"Hey," he whispered, getting out of bed.

"Who is it?" Rachel asked.

"Shh, I'll be right back," Mike shut the bedroom door and stumbled toward the kitchen. "What's up Baker?"

"I… I'm sorry… I shouldn't have…"

"It's fine. Are you ok?"

"I … I don't know,"

"Did something happen?"

"no,"

"Is it Noah?"

"no,"

"I thought you two were in San-Tropez?"

"We are,"

"But?"

"I can't … breath," she answered with a hiccupping gasp.

"Did he do something?" Mike demanded.

"No!"

"Hey, it's fine. Just focus on breathing. In… and out… It's going to be ok. We don't have to talk about it. Just keep breathing."

"How… are… you?"

"Gin, don't try to talk right now, just focus,"

"Distract… me,"

"Oh, ok, me? I'm good?" he mumbled.

"Sounds… like… it…"

"Better than you right now," he teased, falling into the familiar banter.

She laughed, then coughed.

"But really," he continued. "I'm good. Things are… good. I've been going to work with Rach, learning the business. Doc says my knee should last another season, especially with Li-van playing half the time."

"How's that going to go?"

"If it means I get to keep playing, I'll live with it. I don't like it, but I'll live with it."

"What else?"

"Not much, workouts have been boring lately. I'm missing my buddy."

"She misses you too."

"Good to know. I saw the pictures in People. Your tan is coming in nicely." He could tell her breathing was almost back to normal.

"Thanks," she mumbled.

"Have you eaten your weight in pasta yet?"

"Sadly, no. We spend most of our time on his yacht, or at his friend's yacht parties. I've been seasick."

"That sucks…"

"It really does."

"But you're in paradise."

"Yeah, I guess,"

"What's wrong, Baker?"

"Nothing, I just… I don't know. I thought it would be different."

"You're bored."

"What? No, I just get restless and I can't go for a run or pitch or do any of the stuff I usually do."

"Like I said, you're bored."

She groaned, "Ok, I'm bored. What's wrong with me?"

"Nothing!" he answered a little too quickly. "I mean nothing. I knew you were bored because that's how I feel. I mean, it's how I felt. Rachel insisted we go on a cruise for our honeymoon. The whole time I just kept feeling restless. You just need some dry land and batting cages."

"You think?"

"Yeah."

"I guess I'll talk to Noah. Maybe we can stay on the mainland for a while."

"Good, how's everything else going?"

"Good…"

"Sounds like it," he teased.

"All this free time is just so different from what I'm used to. The people around here, all they talk about it clothes and shoes and cars and stuff. When Noah's is talking business, it's so technical I can't even follow most of it. I just don't fit in here."

"You never fit anywhere at first."

"Thanks, ya jerk."

"Not you, you. I mean everywhere is different. Maybe you just need to give it a chance. Maybe you'll get comfortable. Maybe you just need time."

"It's only a month until Spring training, and what if I don't want to get comfortable here. I like my life in San Diego. I love Petco and I've only ever really felt at home on a diamond, on the mound."

"Then have fun while you can, and know that this is all just temporary. You'll be back home soon, looking at this handsome mug and making grown men cry with that screwball of yours."

"They don't cry,"

"You didn't see Trout after you struck him out. You single handedly ruined his average."

"You called the right pitches."

"But you followed my calls, which is pretty rare. Ya think maybe that might become a thing this year?"

"Following your calls?"

"yeah,"

"Not likely,"

"I didn't think so, but I thought I would ask. As long as you wave off Duarte more than me, I'll deal."

"Fare enough," Ginny yawned. "It's not like he knows what he's doing anyway."

"Hey, he's getting better."

"Whose side are you on?"

"Yours, always, but you should get some sleep now. Call me when you're back in town, or just if you need to talk again."

"Thanks, I'm sorry I woke you. I hope I didn't get you in trouble with Rachel or anything."

"Don't worry about it. Call anytime."

"Night, Lawson."

"Night, Baker."