Page 10 of Offside for Christmas
Marcus had thought this town was beneath him. Marcus had thought she was beneath him, ultimately. Not good enough, not exciting enough, not worth staying for when the NHL came calling.
She wasn't making that mistake again.
But even as she tried to focus on her book, even as the fictional football player swept the fictional heroine off her feet, Ellie found her mind wandering to tomorrow morning. To eight AM. To Cole Hansen.
She pulled out her tablet and opened his medical file one more time.
The numbers definitely didn't add up. Range of motion reported at ninety-five percent of baseline, but the injury timeline suggested he should be closer to seventy percent. Strength testing showed normal results, but the notes from his PT sessions were sparse, generic, exactly the kind of documentation you'd expect from someone who was rubber-stamping clearances without actually doing the work.
Either Cole Hansen was a medical miracle, or he was hiding something.
Ellie made notes in her assessment prep document:
Test actual ROM vs. reported (expect significant discrepancy)
Check for pain responses (he'll lie, they always do)
Establish boundaries immediately (no special treatment, no charm offensives)
Be prepared for resistance, anger, or manipulation tactics
DO NOT let him derail the assessment with deflection
Stay professional
She set her alarm for six AM—two hours before his appointment, because she liked being prepared for everything—and laid out her work clothes. Black athletic pants, Eagles polo, her favorite sneakers. Professional but practical. Authoritative without being intimidating.
Eight AM tomorrow, she told herself.I meet Cole Hansen. By 8:30, he'll know I'm not someone he can charm or intimidate. I've handled ego-driven athletes before. This will be no different.
Her phone buzzed again. Email notification.
From:Coach Davies
Subject:FYI
