Chapter Nine
WADE
I grunt as the physical therapist works on the muscles in my thigh, hip, and glutes. It’s less sore today, which is a good sign, but even that does little to ease my frustration over missing the game last night.
The team played well, and we won, so that’s a relief. Pay-man got a break from dealing with his nemesis because Jennings wound up injured during a previous game. Holt, our backup goalie, held his own and blocked one shot that had the fans jumping to their feet. I’m glad Mason got some playtime, but I don’t like this unmoored feeling sitting on my chest like a boulder. Ineedto get back on the ice.
Hannah hits a spot that makes me grunt. “Still tender?”
“What do you think?” I growl.
She raises a brow at me. Hannah is as tough as she is caring, but she’ll let us know when we cross the line. Still cracks me up that she married a lifeguard with the surname Lawless because it totally fits her attitude sometimes. I can’t speak to what she’s like outside of the arena, but the woman is formidable when it comes to the recovery of the players she treats.
I drop my head. “Sorry.”
She grabs an ice pack from the cooling unit, wraps it in a towel, and then lays it across my leg. “You can’t rush this one, Wade.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I pinch the bridge of my nose, willing the ache to slide away into oblivion so I can get back to the crease.
Her blonde curls tickle my shoulder when she leans over me and gets right in my face. “I mean it. Push this, and you’ll be benched for the season.”
I blow out a breath. “Yes, ma’am.”
Coach Markelson greets her as he walks in. “How’s he doing?”
“I told him not to rush this one. And I mean it.” She shoots him a razor-edged look as if to say he had better pay attention, too.
“Yes, ma’am.” He holds his hands up as if to fend off an attack.
I snort. “That’s what I said, Coach.”
Hannah blows out a noisy breath, making the curl in front of her face dance to the side. “Don’t make my job harder. That’s all I’m saying.”
She throws me a wink as she leaves, letting me know she’s kidding. Hannah would go above and beyond for any of us, and she often has.
Coach strolls over and pats my shoulder. “I know it’s hard to be benched, but do what she says. Take it slow so we know you’re a hundred percent when you return.”
“Sure thing, Coach.” I put on my best agreeable face even though I’m seething inside.
He walks out, leaving me alone in the silence of the therapy room. I drape my arm over my eyes as the lack of sleep due to a restless night settles into me. A sleepy doze relaxes my limbs, and I give in to it.
That is, until the sound of a knock jars me. “Yeah?”
Bree’s soft voice filters through the closed door. “Can I come in?”
“Of course.”
She peeks in as if she’s checking for something. “Just want to make sure you’re decent.”
I blurt out a chuckle. Feels good to laugh. Bree and her bubbly take on life may be the exact thing I need at the moment. “I’m dressed but don’t know about the decent part.”
Her giggle affirms my suspicion as it seems to lift some of the heaviness harboring in my chest.
“You’re the most decent man I know, Wade.” She’s smiling as she says this, but her blue eyes are razor sharp as if her life depended on every word.
I swallow down the knot in my throat. Moments like this make it twice as hard to hide my feelings for her. Bree’s always been my biggest cheerleader, believing in me even when I doubted myself. And right now, this injury is making me feel especially vulnerable.
She sits on the wheeled stool Hannah vacated and lets her laptop bag puddle on the floor by her foot. “Since you’re not busy,” she spots the ice pack on my leg and groin area, then quickly glances away, “and you’re a captive audience, I thought I’d start with you on the ‘Date a Player’ fundraiser.”
