"The guys are skating in about an hour. It’s their morning skate before tonight's game. I'd like you to watch and start putting faces to names, getting a sense of how they move. Some of them you already know, of course." He smiles.
Huh? Panic rushes through me. He's talking about your brothers. Of course he is. "Perfect," I say.
"Read through that to familiarize yourself, then head down to the rink. You can sit front row, get up close with them." He leaves me alone in the treatment room.
I sit, open the tablet, and start scrolling through.
Fish - shoulder soreness, needs regular maintenance.
Bouch - ankle, previous sprain, watch for swelling.
Nelly - tight hip flexors, requires daily stretching.
Pierre St. Pierre - knee, old injury from juniors, monitor closely.
Felix St. Pierre - general wear and tear, reckless playing style.
I keep scrolling.
Emmett Black - no current injuries, but his shoulder gives him problems every now and then.
My finger hovers over his name as I stare at it longer than I should.Stop.I close the tablet and set it down, taking a breath. The door opens, and a woman around my age walks in. She's gorgeous, blonde ponytail, wide bright smile. "Hey there. You must be Joelle. I'm Sarah."
"Hi. Nice to meet you."
"Welcome to the chaos. Game days are insane, which I'm sure you are aware of. But you'll get used to it."
"It's nice being able to work in a room instead of on the side of the field," I joke.
This makes her smile. "What sport was it?"
"Rugby. It's like your football but with no gear."
Her eyes widen. "They don't wear gear?"
I nod. "It's brutal. I guess it's like hockey without the blades and protection."
"Wow. I bet they kept you busy."
"Yeah. There was always a lot of work on the guys because of how physically demanding it is. I know hockey is just as bad after growing up with my brothers' injuries."
She sets her bag down and starts prepping a treatment table. "Yeah. I bet. Must be awesome having two of the greatest hockey players as your brothers."
"What they have achieved is beyond anything we had dreamed for them. But I honestly forget who they are. Especially since I've been in London for most of their success."
"I can imagine. I bet London was exciting."
"Love London."
"The English accent is so sexy." She swoons.
"It can be. Depends on the guy." I smirk.
"So true. Are you single?" she asks.
I nod.
"Well, be careful because the players are great guys, but they are also very charming."
