Page 36 of Girl Going Nowhere

“Can’t believe they’re trading Ross,” Joe says. I’m supposed to call him Joe, but he refuses to answer to anything other than Mr. French.“Mr. French was my father, and the man was a jackass. It’s bad enough I have his looks, don’t want his name too.”

It reminds me of Dante’s outlook with his father. Rafael, too, I guess. My mind still hasn’t quite wrapped itself around the fact they’re related.

Before I can think too deeply about it, my train of thought is broken by collective groans and curses. “They’re bringing in young blood who doesn’t even have half the batting average Ross does. Who the hell are they kidding?”

O’Leary chips in with a disgruntled, “They might as well kiss the World Series goodbye if this is true. Ain’t no way they’re making it anywhere close this season.”

My brows pinch. I know Peter Ross is one of the leading players for the Phillies. He’s the second most-talked-about person on the team. The first being the man Maia shares half her DNA with.

“Christ. Is he even old enough to shave,” another one of the men cries out. “The kid has a babyface. I’ve got socks older than him.”

I’m about to look at the screen to see who they’re talking about when somebody walks up to the counter. “Ready to check out, Rosie?”

The woman with a sweet name is anything but. It’s why I like her so much. In a world of two-faced people, she’s one of the few who will give it to you straight. Even when it’s brutal. “I wouldn’t be standing here if I wasn’t.”

I chuckle and accept the printed paperwork she was given. “It looks like Dr. Michaels wants to see you again in three months. Is there a day and time that works best for you?”

The older woman who can’t be a day under seventy says, “As long as I’m still alive. Not like there’s anything else I’ve got going on.”

I’ve always had a soft spot for the elderly. Probably because my grandmother was a feisty woman, just like Rosie. She was the one who would talk me down when my mom pissed me off. When she passed away, it hit me hard.

“You’ll live forever, Rosie.”

She scoffs. “I sure as hell hope not.”

Snorting at the remark, I give her a few dates and times to pick from and submit the one she said works best for her. “Here’s a card so you have it, and it looks like you need bloodwork done before you leave today. You can sit over there by the lab. They’ll call you when they’re ready.”

“Sitting isn’t good for my sciatica,” she informs me. “And I don’t want to be next to the buffoons drooling over the pretty boys on the TV. I never understood the appeal. All they do is hit balls and run in circles to earn points.”

That might be the best description of baseball I’ve heard yet. “Dr. Michaels wants to check on a few levels today while you’re here, so you don’t have to come back before your next appointment. Unless you want to see my pretty face again, in which case I’m flattered.”

Rosie gives me a once-over before those painted lips that are done a little too strongly curl downward. “You could use a haircut and a little more makeup, but I suppose you’re all right.”

With that, she hobbles over to the bench seat by the lab door, leaving me sitting back in my seat.

It’s one of the men by the TV that decides to console me from the backhanded compliment. “If I were thirty years younger, I’d date you.”

I roll my eyes. “You’d date me now if you thought you had the chance, Joe.”

All he does is grin while a few others chuckle and smack him knowingly. Rumors don’t take long to spread around here, and I know there’s been a girl not much older than me hanging around him lately.

“Hey!” I hear called out by the others, causing my brows to pinch when the screen changes to a different channel.

I look around to see where the remote is when I see Rosie holding it. Even the men know not to mess with the woman smirking at them as a cooking show plays.

Shaking my head in amusement, I slide off my chair and grab my phone from my bag to look at the messages I’ve ignored all morning.

There are a few missed calls from numbers I don’t recognize, but no voicemails. I make it a rule not to call anybody back I don’t know unless they tell me who they are.

After returning a few texts from Emily, I slide my phone into my pocket and get back to work as the next patient comes to the desk.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Rafael

Swiping a palmdown my face to fight the lingering exhaustion, I stretch out my legs and watch my brother caffeinate across from me. The café he chose is nice. Private. I can see why he likes coming here.

“You’re quiet,” I comment, grabbing my own cup of plain black coffee. It isn’t often I drink it because it makes me shaky, but I’ve got some time to enjoy it before proving to the team what I’ve got to offer.

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