I quickly turned away.
“I was worried when Andy announced his retirement,” one of the coaching assistants said. “But you’ve picked up where he left off seamlessly.”
“You’re too kind,” I said.
Coach Jay shook his head. “He’s right. It feels like you’ve been part of the team for years, now. That’s a valuable thing, trust me. Team cohesion is important.”
“Well, I’m just the trainer. I’m not really on the team.”
“Bullshit,” the assistant said. “We might not hold a stick, but we’re just as important to the team as anyone that laces up their skates.”
I smiled, grateful for the compliment. “The transition has been easy. Everyone has made me feel really welcome.”
“How’s Rhett Lawson been?” Jay asked.
“Rhett…” I tried to appear relaxed. “He’s been fine. As welcoming as anyone else on the team. Nothing noteworthy.”
Jay looked confused. “No, I mean how has his rehab been going? Think his shoulder will be ready when we get back from this road trip?”
“Oh. His shoulder, right. I think so! I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up, but if he keeps up with his rehab, and doesn’t aggravate it off the ice, he should be ready to go by then.”
“Nowthat’sthe best news I’ve heard all day,” the assistant said.
Rhett’s voice suddenly purred behind me: “You can’t stop talking about me, can you?”
I turned to see the right wing standing behind us, leaning on my chair and Jay’s. He was smiling knowingly.
“I can’t wait for your rehab to end, so I canstoptalking about you,” I teased.
The coaches chuckled at that.
“Ouch. I deserved that.” Rhett waved at the bartender. “We’ll take another round at the booth, when you get a chance.”
And then he glanced down at my beer, picked it up, and took a long sip.
“Please, help yourself,” I muttered.
“You got the hazy?” he asked. Surprise and approval flashed behind his blue eyes. “I knew I liked you.”
He walked back to his booth, loudly saying, “Hey, Ricky! The trainer’s got better taste in beer than you do! And don’t you dare tell me how many carbs are in your Michelob Ultra.”
“Boo!” Ricky shouted, standing up to give me a thumbs-down from across the bar. The rest of the players roared with laughter, and gave me thumbs-up instead.
“They treat you like one of them,” Jay told me quietly. “Whatever you’ve done to earn their trust, it’s working.”
I smiled, glad that I hadn’t gone straight up to my room. Ididfeel like I was part of the team, and not just on paper.
Even though Elias was still glaring at me from the corner of the bar.
10
June
The rest of the road trip went well. We lost to the Anaheim Ducks, but then won the next game against the San Jose Sharks before flying home.
Whatever tension had existed with Rhett was now gone. He’d lived up to his promise to forget about the kiss, for which I wasextremelygrateful.
Back in Atlanta, I resumed my normal routine. I supervised the players while they rehabbed, and created new training plans during my free time. I was quickly learning that there were always new injuries springing up. It was like playing Whack-a-Mole: as soon as one player healed up, another would walk into my office with a sore elbow or busted ankle.
