42
Coach Reynolds closed the door behind him with a soft click, sealing off the noise of the hallway. He walked over to his metal desk, backlit from the glow of the indoor pitch behind him.
Claire stood with her hands clasped, suddenly aware of her pulse.
“Thank you for giving me a couple minutes, Jeremiah, I wanted to speak to you first,” she said. “Before the team meeting.”
Reynolds nodded, gesturing for her to sit, though she stayed standing.
“I feel that it is necessary I put to rest some of my past, before the match against the States. Firstly, you were right about Noah and Jack. They were fighting over me. Noah didn’t like that Jack was infatuated, and Jack was mad that Noah held him accountable for the distraction.”
He didn’t interrupt.
“Second,” she said plainly. “The US team has a new player, Jason Markey. He’s my ex. We had a very public break up in California, and I don’t want that coming out sideways or weaponized later. I want to tell the team about Jason and my past.”
Reynolds leaned back, considering. “You think it’ll help?”
“I think not saying it will do more damage than good,” Claire replied. “I don’t want secrets. And I don’t want anyone questioning my judgment when we end up facing the United States.”
The coach studied her for a long beat, then nodded once.
“Okay. I think that’s the right call,” he said. “Transparency buys trust. Always has.” He pointed a finger lightly. “You get a couple minutes during the team meeting. Say what you need to say. I’ll back you.”
Relief loosened something deep inside her. “Thank you.”
Reynolds stood, opening the door again. “For what it’s worth,” he added, quieter now, “I think that you have made a good impression on this team. Your friendship has motivated them in some convoluted way. Who am I to get in the way?”
Claire met his eyes, grateful.
“Let’s go,” he said. “They’re ready.”
Coach Reynolds opened the door to a busy locker room. The team meeting was louder than it needed to be. There were chairs scraping, boots thudding against linoleum, someone arguing about playlists while Tama tried unsuccessfully to restore order. It felt normal in the most beautiful way.
Claire stood next to Tania near the front, arms folded loosely, waiting.
When Coach Reynolds finally cleared his throat and nodded at her, “Quiet down, quiet down, the Doc needs to make an announcement first.” He said.
The room settled.
She took a breath.
“I know that the past 7 months of me being here, has been a blur” she said evenly, voice carrying without effort.
“And I feel like you guys are my brothers, so I want to be transparent about something in my personal life, but I want to be very clear about something, before I tell you” Claire continued.
“Your health and your safety are – and will always be – my number one priority.”
No one moved.
“My job here isn’t affected by noise from the outside or whispers inside this building. I show up for you the same way every day. Whether you’re winning, losing, bleeding, limping, or pretending you’re fine when you’re not.” Her gaze swept the room, steady and unflinching. “That will not change.”
Noah sat near the back, elbows on his knees, eyes fixed on her like he was afraid to blink.
“I love each and every one of you,” Claire finished simply.
“I’m married…” someone said under their breath.
She ignored the interjection. “And I’m here – for all of you.”
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Toby clapped – once, loud and awkward. Miko followed. Kelsey rose to his feet like it was instinct, applause spreading until the room filled with it. Someone whistled. Someone else shouted, “We love you too, Doc!”
“Lame speech,” Liam said.
She took a breath and the group settled.
“Okay, here goes… my ex-fiancé is Jason Markey,” she said.
A ripple moved through the room and recognition clicked into place for some, and it was a surprise for others.
“He’s recently joined the U.S. rugby team.
We had a very tragic and public breakup.
He is the reason I left and came here and got to meet all you lovely people. ”
That got them. A low murmur. A sharp inhale from someone near the lockers.
“Yikes…” someone whispered.
Jack’s eyebrows shot up with the recognition that maybe declaring his love to the public on live television might not have been the best idea.
“I didn’t bring this up before because it didn’t affect my work,” Claire said calmly. “And it still doesn’t. But with the game against the States coming up, it’s important you hear it from me – not from social media, not from the tabloids, and not from speculation.”
She straightened, and her shoulders squared.
“My history with Jason is in the past. It has no bearing on how I treat players, how I make medical decisions, or how I advocate for this team.” Her gaze was steady now, resolute.
“If there’s ever a situation where a conflict of interest could exist, it will be handled professionally and immediately. ”
Silence held thick, thoughtful.
Then Jack exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over his chin. Toby muttered, “Bloody hell,” under his breath. Kelsey looked between Claire and Noah, gauging the reaction either of them might have.
Noah didn’t move.
He just absorbed every word, every implication. He already knew about Jason. But hearing her be so vulnerable. She refused to let her past define her present, it did something deep and irreversible to him.
Claire softened her tone at the end.
“I trust you,” she said. “And I need you to trust me back.”
Coach Reynolds nodded once, firmly. “That’s all we need, Doc. Thank you. Any questions from you guys before we move on?”
Almost every single hand shot up. Coach scanned the room ignoring all the raised hands.
“No one?” Hands were still up. “Okay moving on. Let’s talk about beating the US team and then Wales and then going to the playoffs.” The team shifted, conversations restarting, tension diffusing into something steadier.
Claire stepped back, heart thudding but lighter somehow.
From across the room, Noah finally met her eyes and they were unreadable.