Page 7 of Pucking Strong

She huffs, patting my back. “Seriously? I practically have my own zip code.”

Oh god, she said it, not me. But yes, this woman is massively pregnant.

“No, you look great,” I assure her. “You’re totally radiant.”

I’m full of so much shit right now. I’m sure everyone in this hallway can smell it. Rachel just rolls her eyes as she steps back, brushing both hands over her bump. “That’s sweet. But we all know I look like a python that swallowed an exercise ball. It’s okay. You can be a little freaked out. It’s a lot of belly.”

Well, at least she can laugh about it, right?

“It might help to know there are actually two babies in here.”

I gasp. “Shut up. Twins? That’s so cool. I bet the guys are thrilled.”

She smiles. “Yeah. These two are due after the New Year. So, your timing is perfect. With my first two pregnancies, I worked a little longer. Heck, with Jamie, I stayed on staff right up to my due date. But carrying two has been tougher on me, and my guys are being real jerks about me following doctor’s orders. So …”

“We’re thrilled to have you back,” says Brady, patting my shoulder. “No one can replace Rachel. But I think, between the two of us, we can keep the place from burning down until she’s ready to come back to work.”

“Totally,” I assure them. “I’m ready to work. And I’ve really missed you guys,” I can’t help but add. “There’s something special about the Rays. It feels crazy to say it, because I was only an intern, but it sort of feels like coming home, you know?”

Rachel and Brady beam at me. “We do,” she assures me. “We’re glad you’re here, Teddy.”

“Once a Ray, always a Ray,” Brady adds.

“Well, he’s not a Ray until he signs my paperwork,” says Vicki. “Come with me, honey. We’ll see what we can do about getting you an access pass today.”

“We’ll see you over in the gym!” Rachel calls with a wave.

I wave back as the door shuts.

It takes me over an hour to fill out all Vicki’s paperwork, but I leave her office with a new ID card, a facility access pass, and a coupon for two free drinks from the coffee cart. I make my way overto the crowded gym. The first smiling face I see is Ryan Langley, jogging on a treadmill. He gives me a wave. “Teddy, hey!”

I wave back, unable to hide my smile.

In moments, there are calls of welcome as players abandon their workouts to come say hello. Woody and Paulie are defensemen who were rookies back when I was an intern. I think they’re both married now. Paulie has at least one kid. His wife is a supermodel or something. I saw the news of their marriage in a tabloid.

“I’m a little sweaty,” Langley warns, his arms spread wide as he swoops in for a hug.

“’Sfine,” I grunt as he squeezes me.

“Great to see you,” he adds, patting me roughly on the back.

“You too. How’s the family?”

“Thriving, thanks. Emma is five. She starts kindergarten this year.”

“Crazy.”

He chuckles. “Right? We actually leave first thing in the morning for Aruba.”

“Cool.”

“Yeah, the girls are excited. Last little summer trip before the season starts, you know?”

I just smile and nod. I watched his whole whirlwind romance take place six years ago. I was there playing soccer on the beach the day he first met his wife, Tess. I watched them fall in love. Later, Tess and I bonded over an awkward lunch. I was the starving college kid, just there for the food, and she was Doctor Price’s friend, secretly sleeping with a player. I caught her giving Langers “fuck me” eyes, and that was that. Instant friendship. We’ve sent the occasional texts to check in over the years.

“I can’t wait to see Tess again—oof—” All the air leaves my chest as someone slams into me from behind. A pair of thick arms wrap around me, squeezing me tight. I look down to see they’re covered in colorful tattoos. I grin. “Hey, Novy.”

His voice is muffled, his sweaty face pressed in at my neck. “I’m so happy you’re back.”

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