Page 48 of One Timer With A Wingman

It’s messed up, but I haven’t told the guys about Mom. They are my best friends, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell them Mom is critically ill. Yet, for some reason, I shared the news with Briar and it felt like I took a load off by telling her. I had been keeping all this sadness inside me and now someone else knew. Although, she couldn’t understand what I was going through, she was just the distraction I needed.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I answer, scratching my balls as I make my way to the bathroom.

“Fine,” Luc huffs and walks away.

I hear the guys leaving the house. The quiet feels good because I go inside my head again. Briar isn’t just a distraction; she’s going to be the mother of my child. Thinking of the responsibility a child brings causes a wave of nausea to roll over me. I quickly brush my teeth and get dressed, then I head to the kitchen to see the guys left me some leftover protein shake in the blender. I pour it into a cup, grab my knapsack, and put my boots on at the door. I was going to call an Uber but instead I jog over to the Sports Complex. The cold winter air is refreshing. I think of a way to tell my parents about the baby. They are going to be so disappointed in me. The thought causes a gnawing guilt inside me. Briar seems protective of the baby. She’s calling him or her Nugget. I could tell by the way she was talking that she is going to protect and care for the baby like it is nobody’s business. It’s me who has to get my shit together.

I head into the arena and get ready for practice. As I’m leaving the locker room, Coach Bailey catches me. “Why are you so late, Murray?” Her tone is all business.

“I…I…” I collapse to the floor.

I hear Coach Bailey gasp and run to me. It feels like my legs have just given out from under me.

“Do I need to call 911?” she asks because I am coherent. I’ve just fallen to my knees and my breathing is ragged.

I shake my head. “No.”

She gets on her knees and looks at me. “What’s happening, Aaron?” She looks concerned. Maybe she should be. I feel like I’m dying.

“I don’t know. My heart is racing. It feels hard to breathe,” I tell her.

“Okay, I need you to take slow breaths,” she says. “Can you look at me?”

I nod and lift my head to look at her. “Did something happen?”

I nod.

“I want you to breathe in slowly and count in your head. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Now I want you to exhale very slowly, also on a count of five.” Coach Bailey goes through three rounds of breathing with me before I stand.

When I do, she stands and I watch her shoulders deflate. “Are you okay to come into my office?”

I nod and follow her to her office. I take off my helmet before sitting down.

“What’s going on?” she asks.

“My mom was diagnosed with ALS, it’s. . .”

“I know what it is,” she says. “I’m sorry to hear. How far has the disease progressed?”

“She’s getting the best care. So far her symptoms have been minimal,” I share. “My parents just went all over the world together over Christmas. . . There’s. . . a . . . something else too. . .” Our coaches always want us to be open about our private lives because if we are having mental health issues, then they want to get us the help we need. I’ve kept my mom’s diagnosis bottled up for too long, and it feels like news of the pregnancy pushed me over the edge.

“Okay. . . this is a safe space. We only want to provide you with support.”

“I know. . . I, uh . . .got someone pregnant,” I blurt then I start to cry.

“Okay.” She blows out a breath like she was expecting something much worse. “That can be very overwhelming, but we are here to support you. The campus has couples housing and daycares.”

“I don’t know how to tell my parents,” I admit to her. “Mom is sick. What do I say? This is such a mess. I really screwed up.”

“Are you in a relationship with the girl?” she asks.

I shake my head. “I like her, but she isn’t into having a relationship. She’s super independent.”

“I see.” She gives me a sad smile. “You’re a good guy, Aaron, and I’ve met your parents. They have always been very supportive of you. I think you just need to come out and tell them what’s going on. I think your mom may surprise you with her reaction. These things happen. It isn’t always a bad thing. I know you’re young and you have another year before you draft, but anything is possible.”

“Yeah,” I sigh. “Maybe you’re right. I just feel very overwhelmed. I’m just a kid myself.”

“I understand, but you’re also responsible and caring. You have great parents who could be a support system to you. You can also reach out to a family planning counselor through the Wellness Center.”

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