Page 103 of Heal Me, Love Me

My phone lit up a few minutes later with a text from Rowan:

I know I already said it but don’t push it with your shoulder

Why does everyone keep assuming I’m going to do something stupid?

Years of experience

Rude

It’s accurate. You’ve never liked it when people tell you what to do

He may have been right, but I wasn’t going to tell him so. Instead, I typed another message:

Marcos got me in with a specialist tomorrow morning

That was fast

Apparently he knows people here in Sac

Sounds like you’re in good hands

I hope so

Well I just wanted to check in with you before I head out. Grant mentioned trying to get me on a card in 8 weeks. I’m grabbing a drink with a couple of the guys from AC to celebrate

Congrats! That’s awesome. I want all the details once it’s official. Have fun

Talk later?

Yeah

Love you

Love you too

My shoulder throbbed as I got up and walked to the fridge for an ice pack.

Not pushing it wasn’t going to be easy.

The next morning,Mason drove me to my appointment. “I’ll just wait out here,” he said as we pulled into the parking lot.

“I’m not sure how long it’ll take. My agent mentioned they might do some imaging.”

He nodded. “No worries. I’m going to listen to a true crime podcast to help pass the time.”

“Just don’t get any ideas,” I teased and headed inside the building.

Dr. Meyers’s office didn’t look like the emergency room, which was already an improvement. It had no harsh fluorescent lights, no overflowing waiting area, and no kid coughing in my direction from the seat across from me. The walls were linedwith framed jerseys, signed baseballs, and photos of athletes I recognized.

Once I was called back, everything moved faster than I expected. The doctor examined my shoulder carefully, tested my range of motion, and reviewed the ER notes. Then he looked at me over the top of his glasses and said, “I want an MRI.”

I let out a breath. “Okay.”

“My medical assistant already made a call, and the imaging center can fit you in today.”

“Do you think it’s bad?”

“I think you’re a fighter dealing with shoulder instability, and further imaging can help me answer your question.”