Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains (Victoria and Elijah) novel Chapter 201

Someone To Confide In

Victoria’s POV

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The leather sofa in the waiting lounge was far too soft, leaving me sinking into the cushions while my fingers twitched nervously in my lap.

I kept my eyes glued to the small wall clock above the reception desk, watching the second hand sweep in silent, measured circles.

I still couldn’t fully explain why I’d agreed to come.

When Justin Ashfield had stopped me in the middle of the grocery aisle, stripped of his usual arrogance and practically begging me to give his family a chance, something in me had softened.

Maybe it was seeing him like that. Maybe I simply felt sorry for him.

I didn’t owe Caleb anything–not after the lies, the manipulation, and the deliberate sabotage.

Still, sitting here in his therapist’s office, waiting for their session to end, felt like something I needed to do.

I was so lost in my own head that I didn’t hear the side door click open or notice someone walking into the lounge until a soft, warm voice broke the silence.

“You have such a pretty little bump,” a soft voice remarked.

I looked up, blinking out of my haze.

Standing near the magazine table was a woman with a cloud of vibrant red hair falling around her shoulders and striking, wide brown eyes.

She was utterly breathtaking, dressed in a simple tailored dress that made her look effortlessly polished.

A small, genuine smile played on her lips as she motioned toward my stomach.

My eyes instinctively fell at my waistline, where the soft curve of my pregnancy was finally starting to show through my dress.

I flashed a smile back at her.

“Thank you.”

She walked over and sank into the armchair across from mine, setting her leather tote bag on the floor.

“Are you waiting for a session with Celeste?”

It was obvious from the casual way she said the name that she was a regular client here.

Before I could even open my mouth, she kept going with a light, warm chuckle.

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“You know, Celeste is incredible. She pulled me out of my darkest times when I thought I was completely beyond help. I promise you, whatever you’re going through, she’s going to do a fantastic job with you.”

I laughed softly, shaking my head at how ridiculous the whole situation was.

“Oh, no. I’m actually not here for therapy myself. I’m just waiting on someone.”

She paused, her dark brows knitting together in curiosity as her eyes drifted to my hand, then back up to my face.

I could practically see the question on her face.

She was probably wondering if the father of my baby was the man currently sitting on the therapist’s couch.

“He is not my boyfriend,” I added gently, wanting to clear the air before the assumption took root. “And he’s not the father either. He’s just…”

I trailed off, the word friend stalling in my throat. Caleb wasn’t my friend anymore.

He certainly wasn’t my best friend, and calling him an acquaintance felt strangely clinical after fifteen years of history.

I settled on letting out a long exhale, offering her an awkward, helpless little smile instead.

The red–haired woman seemed to pick up on the silent weight behind my pause instantly.

She didn’t press or pry; she simply gave a knowing, empathetic nod.

“Fair enough,” she said softly, extending a hand across the small coffee table. “I’m Rebecca, by the way.”

I reached out, shaking her hand. “Victoria.”

We fell into a quiet lull, the soft hum of the air conditioner filling the space.

I looked at Rebecca, studying the bright, open way she carried herself.

There was an easy, radiant warmth to her demeanor that felt completely at odds with the typical heaviness of a mental health clinic.

“I really don’t mean to judge,” I began, curiosity getting the better of me as I gestured vaguely around the

room.

“But you don’t look like someone who needs to be sitting in a therapist’s waiting lounge. I know people can mask things behind a bright smile, but you just seem so… whole.”

The moment the words left my mouth, I winced, realizing how intrusive it sounded coming from a stranger.

“I’m sorry,” I added quickly, heat rising in my cheeks. “That was inappropriate. I didn’t mean to poke at a sore spot.”

Rebecca burst into a bright, airy laugh, waving a dismissive hand through the air.

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“Oh, gosh, don’t apologize! It’s totally fine. Besides, I started our conversation, remember? I really don’t mind sharing stuff. Years ago, I used to be deeply ashamed of my past, but now…”

She shook her head, a peaceful expression settling over her features.

“Now it’s just my history.”

She leaned back against the leather chair, her expression turning slightly reflective.

“I used to have severe issues controlling my sexual impulses. People loved to throw labels on it. In high school, they called me promiscuous, a nymph, a slut–pretty much every ugly word you can think of. I almost let those words define who I was.

“But my high school principal, Mrs. Kathleen Morgan, saw right past all that noise. She saw a young girl who wasn’t just acting out for fun, but someone who literally couldn’t control herself because there was underlying trauma driving the behavior. She was the one who introduced me to Celeste.”

I felt a rush of empathy as I looked at her.

“If you don’t mind me asking…” I hesitated, keeping my voice gentle. “Where did it come from? Was it

trauma?”

Rebecca let out a dry laugh, looking down at her neatly manicured nails.

“Honestly? I don’t even fully know. All I really remember is that when I was thirteen, an older neighbor back home introduced me to adult movies way before I was ready. After that… everything just spiraled.”

She shifted slightly, her gaze drifting toward the window, and I instinctively picked up on the subtle boundary she had drawn.

She was comfortable sharing the outline of her past, but delving into the graphic details wasn’t something she wanted to do today.

“Why are you so comfortable telling me all this?” I asked softly, genuinely amazed by her composure. “We’re complete strangers.”

Rebecca shrugged, a beautiful, peaceful smile touching her lips.

“Because I’ve been doing the work in this building for years, Victoria. I’m not ashamed of my story anymore. It’s part of who I am, but it doesn’t own me. Besides…”

She looked back at me, her brown eyes softening.

“I just really liked your aura the second I walked in. You actually remind me a lot of my best friend who passed away a month ago.”

The words caught me off guard, stirring something tender in my chest.

My eyes instantly welled up with tears, a lump forming in my throat as I stared at her.

Between the heavy story of her past and the pregnancy hormones surging through my system, the emotional

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wall I’d been holding up crumbled.

Rebecca noticed my glossy eyes and immediately burst out laughing, throwing her head back.

“Oh no! Please don’t cry! You do not need to feel pity for me, I promise!”

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I pulled a tissue from my purse and dabbed at the corners of my eyes, laughing softly through the tears.

“Sorry… I’ve been so emotional lately. I swear these hormones have taken over my brain.”

“I totally get it,” Rebecca chuckled, her tone overflowing with warmth.

“My best friend wouldn’t want me sitting around drowning in grief anyway. I miss her every single day, but life keeps moving, you know?”

“I’m really sorry for your loss,” I murmured, taking a stabilizing breath to pull myself together.

Wanting to steer the heavy conversation toward something lighter, I grinned at her.

“So… what about your love life? Do you have a partner or a boyfriend right now?”

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