Out of Left Field Read Online Free Page B

to the next, he looked more like a little boy than a grown man, and she wanted to take him in her arms and snuggle him. Instead she sank down into the leather recliner by the window and waited until he woke up. As soon as he did, she could find out who he’d lined up to take care of him, hand off his care and get back to her life.
     
    ***
     
    “ What do you mean you don’t have anybody to take care of you?” The question was simple enough, but the slight edge of hysteria in Frankie’s voice made Xavier want to laugh.
    So he did. Which made her glare at him.
    “ I’m a big boy, Doc. I can take care of myself.”
    “ No. You can’t.”
    “ Oh, please. I’ve been doing it since I was fifteen years old.” Her brows pinched and he realized he’d given out information he hadn’t meant to divulge. Ever. “Really, Doc. I’ll be okay.”
    She cursed and tugged her phone out of her back pocket. She swiped her finger across the screen, jabbed at it then held the phone up to her ear.
    Her, “Hey,” introduced a whole bunch of “Blah, blah, blah. Blah, blah, blah.” until she finished with, “Yeah, I’ll let you know.”
    Xavier’s head felt like a lead balloon, all floaty and unattached, yet too heavy to hold upright. His melon met the headboard with a thunk! Instead of clearing his thoughts, though, it muddled them even more. He couldn’t concentrate on a damn thing for longer than a few seconds.
    She none-too-carefully pressed the screen of her Android then lifted it to her ear again. “Hey, Chris.”
    Xavier tried to keep his eyes open, tried to prove he didn’t need her help. Yes, he was a total badass. The thought crossed his mind just as his lids closed. His brain did a shut down, too, but he managed to make out her one-sided convo. Would he remember it, though? He seriously doubted it.
    “ No, I don’t need you to come stay with me. I’ll be fine.” She laughed. “You’re such a dork! Of course you can trust me. Just bring me a couple changes of clothes. My overnight bag is already packed with what I’ll need. No, I don’t need condoms, smartass!”
    Xavier smiled. Or did on the inside, since his body wasn’t listening to his mental commands.
    Frankie rattled off the address. “You’ll need to call when you get here and I’ll buzz you through the gate. Uh-huh. Okay, thanks. See you in a few.”
    Xavier heard another set of beeps, then a gentle, “Hi, Mom. You okay? I’m not gonna be around for a couple days.” She went on a whole diatribe with regards to Xavier’s stupidity, his lack of planning, and her responsibility to rehabilitate him. “Chris’ll be coming to stay with you. I know. Just in case. I’d feel better if—” She sighed. “Well, I’ve already made the call, so you can take it up with—” Deep breath in. Breath out in a gust. “Mom, please. Thank you. I love you.”
    Xavier hadn’t even realized he’d fallen asleep. And through the fuzzy brain syndrome, he wasn’t sure what had jerked him out of the unconscious bliss. Until he heard Frankie’s voice from downstairs.
    “ Hey.”
    A male voice answered. She laughed. Xavier seethed.
    Must be the drugs.
    She was his doctor. Not even his doctor, per se. She was a doctor. The team’s doctor. The entire team. She was nothing to Xavier.
    He hadn’t realized how good the acoustics were in his stairwell. It was like a funnel from the entryway to his bedroom.
    “ I really appreciate you bringing this stuff by.”
    “ I don’t like this, Frank.”
    “ Live with it. It’s my job.”
    The answering huff echoed from wall to wall, bouncing its way right into Xavier’s bedroom. “I’m not gonna change your mind, am I?”
    “ Nope.”
    “ Okay, well, call me if you need anything.”
    “ Will do. Thanks, Chris.”
    “ Love you, Frank.”
    The door closed. The near slam was amplified, too. Xavier wondered what sex would sound like on the stairway. He would have made a mental note if he thought there was any chance