Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Chelsea
I winced as Storm slammed the other player down to the grass. Some days, I swore I could hear bones strain with the effort not to break. Other days, the strain was too much and the moment they snapped was obvious and painful.
On this occasion, both players jumped straight back to their feet, attention still on the training session.
“I remember being that young,” Doctor Stuart remarked.
I glanced over at him and smiled. “You’re not that old.”
He chuckled. “We both know that’s not true. It’s been a long time since I was out there on the field, playing.”
“You used to play rugby?” I straightened my ponytail and kept my eyes on the training session.
“I did, and I was good at it,” he said. “I could have given any of those boys a run for their money back in the day. I could have played for Australia, but my wife didn’t want me to. We had young children and she was scared I’d get injured. Besides which, there wasn’t money in playing back then. Not like there is now. I was trying to juggle that and seeing patients. Working for the team like this was a compromise.”
I glanced over at him quickly. “How many kids do you have?”
This was the first time he mentioned any. We were usually so busy we didn’t get a chance to talk about anything personal. Our conversations consisted of comparing notes about particular players, to make sure the whole medical team was on the same page with their treatment. Every cog in the wheel had to be in place for it to run smoothly.
“Four,” he replied. “Not one of them is a doctor.” He clicked his tongue, but didn’t stop smiling. He was definitely not the sort of person who would insist their child follow in their footsteps just to satisfy them. He’d want them to decide for themselves.
I patted him on the shoulder before looking back to the field. “I’m sure you’re proud of them anyway.”
“Absolutely, I am,” he said. “My oldest is an engineer. The middle two are both teachers. My youngest is a graphic designer.”
“Do any of them live in Dusk Bay?” I asked. I wondered if he knew what the city was really like. I got my answer when he cut me a look.
“No, they don’t. They’re spread out all over the country. Living their own lives, with their children.” The response was careful, as unsure of what I knew as I was of him.
“You must miss them,” I said, deciding to sidestep the direction the conversation might take. Unless I completely missed my guess, his approach was like mine. Aware of what was going on, but trying his best to keep his nose right out of it. For the benefit of our working relationship, it was better not to get into it.
“I do,” he said. “I admit, that’s one of the reasons I enjoy working with you. You remind me of my kids. Smart, respectful and determined. Your parents must be very proud of you.”
“I like to think they are,” I said. “They will be when I’m actually working as a doctor.”
That was a not-especially-subtle hint. This was the last day of my practical training and Doctor Stuart hadn’t said anything about recommending me to the team.
“I’m sure they will,” he said, his tone suggesting he was trying to get a rise out of me.
I tore my eyes away from the maul on the field and looked at his smile. I raised my eyebrows at him.
His smile widened, making the lines around his eyes crinkle. “You know I don’t make the final decision.”
“I know,” I said carefully.
“But I gave my recommendation to the general manager a couple of days ago.” He turned his gaze back as Frost took off across the field with the ball.
“Oh.” I focused on Frost and his powerful legs as he ran and threw himself over the try line.
The man had thighs that would pulverise a watermelon. They all did. Watching them pumping as they flew across the grass was hot as fuck. An image of Frost on his knees, his mouth on Storm’s cock, made my clit throb. The wet sound of him sucking was better than the roar of the crowd on grand final day. Better than music. The taste of his cum still lingered on my tongue. Salty and delicious.
I finally managed to say, “Thank you. I appreciate that.” I really did, but until the GM asked to see me, everything else was up in the air.
As if he read my mind, Doctor Stuart said, “Bruce mentioned something about interviews in a week or so. I’m sure he’ll include you in them.”
He spoke lightly, but there was nothing definite in his tone. He didn’t have a say, but he was trying to be reassuring in the best way he knew how. He wasn’t given to beating around the bush, as they say. He couldn’t afford to be. None of the players would respect him if he wasn’t honest and clear with them. Not to mention authoritative. He had years of experience telling big, stubborn men what to do.
In spite of his words, my heart sank. Of course I didn’t think I was the only candidate for the job, but clearly I hadn’t given it enough consideration. There must be dozens of doctors better qualified than I was. People with years of experience working with athletes. Why the hell would they choose someone straight out of university?
I felt as though my dreams were slipping through my fingers like water.
“If he doesn’t, there will be other opportunities.” I tried to smile, but my own words felt hollow.
I was twenty-five. I had friends who had their shit together. They were living their lives, getting married and having babies. Working in their chosen careers, or at least jobs that paid the bills. Suddenly I felt like I was clinging to a life raft that was hurtling down a river with no end.
I reminded myself rivers always had ends, but since they fed into the expansive ocean, maybe that wasn’t such a great analogy.
“Have they ever hired anyone that did practical training with the team?” Did I want the answer to that? Not really, but the question was out there, I couldn’t shut it back in its box.
“Not to date,” Doctor Stuart said. “But this is a different situation. The season is about to start and we’re still down a couple of doctors.”
He was in charge of all things medical for the team, but several others worked under him. Medical specialists, like I hoped to be; physical therapists, dieticians and whatnot. If we didn’t have everyone we needed, the team might suffer.
“I’m sure that will be rectified quickly,” I said. If the GM was conducting interviews, those positions would be filled. I just desperately wanted to fill one of them.
“It has to be,” Doctor Stuart said. “Are you certain this is what you want? You realise you have to be on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Travelling with the team everywhere they go. On the sidelines, waiting, in case someone is injured. It can be intense.”
“That sounds perfect,” I said. “I’m ready to commit myself to the Smashers, and everyone who works for them, and with them.”
My practical placement focused on getting to know the team and watching them in action, but working for them, I’d be seeing the staff and their families as well. The team looked after everyone involved with them. Like one big family.
“I believe you,” Doctor Stuart said. “That was why I gave Bruce my recommendation. If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll hire you.” He nodded like he might scold the general manager if he didn’t take his recommendation. To be honest, it wouldn’t surprise me. Doctor Stuart was like a father to most of the team. Why wouldn’t that include the GM?
“It doesn’t hurt that so many on the team like you,” Doctor Stuart added. “And that you know how to be discreet.”
I glanced over at him, taken by surprise by his words. Mortified. “I don’t know what?—”
He chuckled. “I might be old, but I’m not stupid. Some of those boys hang around more than they did before you started here. I’ve seen the way they look at you. I’ve also noticed your hair out of place after some of the visits.”
My face heated. That didn’t sound like I was being discreet at all. I should have realised he was paying attention. Of course it was, it was his job. What the hell must he be thinking of me? That I was wildly unprofessional, most likely. Which wasn’t far from the truth. I should have been better at setting boundaries with the guys. Not fucking them in the treatment room. This could easily end all my hopes. My heart raced and sweat sprang up on my palms and under my arms.
Without thinking, I patted my hair. “I know I shouldn’t, but…” What else could I say about it? Everything I worked for was in his hands right now. If he was about to withdraw his recommendation, I’d be gutted. He wasn’t someone the guys could just deal with to keep quiet either. He was a good man and the team needed him.
“I was young once,” he said. “As long as you keep it discreet, I see no reason for it to become a problem. People on the team have relationships with each other all the time. If it interferes with the team winning, that’s one thing. They seem to be more cohesive recently. You might be a good influence, or no influence at all. Either way, things haven’t gone backwards. As long as they don’t, then I’ll keep my nose out of it.”
“If it interferes with the team winning, I’ll kick their asses myself,” I growled. I wouldn’t hesitate. Although Storm would do plenty of kicking of his own. The others too, but him in particular. He was happiest when he was in control. Including making sure the team succeeded.
“I thought you would,” Doctor Stuart said. “They might not want you involved with the team on a full-time basis though.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?” Had any of them said anything to him about me? If they had, they might look forward to having more than their asses kicked.
“I mean there are times when I’ve missed birthday parties and special occasions because I’ve been called out,” he said. “My wife was not impressed. Fortunately for me, she never asked me to choose. I would have missed her.” He chuckled.
“Anyone you get involved with is going to have to understand the job comes first. They’ll want to celebrate a win while you’re setting a bone. Or treating a concussion. Or in a meeting with the other medical staff to make a plan for a particular player. This job is never boring.”
I noticed that the moment I stepped foot in the stadium. Even when the team wasn’t present, there was a buzz in the air. Staff were all busy doing something, from preparing the grass, to booking entertainment in the off-season. Just because it wasn’t footy season, didn’t mean we got to switch off. I loved it. Everything in me itched to be a part of that. I wanted to be one of those people who were here so long others joked they were practically part of the furniture. An integral part of the team, like the logo.
“They’ll understand,” I said. The team was important to all of us. We’d find a way to work it out.
“They might, they might not,” he said with a shrug.
A second or two later, we were both sprinting out onto the field as a player landed heavily, groaning in pain and clutching his leg.