Page 71 of Top Shelf
Sitting back with a huff, he crossed his arms over his chest. “Before you ask, no one’s made any complaints or accusations. But you must know how this shit looks.”
My heart sank. I couldn’t deny that him becoming my patient had played some role in the reason we were…whatever we were now. “I’m really sorry, man. But if you’re here to tell me I have to end things with him?—”
“I got a call a couple minutes ago from a woman named Andrea Baker. She’s with the Bruins.”
I stared at him. Fuck, had the league found out about us?
“Her husband works for them as the team’s physical therapist. He’s leaving.”
My heart began to beat triple time in my chest. I knew where this was going. Fuck. Fuck. “Uh-huh.”
“They asked how screwed I’d be if they poached you. In so many words,” he added.
Licking my lips, I rolled my gaze up toward the ceiling and took a fortifying breath. “Is this one of those ‘I don’t want to have to fire you, so here’s an out’ conversations?”
“I want to close my practice, Quinn.”
My gaze snapped back to his face. The rest of the staff and I had speculated, but hearing about it from him was a surprise. “Really?”
“I thought about asking if you wanted to take it over, but that’s a lot of weight for someone who’s in their first year.” He folded his fingers together as he sat forward again. “I think it would break you if you did something like that. But I’m not sure working for the NHL would be good for you either.”
I hadn’t thought about it. Not in a million, billion,trillionfucking years did it occur to me to work with the NHL. But now it was on the table, and a million scenarios were going through my head. A million reasons to be at the arena all season. A million reasons to be close to Ferris.
Only…I didn’t know if he’d want that. I didn’t know if he was eager for all of this to end. I had no idea how he felt about a future with me.
I needed to see him.
“I gotta take off.”
Cal and I stood at the same time, and he stopped me as I came around the desk. “I’m not happy that you fucked a patient, Quinn. I know the circumstances were…different. But it’s a bad look.”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t think you should take this job unless you two come clean about it. Someone will see you. I don’t know if you can be careful when it comes to him.”
Passing both hands down my face, I groaned. “I didn’t expect it to be like this. It was supposed to be for fun.”
“And then you fell in love?”
I’d been running from that four-letter word for weeks now, but hearing it on Cal’s lips and tongue? I couldn’t deny it. “I’m fucked.”
“Yeah, but maybe in a good way. You need to talk to him. I’m going to forward you the contact info Andrea sent me. She said to consider her call an unofficial job offer if you want it.”
Christ. Was he serious right now? Did Ferris know?
“When are you closing down?”
“I’m going to start making some calls about patient transfers in the next few weeks. I’m burned out. Elena’s making more money than either of us needs, and every time I’m here, I want to be home with the twins.” He managed a smile. “I’m sorry to fuck everything up for you.”
“I don’t think you did,” I admitted.
The drunk driver did that. Not treating my leg the way I should have did that.
Ferris did that—but his was in the best way.
Cal was a stopgap between what might have been and what would be.
“I’ll see you later this week,” I told him. He shot me a nod, and this time, he didn’t stop me when I grabbed my bag and cane and headed for the back door.
