because if not, Drew would have caused an
accident with the hug he’s put me in.  The kids meanwhile are
about to jump out of their seats.

Please
let us make it that far.

“
Are
you ok?” Drew asks for the fifth time as I open the closet to fetch
his coat. 

Grabbing
it from the hanger, I carefully slip the GPS attachment that I took
earlier into his pocket, and cross my fingers he doesn’t find it
before he’s intended to.  

“
Yeah…no…I
don’t know.”  My eyes fall to his shoes.  

Drew’s
question is easy enough.  The answer?  I still haven’t
figured that out.

Don’t
look up or he might know you’re hiding something…or several
things.

“
Mark
assured me there is a team of agents that will be trailing us. 
If anything goes wrong, they’ll swoop in.”

“
I
thought you said everything would be fine?”  The words tumble
out of my mouth sharper than intended.  He must think I’m
unstable the way my moods swing from one extreme to the next.  I
guess if there’s anything good about the insanity that’s become
our norm, it’s that at any moment there are a plethora of things
that could be causing me to be upset or distracted.  I know it’s
wrong to let him think I’m troubled because of Mark’s plan.  I
don’t want to lie.  I’m not going to risk losing him,
especially not now.  

“
It
will be, knock on wood.” 

Drew’s
words click when his hand drops to his zipper area where he literally
knocks his fist against his ‘package’. 

“
You’re
so mature,” I mock, barely containing my amusement.

“
Finally
made you smile though.” 

Drew
leans in, giving me a no-holds-barred kiss that doesn’t last nearly
as long as I want it to.  He reluctantly pulls back and for a
fleeting moment genuine worry fills his eyes.  I must have
visibly reacted because the concern is gone just as quickly as it
appeared. 

“
I
have to go.  I love you.”

Unable
to speak without choking on my emotions, I simply nod and place my
hand over his heart.

Five
minutes later, I walk back inside after seeing him out to the car.  I
change into a pair of jeans and a black long sleeve thermal shirt.  I
slip on my knitted black Uggs and make sure I’m wearing the silver
bracelet from Spencer’s apartment that I conveniently forgot to
return.