Actually, she was dead wrong.Hewasscared.Scared he’d lose this chance to stay in the NHL.Scared he’d never earn the money that was going to take care of his dad’s medical needs and his brother’s education.Scared he was about to drop the brass ring right after he’d snagged it and scared it was the last ring on the ride.
So why was he looking forward to two hours from now?
“You wouldnotbelieve who walked into my clinic today.”
“Let’s see.Ashton Kutcher?Justin Bieber?”
“Seriously?Thoseare your go-tos?”
“I was binge-watching old episodes ofPunk’dthe other night, and Justin Bieber because … I’ve got nothing.”
“Sam Durbin,” Angie blurted.
The silence on the other end of Angie’s phone was her signal that her cousin had keeled over.“Jenna?Are you breathing?Talk to me.”
Silence.
“Jenn, unless I hear you speak in the next two seconds, I’m dialing 9-1-1.”
“Oh my God, Ange!The real question is canyoubreathe?”Before Angie could answer, her cousin babbled on.“Did you give his boys a swift kick?Maim him in other interesting ways?”
“No, he was already injured.It didn’t seem right to pile on.After he recovers, though …”
“Did he get hurt playing hockey?”
“Yep.”Angie wouldn’t say more, and Jenna knew better than to ask.She was in healthcare too.
“What are the chancesyou’dbethe one who has to PT him back to health?How did he look?”
Perfect.Yummy.Climbable.“Didn’t really pay attention.I was too focused on his injury.”
“Yeah, right,” Jenna snorted.“The truth now.”
“He looked about the same.”
“Oh no.That’s bad,” Jenna sighed.“Are you stress-baking yet?”
Angie laughed.“I thought about it, but I’m the only one here to eat it, and my girlish figure doesnotneed the extra poundage.”
“Are you going to be able to keep your hands off him, Ange?”
“Uh, no.I’m his PT, remember?”
“Fair.So how is the new job going?You’ve been at it what, two months now?”
“Almost three.Good, I guess.We’ve had a few people go on vacation and one who quit, so I’m picking up extra hours and extra patients.”Like Sam.
“And Trevor?How’s that going?”
“It’s … weird.How do you tell a guy who helped you get your dream job that you don’t want to go out with him?I mean, I’ve tried as nicely as I can, but he’s not taking the hint.He’s been ‘stopping by’ nearly every day to see how I’m doing.”
“You guys aren’t supposed to date, though, right?I mean, same organization and all that.That’s your out.”
“Kind of, although we’re not technically under the Blizzard umbrella, but it doesn’t keep me from wielding that excuse whenever he suggests we get drinks or coffee.He swears it’s just ‘friendly,’ and that there’s nothing wrong with grabbing a drink with a co-worker.Except I’m ninety-nine percent sure this isn’t just about a drink.”Angie was caught in that uncomfortable space where she was grateful and beholden to the guy but wanted to keep him at arm’s length.If she called him on his ulterior motives, not only would she come across as egotistical, but she could set herself up as a target.“It’s possible I’m reading his smarmy smiles all wrong.”
“You’re not, Ange.You have good instincts when it comes to men.”
“Ha!You mean like I did six years ago when my instincts went on hiatus?”
