Page 13 of Ace My Heart

“Did I hear someone calling for drugs?” a deep voice asked from behind me.

“Oh my God, thank you! How did you get in here, Joel?” I asked as he held out a pill and a bottle of water to me. I downed them gratefully.

“I’m your trainer now, remember? Steve got me an All Access pass.” Joel looked way too pleased with himself. Julie looked up at him and smiled. She hadn’t finished setting up the Cryo-cuff. Joelonly ever called his dad ‘Steve’ when he was trying to impress someone.

Sure enough, he turned the full force of his smile on Julie. She blushed, strands of her red hair falling about her face. I rolled my eyes. Joel turned to me and winked. God, he just couldn’t help himself!

“You should eat something with that medication, Mel.” He put down the bag that was slung over his shoulder and unzipped it, dragging out a Tupperware container and a fork. He handed both to me. I opened it and immediately felt my jaw ache as saliva flooded my mouth.

“Uh, yum!” I exclaimed at Sandra Herbert’s signature chicken and rice salad. It was one of my favourites; packed with nuts, herbs and cranberries. “How did you get this? Your mum didn’t send it down with you, did she?” I asked Joel, who stared at me like I was some sort of stupid person.

“I made it,” Joel replied, slowly like he was talking to a half-wit. I shrugged and tucked in. It was delicious – even better than his mum’s, although I’d never tell him that. A little moan of enjoyment slipped out. Joel grinned.

“Yes, the man can cook,” he boasted. Julie goo-goo eyed him. I eyeballed her in frustration.

“Is that cuff on properly?” I asked sharply. Julie came to her senses and went back to work, but I noticed her sending longing glances in Joel’s direction. I had a feeling I knew whose bed he’d be sharing that night. The thought sent an odd, sick feeling through my stomach. I screwed up my face; did I really hate having a mental image of Joel shagging Julie so much that it was nausea-inducing?

“All done!” Julie said in satisfaction. She manoeuvred my leg so that it was elevated, patting me on the knee, but she was looking over my head at Joel.

“How long do I have to keep this on?” I asked. Julie flicked her gaze down at me, lips pursed in annoyance.

“Oh, gee,sorryfor having the hide to injure myself and force you to do your job!” I snapped. Joel’s hand fell on my shoulder.

“Settle down, Stinky,” he murmured. I growled under my breath. Julie blushed.

“Two hours would be good. You can do a second session if you think it’s needed, but you will have to give the ankle a break for at least half an hour in between. You need to go and get some scans done tomorrow to check for any fractures. Just rest up in your hotel tonight. I’ll come round later and strap it up for you.” She was directing her words to Joel again. I gave up fighting it. Why not let him deal with it? He was my ‘trainer’ after all.

“Thanks Julie,” Joel replied suavely. I almost choked on my last mouthful of rice salad. “Can I get your number to tee up a time we could get together?”

Julie recited her number to Joel, who programmed it into his phone. I couldn’t wait for her to leave.

“She’ll need a chair to be moved out to the car, and back up into the hotel. I’m sure there’s one around here somewhere.”

Julie beamed at Joel once more, gave me a cursory glance, and walked out. I lay back down against the bench. Joel took a seat by my head.

“You know she’s way too old for you,” I said.

Joel grinned. “Jealous, Stink?”

I gagged. “You wish! Now, can we please get out of here before the reporters start bashing the door down? I have no intention of giving interviews today.”

Joel patted me on the cheek and walked off to find me a wheelchair. I wrinkled up my nose at the thought of him wheeling me out. I wondered where Steve had gone. He was probably so mad that he couldn’t stand to be near me.

I’d been waiting for months to break the quarter-final drought, and I’d done it. I’d been waiting almost a year to break the sex drought, and I’d done it. Was it too much to ask that I just have a good match against Norieva? Not even a win, but just a good, solid match? One where I didn’t injure myself badly enough to forfeit? Why was it that I couldn’t just have everything in my life fall into place for once?

CHAPTER FOUR

Dutch Courage

“I’m pretty confident there’s no fracture, so that’s a good sign,” Julie said as she finished strapping my ankle with a compression bandage. “But I still want you to get some scans tomorrow.”

Julie had arrived, wearing a leather ultra-mini skirt. I wasn’t sure it was appropriate attire for a woman who’d be pushing forty, but I had to admit she managed to rock it. She was tall and had long, slender legs, naturally curly red hair, and a smattering of reddish freckles across her nose which made her look younger than she was.

Joel smiled his signature smile at her, and I swear her knees almost gave way. Joel was damn handsome when he turned the charm on. And he knew it. That was the problem. I didn’t think his impressive body was big enough to hold his enormous ego.

Julie excused herself to use the bathroom. I propped my ankle up on the armrest of the lounge and turned my sly gaze to Joel, who was leaning over the back of the lounge, watching me with a smirk.

“She probably needs to change her Depends,” I commented lightly. “You shouldn’t smile at old people like that – they’re liable to wet themselves.”

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