Hayley #2
“You too, Mr. Miller.” He nods back in approval. “Hayley, give you clearance for our upcoming season? I need my star player out on the ice in tiptop shape.”
He smirks as he holds the door open. “Not yet, but she will.” He winks at me before pulling the door closed behind him.
Ass.
God, he makes me fume with his cocky smirk. Muscular arms and who knows what other body parts he has that are just waiting to be licked.
Shit. Stop fantasizing, Hayley. Think about Tucker and professionalism.
I recenter myself as Cam plops himself in the chair directly in front of my desk. The same chair Brooks was just sitting in. Gosh. Stop it. He’s playing a game on his tablet as my dad looks like he’s about to lecture me.
“Clear the boy, Hayley. He’s an asset to the team,” he scolds as he types something into his phone.
“Mr. Richards. All due respect. I’m the medical professional here,” I say, rolling my eyes. “But off the record, Dad. He’ll be cleared in time. He just has to prove to me he takes injuries and recovery seriously.”
He eyes me for a moment, waiting to hear what more I have to say.
“His reports from his physical therapist say he showed to only half his appointments. So, with that said… he’ll just have to attend weekly training sessions with a trainer for two weeks straight to monitor him, then I’ll clear him.”
He nods in approval before signaling for Cam to get ready for practice.
He reaches the door, holding it open for Cam before turning back to say something to me.
“Just make sure he’s cleared please. Oh, and Hayley, whatever game you two are playing.
End it. I don’t need you distracting my star player. ”
He shuts the door, leaving me speechless.
I’m not sure what he saw that told him something was going on, but I can assure you that Brooks Miller and I have nothing between us.
Yes, he’s attractive — so extremely attractive, but he’s cocky and reminds me too much of Boyce.
Plus, I have Tucker, so why would I ever think of anything with Brooks?
The rest of my day is filled with physicals, consultations, and paperwork.
Lots of paperwork. Dr. Monroe was a shitty recordkeeper and if it weren’t for Cassidy scanning what he did keep on file into the system, I’d be fucked.
I was able to make it to the rink during my lunch break to watch Camden in action.
Of course, I couldn’t help but notice Brooks as he skated down the ice with a puck.
Controlling it in such a manner before taking a shot on goal.
He’s fast, and I can’t help but notice how extremely hot he looks out there.
He’s amazing with the kids too. The way he coaches them through drills. Encourages them when they feel like they’ve failed.
The sound of my phone ringing breaks me out of my daydreams. TUCKER PRICE dances across the screen as I stare at my phone. We have a date tonight, and I hope he isn’t calling to cancel, but I know better. Tucker lives for his work. That’s why we’re so perfect for each other.
“I hope you’re calling to tell me that you can’t wait for our date tonight,” I say, answering with a smile.
The silence on the other end says otherwise as I wait for him to speak. “Hayley, I’m sorry. I know we were supposed to be celebrating tonight, but I have to cancel. I got called in for an aortic bypass surgery, and it’s going to be a lot longer than I expected.”
I should have known. I’m not surprised by his cancellation, but I’m disappointed. This is the third time in the past three weeks that’s he’s canceled for some surgery or consult.
“Hayley, are you still there?” he asks.
I release a breath, nodding even though he can’t see it. “Yeah. It’s fine. Maybe you can still come over though once you’re finished? We can celebrate in other ways.”
I know I’m hoping for something that might not happen, but it’s worth a try.
“How about I call you when I get out of the OR, and we’ll see what happens,” he says before hanging up abruptly.
I shouldn’t feel this way, but I do. Tucker and I have been seeing each other for six months now, known each other for longer. And I know his job and what it entails. I too once had the same job, but here I am feeling like I’m losing something that may have not even been mine to begin with.
Cassidy comes to my office a little after five with a copy of my schedule for the next two weeks. Glancing at the schedule, I can’t believe what I’m reading.
“No,” I say, fuming. “No. I’m not training him. No. No way in hell am I going to train him.”
“You’re the only trainer not booked for the next two weeks, and you don’t have any physicals or follow-ups scheduled. So, I had no choice. Plus, your father authorized it,” Cassidy says.
Of course, my father would be behind this. I should have known. He had already manipulated me into taking this job so why not training his star player.
“Fine,” I mutter, not happy.
She smiles and closes her planner. “Good, now let’s go out for drinks. You look like you could use one.”
I don’t want to go out, but since Cam is staying at a friend’s tonight, and Tucker cancelled our date, why the hell not.