Page 89 of Playing the Pucking Game
She shakes her head as I continue to bounce my knees.
“How does that feel?” she asks again, her eyes holding mine in warning.
“Perfect. You’d never know anything was wrong.” I smile at her, and her eyes narrow. I don’t think she believes me.
“Level of pain?”
“One.”
She holds my stare for three seconds before her lips twitch into the most incredible smile.
“Alright, there’s no need to be so smug.”
She drops onto her ass in front of me on the mats. It’s been just the two of us in here for an hour, and honestly, it’s been the best part of my day so far.
I love watching her work. Seeing the little frown line that appears between her brows when she’s concentrating and the small twitch of one side of her lips when something goes to plan or she discovers her therapy has had the effect she was hoping for.
But this, her smile right now...I wish I could bottle it and keep it forever.
“I’m sorry, it just…it feels really fucking good to be right.”
“And there I was thinking you’re always right.”
She shakes her head, her smile softening, but it’s no less breathtaking. “So you do listen to me occasionally.”
“I’m fixed, aren’t I, Doc?”
“Not quite, but you’re almost there.”
“You mean I still need these one-on-one sessions? Damn, not sure I’ll cope.”
“You know you enjoy them.”
Yeah, I do.
“I know you haven’t exactly enjoyed the start of my time here, but…”
“But what?” I ask when she trails off, not finishing her thought.
“Thank you.”
“I haven’t done anything other than be pissed off.”
She laughs. “I can handle that. I just…I needed this win. I know it’s only been a few days, and most people have been so welcoming and supportive, but I’m aware that not everyone thinks I deserve my place here. But this…spotting your injuryand having the chance to work with you and prove myself right? Well…it helps.”
As she speaks, my frown gets deeper, and anger begins to simmer inside me.
“Who’s said something?” I ask.
“It’s nothing,” she says, trying to brush her comment under the carpet.
“If that were true, you wouldn’t have said anything.”
“I’m just aware that I’m a young woman in a man’s world. I want to prove my place, and this…you’ve helped.”
“You’re welcome. Maybe it was worth missing two games.”
“You know I was right.”
