Page 9 of Golden Goal

I spend the third period up in the team’s box so I can see the players from a different view and get a break from the noise. The Storm eke out a win, scoring the winning goal with seconds left of the game.

As I’m walking down the back hallways after the game, on my way to my office to grab my bags, someone calls my name.

I pause, turning around to see Rhodes’s wife standing in the hallway with two people I don’t know. I plaster on a smile I hope is convincing, all the while internally grimacing. All I want is to go home and take a hot shower and put my feet up.

“Hi, Mrs. Rhodes. Good to see you again,” I greet her.

“It’s just Madison. I didn’t realize you were here tonight. You should have sat with us.”

“Right, Madison. Sorry. Old habits.” I shrug. “I was working.”

“Ah ok, well next time you’ll have to join us. Oh, do you know everyone?” She points at the couple with her. I shake my head. “This is Aubrey Fairchild, soon to be Aubrey Thompson.” She points at the woman standing to her left. “And this guy”—she points over her shoulder—“is Brody, Aub’s fiancé. He used to play for the Storm until he retired.”

He waves at me, and I return the gesture.

“Y’all, this is Dr. Rebecca Jansen. The team’s new physical therapist.”

“Nice to meet you all,” I say.

“We’re going to say hi to the guys. Want to come?” Madison asks.

“Ummm.” I hesitate, unsure of how to answer the question. Technically, I’m not hanging out with them outside of work, so I’m not really crossing the line into friend territory. “Okay. I need to run back to my office and grab my stuff.”

“We’ll wait for you,” Madison says.

I make my way to my office, where I grab my purse from the bottom drawer of my desk. Habit has me pulling out my phone to check if I have any missed calls from my dad or stepmom. My mouth drops open when I see I have a voicemail from my brother.

What the hell does Mason want?

I’m surprised he even called, given what he said the last time we talked. I blow out a breath. Probably more of the same old shit he usually says.

I lock my phone and shove it back into my purse.

“Rebecca, are you okay?”

Shaking myself out of my thoughts, I see Aubrey standing in the doorway. “Sorry, I’m coming.”

She steps further into my office. “I hope we’re not overstepping. We want you to feel welcome here. If you don’t want to come with us, say the word, and I’ll make an excuse for you.”

I give her a small smile. “Thank you. I’m good, just tired from today.”

I grab the rest of my stuff, and we make our way back to where the rest of the group is waiting. A few minutes later, we’re standing in the hallway outside the locker room. Sutton joins the group, and they start chatting. I keep quiet, not paying much attention to the conversation.

Eventually, Rhodes comes out of the locker room and walks over to Madison, giving her a quick kiss before greeting the rest of us.

Behind him is another guy whose name I can’t remember. He smacks Rhodes on the shoulder before heading over to Sutton and me.

“Sutton, love,” he says in a British accent that would make any woman swoon.

The look he’s giving her has fire behind it, and I wonder what that’s about.

Nope, I’m not going to wonder because it’s none of my business.

He opens his arms for a hug, but she shakes her head. He drops his arms with a frown.

I’m distracted by Abbott walking out of the locker room, noticing how he favors his right leg slightly. I was right. To the untrained eye it’s unnoticeable, but to me, someone who studied gait and movement, it’s quite conspicuous.

As he walks past us, I turn on my heel, and without a word to the others, hurry after him.