My Own Worst Enemy

Whoosh

Grace woke up the next morning, completely out of it. She had woken up multiple times throughout the night to vomit, her roommates becoming quite concerned. It had to be a stomach bug.

There was no other option that she would entertain.

She went through the motions of her day, the normally pleasant smell of coffee causing her to swallow another ball of vomit.

Please, Gracie. Please go see a doctor.

Gracie saw the text from Christian, her heart warming slightly. His concern for her truly made her feel special; like she mattered to him as more than just any other fuck.

I'm going in after my 2:30 class gets out. You should be driving to work though, Christian.

Gracie looked back at the essay she was writing on fetal development and she felt her eyes water.

God... What if she was pregnant? Christian shouldn't be saddled with that. He was 26... and Milwaukee's most eligible bachelor.

He shouldn't be tied down like that.

And Gracie wasn't moving back to Milwaukee. It wasn't an option... But she couldn't afford an abortion. She'd be stuck, too...

She couldn't think like that. She couldn't. She wasn't pregnant. She wouldn't have to hide a pregnancy and baby from a professional athlete. She wasn't going to have to drop out.

It wasn't going to happen. It was just the flu.

***

Pregnant.

Six different tests all confirmed what the doctor had told her... jesus fuck she was screwed.

Gracie? What did the doctor say?

Gracie frowned at the text and checked the time. There was no way the game was over yet. No way.

I'm fine. Just the flu... Why aren't you playing right now?

They were home, so it wasn't a rain delay...

I was ejected. Got beaned and started a fight with the pitcher.

Gracie rolled her eyes and shook her head, momentarily forgetting about the damning sticks in front of her.

That's dumb and you know it. Are you okay?

She was genuinely concerned for his well being. He didn't have much fat, so all pitches hit either muscle or bone.

Yeah. Giant bruise on my knee and I'm probably going to need a day off. But I'm okay. Are you?

Gracie smiled at his concern, wiping her eyes. She didn't know what was going to happen in the future... she didn't know how the next year would progress. But she couldn't focus on that. She needed to focus on the now.

I'm okay. It should go away soon. Ice your knee, CY. FaceTime at 11?

It was their routine. He'd FaceTime her when he got home from Miller Park and they'd talk until Gracie fell asleep around 12:30. Gracie truly didn't know what this was, but she could feel it ending poorly.

She was falling fast. That, combined with a pregnancy, is a recipe for disaster and heartbreak.

Christian was a professional athlete. He doesn't have time for a fat nobody in Minnesota. She didn't fit his brand, and she knew how important his brand was to him.

She didn't fit, and she could feel her heart splintering in her chest already. It wasn't right. It wasn't fair.

But baseball was a business and Christian needed to ascribe to what was expected from a businessman.

***

"Still talking to that fine BBW you brought in here a while ago?" Jacob Barnes winked, slithering next to Christian.

"She has a name, asshole. And I am, yes," Christian glared at Jacob, locking his phone and moving to the other side of the plane. It had been almost a month since the fated hit by pitch. Which meant it have been 6 weeks since he'd seen Gracie and he was finally going to see her within the next 24 hours.

God, he missed her. Her curves. Her voice. The timbre of her moans.

He wasn't one to catch feelings, but he could sense it now. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder and shit, huh?

The crisp May air smacked Christian in the face as he stepped on the tarmac in Minneapolis, a slight shiver running down his spine. Gracie had prepared him for what to expect weatherwise, but the wind was still a bit much.

"Team dinner at the hotel, then you guys can explore the city. Curfew at midnight," Counsell said sternly as they pulled into the Hyatt Regency just outside of downtown Minneapolis.

Christian knew that Grace lived close, and that she only needed a half hour's notice, but Christian texted her right away.

We're grabbing dinner. I'll try to be done in an hour, tops. I can't wait to see you babygirl.

He included a link to the app for his hotel key, insinuating that he wanted her in his room when he got done. God he couldn't wait to taste her body again.

***

The dinner was just under an hour, and Christian rushed to his hotel room after. God he was so anxious to see her. To feel Gracie.

"Hi," Gracie smiled, giggling as Christian wrapped his arms around her. "I missed your hugs."

"I've missed you," Christian muttered, kissing her neck. "God, Gracie. I missed you."

Gracie held him close, smiling softly. "I'm here. Lets go lay down," she whispered, feeling Christian's excitement.

She couldn't say she wasn't anxious to feel him again.

***

Gracie laid in Christian's arms, panting slightly. "Missed that," she gasped, her legs still shaking slightly. "Missed you."

Christian smiled softly, gently moving Gracie's hair from her eyes. "I missed you, too," he whispered.

Gracie nuzzled into his touch, closing her eyes. God she was always so tired. The nausea had finally passed, but it was replaced with near constant exhaustion.

"Move home. Stay in Milwaukee this summer... Travel with me," Christian whispered, gently massaging her hip.

"Christian... I..." Gracie bit her lip, her eyes filling with tears. That all sounded amazing...

But she couldn't.

"Please, Grace," he whispered, his warm brown eyes peering into her deep blue ones.

"Christian... Christian, I'm pregnant... And I don't want to tie you down. I want you to be young. To find a model to dangle on your arm. I'm keeping the baby. And I'm staying here," she whispered, closing her eyes and bracing for the reaction.

There was none. A whoosh of movement and the slam of the door is all she got.

She was alone.