Page 28 of Cheap Shot
“I thought you said it was going to be fun,” I huff, leaning back in the chair and crossing my arms.
“Okay, fun for anyone who isn’t you.” The hiring manager giggles softly before grabbing a packet off the desk and holding it out to me. “Your first day will be next week. We have some trades coming in to take part in the rookie training camp this year. We’re going to need you to examine a few of them.”
Talk about dropping me in the deep end from the start. Rookie training camp is probably the most stressful time in a future NHL star's career. This is the one and only time the rookies and traded players are going to be the stars, giving them a chance to showcase their skills and compete for any open roster spots without the veteran players hot on their heels. Add to that the fact that some of them are recently injured and are in recovery, so they have the pressure of possibly not even having a chance to step foot on the ice. This is definitely the makings of a potentially volatile first day of work. Good thing my parents didn’t raise a quitter.
“No problem. Do you have any records about their past and current injuries?” I open the packet and begin leafing through it.
I don’t see anything out of the ordinary. A few bum shoulders and a torn MCL that he’s been rehabbing for the last ten months. This should be a cakewalk. I don’t know what I was even worried about.
“We do. Only one of them is currently injured. He had major rotator cuff surgery at the end of the season and is still working to get back into skating shape.” She leans over the desk, flipping a couple of pages before pointing to a familiar picture. “We have a complete sign-off and return to the ice with limited contact form from his surgeon and physical therapist, but we’d like to do our own assessment.”
My eyes almost bulge out of my head when I notice the face staring back at me from the page. I know the world is small, but could it really be this freaking small? I inhale deeply, trying to calm my racing heart before responding. “I can do that. I did assessments all the time at the hospital.”
Calm down, Michele. Everything is going to be fine. Sure, you know this person, but there’s nothing illegal about knowing a professional hockey player on the team that you work for. I inhale deeply, trying to calm my racing heart. I know a lot of players on the team because Dad has been the head coach for years. Okay, talking about knowing a player might be a stretch of the word since I haven’t been around much recently, but the last thing I need to do right now is have a panic attack.
What the fuck! This can not be happening to me.Of course, the face staring back at me is the one who got away. No, that saying doesn’t actually fit this time around because that would imply something started. Cole asked me out, and I thought it was a good idea to play mind games instead of accepting the minute he asked. It’s not like I've been obsessively waiting for him to come back into the therapy center since the last time I saw him. Can you tell I’m being sarcastic? It’s gotten so bad that Stacey volunteered to let me take a peek at his file and snag his phone number or something. That may be just a little illegal, so I declined.
Guys like him don’t randomly ask girls like me out on a date. I had to be sure it wasn’t some kind of joke. It wouldn’t be the first time a hot guy decided it would be a good idea to ask the big girl out on a date, only to stand her up. I’ve been dealing with shit like that my entire life. It makes sense for me to be wary, but this time, I have a feeling he meant it. But that doesn’t matter now because it's too late. Instead of being some sexy stranger I might never see again, he’s Cole Hendrix. If this file is correct, the younger brother of hockey superstars Cooper and Beau Hendrix is currently starring in all of my dreams. This won’t end well for me.
“You’ll be working with Parker on a treatment and workout plan for this player.” She leans back, returning to her seat. “Not that we don’t trust you, but the owner has a particular interest in this specific player.”
Damn. I don’t know what Cole could have done that would require special interest from the owner of the club, but this is a big deal. I should be elated that I’m being trusted with such an important case, but this terrifies me almost as much as having to tell my dad about my new job. Almost.
“It's not going to be a problem, is it?” She mistakes my quiet for concern. “I know Cole has a reputation for being a hothead. That’s why we are pairing you with Parker on this one.”
I will not freak out in this woman’s office. I will not freak out in this woman’s office.Maybe if I repeat it in my head like a mantra, I’ll actually believe it. Do I tell them we’ve met before? Are there rules against relationships with hockey players? Not that his flirting with me for a few minutes and asking me out can be considered a relationship, but can I get fired for this?
“No, it's fine.” I swallow, trying to find the right words to describe my relationship with Cole. “I’ve met Cole before. I was his therapist for a few sessions at the hospital.”
Her eyebrows pull down in concern, but she says nothing. I don’t know why, but my brain automatically goes to damage control. I need this woman to know that although I’ve seen him a few times, there is nothing going on between me and Cole Hendrix. Not that I didn’t want something to happen between us, but she doesn’t need to know any of that.
“I wasn’t the person who wrote that recommendation. That was my roommate, Stacey. She was his primary therapist while he was receiving services, but I filled in for her once or twice.”
She stares at me in silence for a few moments. Why the hell do people do that, anyway? I’m sitting here, trying to make sure I haven’t screwed up this job before I even had a chance to start it, and all she can do is stare at me? Jeez, woman, can you at least smile or something when you hold my entire future in your hands? Being able to read minds would be an amazing superpower to suddenly appear right now. Unfortunately, I’m not destined to be Charles Xavier in the flesh, so I just sit and wait.
Thankfully, she puts me out of my misery and starts speaking again. “Good. Hopefully, a familiar face will make the transition back to the ice smoother.”
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding and smile. One crisis averted. Now I just need to tell Dad that he and I will be working closely together during the next season. Fingers crossed he keeps the guilt trip to a minimum for once. I really don’t want to be guilted into attending another family dinner. My psyche won’t be able to take it. Maybe I should call my therapist and schedule an emergency appointment for Monday, just in case. You can never be too careful when it comes to my family.
“If you have any problems with him or any of the players on the team, please let someone know. We don’t tolerate that type of behavior from anyone.”
Why do I feel like she’s trying to tell me something without telling me something? Nope, not going there. Judging by her statement about Cole being a hothead, I’m sure she can tell there is something up, but there’s no way she can know our history or lack thereof. No need to panic. I can just plaster a smile on my face and pretend I’m not internally freaking out. Because I am, in fact, freaking out. Is there even a no-fraternization policy with the team? I am the first female staff member to work directly with the team, so they have never had one before, but still. Can I be fired for a policy that hasn’t even been written yet? I mean, technically, I wouldn’t be fired since I haven’t actually started working yet. Is that even legal? I can’t lose a job before I actually have it, can I? I haven’t violated any rules, but wait, have I?
OMG, brain! Cut me a goddamn break. I just need to get through this meeting, and then I can freak out to my heart's content before I go and see Dad to tell him the good news.
I scoff but quickly cover it with a cough. “I don’t expect there to be any problems with anyone on the team.”
After Mom died, it was a little hard for my dad to find a babysitter for me. I have two older sisters, but they weren’t too keen on me tagging along on their dates, so I went to practices and sometimes games with Dad. I learned everything I know about the sport just by hanging around the rink. I grew up around hockey players. My dad was a hockey player. I don’t think I’ll have a problem handling anyone in the locker room.
She walks around her desk, holding her hand out for me to shake a second time. “Neither do we, but I wanted to let you know my door is open if you need anything.”
“I appreciate it.” I grip her hand in mine before she motions toward the door.
“Good luck telling your father. He’s expecting the new hire to stop by his office on their way out.”
“Okay.” I grimace, guessing I don’t have time to freak out after all. Well, maybe just a tiny one. “I’ll head to his office before heading out.”
“Good luck,” she says sympathetically.
