Zeke explained to Jeremy everything that Dr. Shanfield told us.
After knowing that everything was really okay, Jeremy sighed with relief. "Thank goodness. If you had fractured your leg, who knows what would have happened to your baseball career."
Maberry chuckled. "Breaks are easy to deal with." He grinned. "I could go out there tonight and hit a few bombs to prove how good I'm feeling."
"Who cares about you?" Jeremy rolled his eyes. "You're an adult. Jake is still a kid that just started playing baseball. I don't want him to have any setbacks so soon."
I looked up at Jeremy, amazed that he cared so much about my wellbeing.
Jeremy gave me a pat on the shoulder. "Come on. Let me show you guys the club room." He motioned for Noah to follow.
"You're just bitter because you won't be playing center field anymore after the all-star break." Maberry followed us through the doors.
Zeke and Rhys came in last.
The club room was nothing like ours. Their lockers were huge, filled with clothes, gear, and miscellaneous items.
"Ignore him." Jeremy told me and Noah. "Maberry is just eager to play, but the manager said no." He smirked and looked back at the man. "Because we're doing just fine without him."
"Ugh." Maberry split away from our group. "So childish. I'm going to talk to the adults. You stick with the children." He went over to a group of men in uniform.
Jeremy shook his head. "He's just as childish, if not more." He stopped in front of a locker and patted the black leather, rolling chair. "Jake, take a seat. Rest your leg."
I happily sat down, eager to give my leg a rest. It's been a busy day.
Jeremy made some small talk with the other three, getting to know Rhys, asking Zeke about his classes, and listened to Noah talk about the softball team.
Noah looked at me with a sad expression. "I guess this is the end of your softball days now."
"I should be fine in a week." I told him. "We have three weeks left."
Zeke shook his head. "Dr. Shanfield said to visit him next week, not that you can play next week." He thought about it. "You could probably play in the last week. We'll make you the designated homerun hitter so you don't have to run around."
"Are you abled to hit homeruns?" Jeremy asked me. He knew my one and only, official homerun came in the championship game.
"The softball field is smaller." I told him. Then stretched out my arms. "And…I'm stronger now."
"Jake and I have been working out everyday!" Noah chimed in. "Zeke is helping us prepare for a season without him."
Jeremy's smile looked a little off. "Oh. That's good. I'm sure you'll have another successful season."
Noah squinted at him. Then started to look around the club room. There were a few players scattered around, talking to one another, preparing for the game, or just relaxing.
"Can you guys still win tonight with this kind of atmosphere?" Noah asked.
Zeke put a hand on Noah's head, pushing his hat down. "This is a relaxed atmosphere. That's fine. You are relaxed before games too."
Noah fixed his hat. "Yea, but you don't let me play with my phone before a game."
Rhys laughed. "That's because you're just a kid. These are professionals. This is their livelihood. If they don't do well, they can lose their pay."
Noah hummer and pulled out his phone so he could start taking some pictures. He did a few selfies, even roping in Jeremy to pose with us. Then he took off his hat and looked where Maberry had signed. "Hey Jeremy, can I go around and ask for some autographs. If I can get everyone to sign this hat, I'll have to retire it."
Jeremy hesitated. "You can ask, but if they don't want to, don't make a scene." He looked at Zeke and Rhys. "You two can go too. Help yourself to any of the refreshments."
"Awesome!" Noah looked at me. "Want me to grab you some snacks?"
I shrugged. "Not too much."
"Okay!" Noah started to bounce away, holding his hat out to some nearby players.
Rhys glanced at Jeremy then went to follow Noah. "I'll make sure he stays out of trouble." He probably had some experience being in a club room with professional players.
Zeke looked at me directly. "You good?"
I tapped my knee. "Yea. Just resting."
Zeke nodded and went to follow the other two.
"You know…it hurts that they have to double check with you before leaving me alone with you." Jeremy mumbled. "It's like I can't be trusted."
I was surprised by his complaint, then shrugged helplessly. "They're like that with others too. Not just you. And…not just for me. Zeke protects the others too, just not so much verbally." I thought back to when Kyle was having some problems. "They're just…protective of one another."
Jeremy sighed. "That's good I guess. Doesn't make it hurt any less though. I feel like a failure as a big brother."
"You're not a failure." I hurried to say. "You…came to your senses." I flashed him a small smile. "You're trying now. Better late than never."
Jeremy seemed to be comforted by those words. He grabbed another nearby chair so he could sit down and be eye level with me. "I don't think my guilt will ever go away. I feel paranoid with every look that the Atkins give me. Or anytime they're checking on you. Like I can't be trusted alone with you. I don't want to be treated like…our birth mom." He grimaced. "I would never hurt you like that."
Jeremy could be intimidating sometimes, but he had never raised a hand to hurt me. His 'crime' would be ignoring me, but things are different now. "I think you should come to a session with me and Dr. Moore."
He was taken aback. "The psychologist?? I'm fine!"
This wasn't the first time Jeremy showed extreme aversion to seeing a therapist. I don't know what it is that makes him uncomfortable, but- "Not for you. For me. He can help you see that it's me. I'm the problem. I have a lot of issues. Trust. Claustrophobia. Pain. Violence. When I first started seeing Dr. Moore…I didn't even talk." I gulped. "They called it selective mutism. From my trauma." I glanced at Zeke and Noah. "When I first came to the Atkins, I hardly spoke. For over a month. Two months. They know how insecure I am."
Jeremy sighed. "Are you sure this isn't going to make my guilt worse?"
I blinked. "I always feel better after seeing Dr. Moore." There's never been a time where he hurt me. I would rank him in the top five adults I knew. Right after Dad and Mom.
"I have Thursday off next week." He told me. "We can do lunch or dinner. With the Atkins too."
I smiled. "Okay. I'll tell them."
He glanced down at my leg. "Maybe I can you back with me Thursday night. Then Friday take you to see the doctor. You can hang out with me for a day and come to the game Friday night." He started to make plans for next week.
I gulped. Stay the night? With him? Stay calm.
