“Kelsier is one of our defensemen,” I say.
“It’s great to meet you,” the doc says to him. “Ash has mentionedyou. It sounds like you’re good friends on the team?”
Kelsier throws an arm around my shoulders, nearly putting me in a head lock. “I’m his best friend,” he tells her.
“For now,” I say, prying him off me. “We’ll see how the rest of the day goes.”
“Tell me, Doc,” Kelsier says, ignoring me, “what kinds of treatments are you using on my boy here to fix his problem? Have you had to start the electroshock therapy yet?”
Doc Mackey smiles at him, and this time it looks genuine. “That would certainly make things easier,” she says, “but unfortunately I’m not licensed to conduct electroshock.”
Kelsier grins wider and leans in. “I won’t tell anyone if you try anyway,” he says in a loud whisper.
She laughs. “Have you played together long? Did you know each other before the Hydra?”
“Nah, we only met a little while ago when Ash joined the team,” Kelsier says. “He kind of latched onto me, and I didn’t have the heart to push him away.”
“Uh…who approached who first?” I ask indignantly.
“Well, I came over to introduce myself first,” Kelsier admits, “but only because you made those lost puppy dog eyes at me, and I can’t resist a stray.” He winks at the doc.
I scoff and roll my eyes. “He’s so full of shit,” I tell her.
“You sound like me and my friend Celena,” she says, smiling.
“Who has she met so far?” Kelsier asks me.
“Just the coaching staff and trainers,” I say. “Where is everyone?”
“Most of the guys are in the locker room getting ready for practice.”
“Is…Kingston there?” I’m not sure how to ask without letting on why I want to know, but Kelsier guesses.
“No, it’s safe,” he says. “The goalies are down on the ice for their own pre-practice.”
The doc looks between us questioningly. “Safe?”
“Kingston can be…hard to deal with sometimes,” Kelsier tells her. “He has what one might call a ‘high maintenance attitude,’ so it might be best to save meeting him for your second visit.”
He’s not wrong, and I’m grateful to Kelsier for giving the doc a reason to steer clear of Kingston. In addition to being a playboy, Kingston can also be an arrogant ass.
The doc’s brows rise at Kelsier’s explanation, but she shrugs. “Alright. Lead the way then.”
We head down the hall to the locker room, and Kelsier holds up a hand to halt us when we get there.
“Let me check to be sure everyone is decent,” he says before opening the door and poking his head inside. “Hey,” he calls in. “Gunny’s professor lady is here. Is everyone dressed?”
There’s a chorus of eager voices from within as Kelsier looks around the room.
“Jesus Christ, Mack,” he says after a second. “Put some fucking pants on. Your jock strap doesn’t count as being ‘dressed.’” He looks back at me and the doc. “It will just be a minute.”
The doc looks at him as if she’s trying to decide if he’s serious. Knowing the guys as I do, he is.
Finally, Kelsier opens the door fully, and we follow him in. There’s another chorus of greetings as Doc Mackey enters, but I sigh as I take in the sight before us. Everyone is dressed, but just barely. Half the guys have their shirts off. Mack only has compression shorts on that leave nothing to the imagination, and Fig is wearing his shirt with only his boxer briefs underneath. Assholes.
“Guys, this is Dr. Gray Mackey,” I say to the room at large. “And that’s Dr. Mackey to you,” I clarify as Mack opens his mouth to say something. “She’s here to see what I have to put up with from you lot.”
There’s an uproar of protests, and I hold my hands in a ‘Don’t blame me because it’s true’ gesture.
