Page 16

“Jesus, Graham,” I mutter under my breath. “Get a grip.”

But the truth is, I don’t have a grip. Not even close. Having Anastasia here, in my world, as part of my team, feels like a cruel twist of fate. And the worst part? The more I think about it, the more I realize there’s no escaping her—not now, not with her embedded in my everyday reality.

I grab the folder Brooke left on my desk, flipping through the contents without really seeing the words. Novak’s scandal feels almost like a relief—a distraction I desperately need.

But even as I try to throw myself into the chaos of managing Elias Novak’s mess, one thought keeps circling back, unrelenting.

Anastasia isn’t just part of my past anymore.

She’s my present.

And a complication I couldn’t have seen coming.

The click of the door opening barely registers over the flood of thoughts racing through my mind. I don’t bother looking up until Dominic Carter, our team captain and one of our most reliable players, steps inside, his expression grim. His broad shoulders seem even heavier than usual, as though he’s carrying the weight of something unpleasant.

“Dominic,” I say, setting the Novak file down. “What’s going on?”

Dominic crosses the room with deliberate strides, the door clicking shut behind him. He folds his arms, his jaw tight, and I know this isn’t going to be good.

“It’s about Novak,” he starts, his voice low and steady. “You need to know what happened when Anastasia came through the locker room earlier.”

My stomach twists at her name. “Go on.”

“She came in for introductions,” Dominic explains. “Brady brought her through, and everyone was respectful—shook her hand, welcomed her to the team. Except for Novak.”

The tightness in Dominic’s voice tells me where this is headed. I grip the edge of my desk, bracing myself.

“What did he say?” I ask, my tone sharper than I intended.

Dominic hesitates, glancing at the floor before meeting my gaze. “He made a comment about her being ‘too hot’ and ‘too young’ to be a doctor. Told her he’d be happy to give her something else to examine if she wanted.”

Every muscle in my body locks up. My vision blurs momentarily as white-hot anger courses through me. I rise from my chair so abruptly that it nearly tips backward.

“He said that to her face?” My voice is low and dangerous, and Dominic takes a step back, his hands raised in a calming gesture.

“Graham,” he says cautiously, “I get it. I was ready to knock him out myself. But you’ve gotta keep your head here.”

I don’t respond. I don’t need to. My fists are already clenched as I push past him and head for the hallway.

“Graham!” Dominic calls after me, but I don’t stop.

I find Novak near the weight room, laughing with a couple of other players like he hasn’t a care in the world. The sight of him, so smug and unbothered, makes my blood boil. I stride toward him, the anger radiating off me like heat.

“Elias!” I bark, my voice cutting through the chatter.

He turns, and his grin falters when he sees my face. “What’s up, boss?”

“Walk with me,” I say, my tone leaving no room for argument.

His smirk returns, but he shrugs and follows me down the hall, away from prying eyes. Once we’re out of earshot, I stop and round on him, stepping into his space.

“You think it’s appropriate to speak to the new team doctor the way you did?” My voice is low but lethal, the words laced with controlled fury.

Novak’s smirk twists into something more defiant. “What? She couldn’t handle a compliment? Relax, Callahan. It was a joke.”

“A joke?” I echo, my voice rising. “You disrespected her, demeaned her, and made it clear you don’t belong on this team.”

His cocky façade cracks. “Don’t belong? I’m one of your best players, Callahan. You need me.”