Chapter 10
June
The rest of the road trip went well. We lost to the Anaheim Ducks, but then won the next game against the San Jose Sharks before flying home.
Whatever tension had existed with Rhett was now gone. He’d lived up to his promise to forget about the kiss, for which I was extremely grateful.
Back in Atlanta, I resumed my normal routine.
I supervised the players while they rehabbed, and created new training plans during my free time.
I was quickly learning that there were always new injuries springing up.
It was like playing Whack-a-Mole: as soon as one player healed up, another would walk into my office with a sore elbow or busted ankle.
One afternoon, before a home game against the Ottawa Senators, Rhett came into my office with a big smile on his face. “Today’s the day, right? I can play?”
“I haven’t looked at your scans yet,” I said, gesturing to the chair next to my desk. “Take a seat.”
He paced back and forth instead while I reviewed the scans that had come back from the MRI technician.
“I’ll be honest,” I said. “The scans look good.”
He pumped a fist. “HELL YES!”
“But,” I added, “I’m still on the fence about it. The rotator cuff is prone to re-injury. I’d be more comfortable if you took another few weeks off and continued rehabbing.”
His face drooped. “June…”
I leaned back in my chair. “Look. I get it. The team needs you back. We were lucky to win two out of three on the road trip. I’m trying to juggle that need with your long-term health.”
“June. You’ve got to trust me.” He planted both hands on the edge of my desk, leaning toward me. “I’m ready. I can do this. I won’t injure my shoulder again. What do I need to say?”
“Promise me you won’t get into any fights,” I said. “If you can do that, then I’ll clear you to play.”
His expression grew serious. “I promise I won’t get into any fights tonight.”
“Or for the next month,” I insisted.
“Or for the next month,” he answered without hesitation.
“Do you actually mean it? Or are you only telling me what I want to hear?”
“I trust you, June,” he said. “If you’re telling me this is the only way you’ll clear me, and it’s the only way to keep me healthy, then I believe you. No more fights.”
I stared into his eyes. I believed him.
“Then you’re cleared,” I said. “I’ll tell Coach Jay.”
He grinned widely. “I’m so happy I could kiss you. But, uh, I won’t. Obviously.” He smacked the table with his palm. “I owe you!”
“You do owe me,” I called after him as he jogged back into the locker room. He was already telling everyone that he was lacing up tonight, and an excited buzz filled the locker room.
But I was still nervous, because I was the one who would get blamed if he injured himself again.
Coach Jay stuck his head into my office. “You sure about this?”
“I am,” I said. Andy had told me that when I made decisions like this, I needed to be definitive, even if I was unsure on the inside.
Coach nodded. “That’s all I needed to hear. We’ll be glad to have him back.”
He left my office, barking orders to the players and calling out the new lineup.
God, I hoped I was making the right call.
I was a nervous wreck on the bench during the game.
Everything was out of my hands now, and I hated feeling helpless.
This was my first big injury-related decision since taking this job, and it felt like my entire career was riding on it.
Sure, Jay and the rest of the coaching staff trusted and respected me so far.
But I was terrified that would change if something happened.
It was a fast-paced game. The Ottawa Senators were a very physical team, throwing elbows every chance they got and constantly checking the Reapers players into the boards. I winced with every one, especially when Rhett was on the receiving end.
But overall, Rhett was doing well. He hadn’t scored yet, but his return to the ice had drawn the attention of the opposing team, and they smothered him every time he had the puck. That opened up his teammates, and he quickly racked up two assists with quick passes that led to goals.
Late in the third period, one of the Senators defenders was chirping at Rhett, shoving him and trying to pick a fight. But Rhett kept his cool, wagging a finger at the player and skating away.
He gave me a wink as he glided past the bench, and damned if it didn’t make me grin like a teenage girl at a Jonas Brothers concert.
He’s actually listening to me.
But despite Rhett’s performance, the overall game went poorly for us. Elias allowed two easy goals in the third period that should have been stopped. Rhett managed to score a goal of his own late in the game, but it didn’t end up mattering because we lost, 5-3.
“That was the most pathetic loss I’ve ever seen,” Cole shouted at the team when they were back in the locker room.
“On paper, we’ve got the best defense in the fucking league.
If we score three goals, we ought to win.
Ricky, you’ve gotten sloppy when getting back on your line.
Two of those goals are on you. And yes, I fucked up in the second period and allowed a goal, too. ”
“He’s not wrong!” Coach Jay yelled. “Absolutely fucking pathetic performance out there tonight.”
“You too, Elias,” Cole said, rounding on the goalie. “You were asleep for two of those goals. How the fuck do you allow their defender to score a top-shelf goal from the middle line?”
Elias stood up. He towered over Cole. “Fuck. You.”
Cole didn’t back down. “You know I’m right. What’s gotten into you lately?”
Elias shoved him, and then there was a scramble as teammates rushed in to break up the fight.
“Enough!” Coach Jay roared. “I want the entire defense back out on the ice. We’re running drills until midnight.”
I turned away from the window and sat down at my desk to get some work done. All the joy I felt about Rhett’s performance was gone, replaced by the shared gloom of the loss.
A while later, Rhett came into my office and said, “Sucks, doesn’t it?”
“What’s that?”
“Doing everything right, and still losing,” he replied, scratching at the ice pack wrapped around his shoulder. “Help me get this off?”
I got up and helped unwrap the pack. The locker room was empty; all the offensive players had gone home, while the defense was still running drills on the ice.
“I’m just glad you listened to me,” I said. “I thought for sure they would bait you into a fight.”
“Almost did. But then I remembered the promise I made.”
“Glad you care about that, even if you don’t care about your own physical health,” I muttered.
“It’s both. But the promise helped me focus. Sometimes we lose our cool out there, you know? Tempers run hot, especially in a tough loss.”
“They sure do. I’ve never seen Cole that angry.”
“He’s a good team captain. He’s normally calm, but there’s a time to let everyone have it. Like tonight.” He shook his head. “Elias was sloppy. Don’t know what’s going on with him.”
I wanted to say something about the injury I knew Elias was hiding, but I held my tongue.
“Oh well. All I can control is my own performance.”
“Hell of a performance, too,” I said, removing the ice pack and rolling up the wrapping into a ball. “Two assists, one goal.”
“I owe it to you.”
“Nice of you to say.”
“It’s the truth. Can I buy you a drink?”
The invitation caught me off guard. “Uh. That’s probably not a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know. It just isn’t.”
“Don’t think about it. Just say yes.” He was smiling at me in the most intoxicating way. I could feel the heat still radiating off his body, which reminded me of how he felt when we kissed in the arena.
I tore my gaze away from him and walked over to the cabinets to put the equipment away. “I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I’m an employee,” I said, staring at the cabinet.
Part of me hoped he would leave, so I wouldn’t need to face him again.
I wasn’t sure how much willpower I had remaining.
There were only so many smiles a woman could receive before she gave in.
“I’ve only been working for the team for a month, and… ”
Suddenly, he was right behind me. “There’s something here,” he said, breath warm on my skin.
“Rhett…” I said.
“Tell me I’m wrong,” he said. “Tell me there’s not this current of electricity between us, whenever our skin touches.”
To prove the point, he lightly touched my back with his fingertips. Immediately, my heart began pounding faster.
“There,” he whispered. “Right there. That’s the feeling. It’s not nothing, June.”
I closed my eyes. I wanted this, wanted him, more badly than I expected. I didn’t dare open my mouth because I was afraid the only word I would be able to say was yes.
“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the kiss,” he said, voice still low.
It rumbled through me like an earthquake.
“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you, June.
At practice, during games, while we’re rehabbing.
And based on the way you’ve been looking at me?
You can’t stop thinking about me, either. ”
He was right. It was all I thought about when I went to bed, the thing that had been haunting me whenever the lights went out.
“Tell me to stop,” he whispered, “and I will walk away right now.”
I opened my mouth to do just that, but my tongue wouldn’t form the words. If anything, I wanted him more than he wanted me.
“That’s what I thought,” he said, spinning me around to face him. He paused a moment, his sapphire gaze flicking down to my lips, then back to my eyes, penetrating directly into my soul.
“Do you trust me?” he breathed.
I bit my lip, and nodded.
“Good,” he said before kissing me.