“Too bad. I would have liked to show you how a gentleman should treat you.”
I nearly groaned. Why oh why didn’t I meet him on the street? Or at a cafe? Or literally anywhere other than my place of work?
“You’re too kind. I don’t mind the nickname though. I’ve heard that one before.”
He chuckled deeply, and I blew out a breath. Way to play it off.
I managed to finish his treatment, and see the remaining two players, without completely embarrassing myself or injuring them. By the end of the day, I was mentally and physically exhausted.
I was sitting down in the break area massaging my temples when Madi walked in. “You survived.”
I met her curious gaze. “Yeah, that was quite the day.”
“You handled it well. Better than some, actually.”
“What do you mean?”
She smiled, looking a bit guilty. “That was sort of a test.”
I leaned back and dropped my hands in my lap. “What are you talking about?”
“When a new person starts, we have them work with some of our most high profile clients to see how they handle it. We want to make sure they remain professional and don’t let the fame impact their work.”
“Do you think I did that?”
She shook her head, looking pleased. “Not at all. In fact, you did better than I did.”
I raised a single brow. “Really?”
“Yeah, and I didn’t have Kevin Adams flirting with me.”
I groaned and dropped my head into my hands. “He even asked me out.”
“Oh, that’s so cruel,” she said, laughing.
I glared up at her. “You put him up to that?”
She held up her hands. “No. No one ever tells them anything. That was real.”
That made me feel better, for a second, then I remembered one of the hottest men on the planet had asked me out, and I had to turn him down.
“I deserve an award.”
She nodded emphatically. “I honestly wouldn’t have blamed you for accepting. Losing a job might be worth it.”
I thought about it and agreed. “Probably.”
“It just shows how dedicated you are. You did very well today. You made me proud.”
That softened the blow of the missed opportunity of my life, but just barely.
“Didn’t you meet Erik here?”
She grinned and nodded. “Yeah, but we didn’t start dating until he was done with therapy.”
I sighed. “So now that Kevin’s done…”
“Ugh, still might be a bad idea.”
She was right. Madi was a partner at the clinic. The same rules didn’t apply to a grunt like me. I liked this job too much to risk it.
“Plus, there are plenty of men, who aren’t patients here, you can date.”
I wrinkled my nose. “I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”
She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “Elena mentioned something like that. What’s the story?”
If someone else had asked me the same question I probably would have told them to mind their own business, but I’d been comfortable around Madi from the moment I met her, and I knew she was asking out of concern, not just to probe.
“My last relationship didn’t end very well.”
Her expression darkened. “I can relate. What happened?”
“I met a guy, Martin, in my program last year, and we started hanging out. At first, we just studied together, but after a few weeks he asked me out. We dated for almost nine months, up until last October. We were making plans about where we would apply for work and talked about moving in together.” I looked down. “We even discussed marriage.”
Madi nodded but didn’t interrupt.
“Then I got a call from a stranger. She told me she was his fiancé. They’d been together for three years, and she warned me to stay away from him.”
She gasped and covered her mouth. “No.”
“I was shocked. I thought it had to be a misunderstanding or she had him confused for someone else. She sent me pictures of them together from years before. She even sent me a wedding invitation. She told me she would ruin me if I didn’t leave him.” I shook my head at the memory of that horrible time. “I confronted him that night and broke up with him. He didn’t even bother denying it. He just said he loved us both. Even though I ended things and never contacted him again, she was a woman scorned. She blamed me for everything rather than realizing he had lied to us both. She spread rumors about me being unprofessional with the athletes. She said I was hooking up with them when I was supposed to be treating them.”
My shoulders sagged. “She got one of them to corroborate her story and said that I came onto him and would touch him inappropriately. All of that reached the professors. Some of them let their connections in the industry know. My reputation was ruined. I couldn’t get a job in Houston or anywhere in the area. That’s when Elena offered to have me move in with her. I thought it was cowardly of me to run away instead of confronting the lies, but when you called, I knew it was a sign. I had to get out of there if I wanted any chance of starting fresh.”
Madi didn’t speak for several seconds. “I’m so sorry, Amelia. You didn’t deserve that. Any of it. It makes me sad that a woman would do that to another, especially since it was Martin who should have paid for his crimes.”
I nodded. “They got married over Christmas break.”
She cringed. “They deserve each other.”
I laughed and froze. I never thought I would get to a point where I could feel anything but pain and rage. “They really do.”
I thought I loved Martin, but knowing what I know how horrible and vindictive he could be made me realize I was grateful his fiancé found me. She tried to destroy my life, but looking at my life now proved she didn’t come close.
She wagged her eyebrows. “And now you have NBA players asking you out.”
I scoffed. “Yeah, but it’s not like I’m going to say yes.”
“Maybe not, but what about a certain hockey player?”
“What are you talking about?” I asked with a laugh.
“I saw you last night with Derrek. There was definitely something there.”
I shook my head but didn’t argue. “I’m not ready to date. I’m still...recovering.”
Derrek was attractive, okay gorgeous, and I couldn’t deny I was drawn to him. We’d only had one conversation, but I felt like I knew him. Probably because we skipped the pleasantries and I dove into his insecurities. Not the best way to kick off a relationship, but he’d been so broken last night. I saw his open vulnerability and couldn’t walk away.
“Oh Amelia. I know how hard it is to come back from a bad relationship, but don’t let that stop you from taking a chance on him. You won’t want to lose him to someone else, would you?” She lit up when I didn’t contradict her. “Oh, I knew it! You like him!”
“I never said that.” I stood and hurried out before she could get anything else out of me.
7
Derrek
I was tense as I pulled into the parking garage. We had a training day yesterday so I went to a private gym rather than the one at the arena. I needed some space from the guys, but I couldn’t skip morning skate if I wanted to even be considered to play at tonight’s game. Of course, there was little chance I would, not unless Olli somehow injured himself between now and six o’clock tonight.
Regret filled me from the moment I watched Amelia walk away with Madi the night before. I should have gone after her and asked her not to tell anyone about our conversation, but when I went inside, I couldn’t find her. I didn’t hang around for long, though. I wasn’t interested in being the butt of the jokes for the night.
Before someone could find me, I got out of my car and made my way down to the locker room. No one even noticed me walk in. They were too busy talking about the game tonight. The Charleston team had been better last season than any other time in their history and had been a real
threat for the championship. They’d had a few trades and a new assistant coach since then that seemed to throw them off. They were back down to fifth in their division, but they were unpredictable. Some nights they were on fire, and some it seemed like they had no idea what they were even doing on the ice.
“Hey, Aston, Coach Abrams asked to see you before you went out,” Olli called to me, and I nodded in acknowledgment.
I stopped changing and headed for his office. I’d been expecting him to call me in all week, but figured he forgot. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. I knocked on the open door and he looked up, waving me in.
“Hi, Derrek. Thanks for coming by.”
“Sure thing.” I shut the door behind me and sat down in the empty chair across from him.
“How have things been going?” he asked, and I had a feeling he had something specific he wanted to discuss. I cursed myself for being so dumb. I never should have opened my mouth around the new girl. I didn’t know her, and her allegiance belonged to Nikolay and the Pride.
“Fine, sir.”
He leaned back in his chair and stared at me, obviously waiting for me to continue.
“I haven’t gotten in any more fights.”
“I’m aware.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Why don’t you seem pleased by that?”
“Because I had a feeling this would happen, and I’m a bit disappointed that it has.”
“What are you talking about?” He was disappointed there haven’t been more fights?
“When I told you to watch yourself, I didn’t want you to hide away.”
I sighed and dropped back into the chair. “So, if I confront them, I’m at fault, and if I avoid the situation, I’m still at fault?”
He gave me a stern look, not unlike something my dad would give me growing up when I was frustrating him. Good. He knew how I felt right now too.
“I was hoping you’d try harder to integrate with the team and repair relationships. I wanted you to try thinking before you spoke or acted.”
“I did. I went to a party Erik and his wife hosted.”
He gave a single nod. “And you hid outside the entire time.”
I narrowed my eyes. “How did you know? Who told you?”
He let out a huff that was almost a laugh. “I was there, Derrek. Why is your reaction to instantly go on the defensive? You act like the team is out to get you.”
I fought the strong urge to roll my eyes. I didn’t see him there that night, but it wasn’t far-fetched to think someone brought it up to the coaches.
“Have you ever stopped to ask yourself why there is animosity between you and some of the guys?”
“It’s been going on since I joined the team. It wasn’t my fault Olli got injured and I played out most of the season, but they seem to hold it against me.”
He didn’t say anything for a moment, and I shifted in my seat. “Is that really all you can think of?”
I nodded. What else could there be?
“You think your teammates are holding a grudge because you stepped in and helped them get to playoffs?”
When he said it that way it seemed as idiotic as I’d thought. “See, it’s insane.”
“You’re right. It is, because it’s wrong.”
I threw up my hands. “How is it wrong? They all hate me because I took Olli’s spot.” I spent months hearing their snide remarks and immature jabs.
“He was injured, and you did your job. You did it quite well, too.”
I shrugged. “See it’s stupid but I can’t control it. I try to be friendly. I go to all the team events and the dinners. I never turn down an invitation because I want them to think of me as apart of the team. I make the effort.”
He leaned forward, folding his hands together on the desk. “Derrek, I’m only going to say this once, so listen carefully. No one on the team begrudges you for filling in for Olli. They appreciate the work you put in and credit you for how far they got.”
I dropped my eyes while ingesting his revelation. If that wasn’t their problem with me, then what was?
“Normally, none of us coaches would get involved in personal problems like this. If guys have problems with each other off the ice it isn’t our business, until it starts affecting the team. We’re to the point that the tension between you and the other guys is having a negative impact on team performance.”
I opened my mouth to defend myself, but he didn’t let me interrupt.
“I’ve heard from several guys about different instances involving you and some of the team.”
My stomach dropped to the floor. I felt like a child getting reprimanded in the principal’s office. But I still didn’t understand why. They were the ones who had made my life miserable— letting me know I didn’t actually belong to the team—since I got my spot on the Fury.
“Now that I’ve heard things from their side, I want you to have the opportunity to explain.”
I kept my face blank, not wanting to give anything away. “What do you mean?”
“Tensions have been high for over a year. I know that things have been said and done by you and by several of our older players.”
I scoffed. “You mean the fact that they treat me like a child? They’ve been picking on me and tearing me down constantly.”
He released a long breath. “When we spoke last week, I hoped that you would have taken the time to self-reflect and figure out how you fit into this situation.”
I raised one hand. “Like what? They don’t like me. How can I control that?”
“I’m new this season so I wasn’t there when this all started. This means that I have to rely on what others tell me, but it also means I’m not biased. I’m neutral in all of this. A sounding board for everyone.” He leveled me with a single look. “You’re not an innocent victim in this. I need you to accept that before we move on.”
I let out a huff. “It feels like I’m being singled out. It feels like I have a target on me.”
“Derrek, from what I’ve been told, not a single man on this team has a problem with you as a player. I’ve heard praises about how talented you are. They are all grateful you’re here and they know they can trust you to play when the occasion arises. They don’t have to worry about the games when you’re in the goal. I’m not sure there’s a higher compliment a goalie can receive.”
I nodded. I might not completely believe him but he had no reason to lie to me. I blew out a breath. “Okay, so then what is the problem?”
“It’s the attitude you have.”
“What?” I was so thrown off, I let my guard down.
“I’ve been told by a few guys that you’ve made inconsiderate and even inappropriate comments before.”
That was the very last thing I expected. “I don’t…” I was at a loss.
“I don’t accept generalities, so I made sure to get specific examples. At one point, you told Grant that he dodged a bullet not having to become an instant dad.”
I thought back to when he was having problems with Addi. I shook my head. “I was trying to make him feel better. Trying to find a positive when he was upset about Addi.”
Coach looked down at the desk, then back at me. “Did you stop to think that maybe it wasn’t the best thing to say?”
Looking back, yeah, I probably could have said something better. “I didn’t mean it the way it came out.”
“Maybe not, but things like that can come back to haunt you.”
“I thought Grant was over it—”
“Grant wasn’t the one who told me about it. It bothered someone else enough that they remembered.”
I cringed internally. It hadn’t been a smart thing to say, especially now that I knew Addi and Eli. I liked both of them, a lot, and I would never say something like that now.
“You’re right. That was pretty bad.”
“You told Nikolay after he saved Elena from falling in the frozen lake that he should ‘milk it’ and try to get sponsorships out of it.”
I cringed internally, but didn’t let it show. “It was good publicity.”
He saw right through me. “But do you see how that could come across as insensitive and a bit inappropriate?”
Elena turned out to be fine, Nikolay was the one that actually went into the water. “I guess I could have at least asked how they were doing.”
He almost cracked a smile. “At least.”
I wasn’t a fan of owning my flaws, but Coach was right about me not really caring how other people take what I said. I don’t consider their feelings and it’s driving me to this situation. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own world and only seeing how bad I feel that I’ve ended up making things a lot worse. Not just for me, but for the team and the Pride. I’ve been too defensive, waiting for the next attack that I strike without thinking. I had to stop.
“You’re right. They’re right. I’ve said plenty of dumb things, and I’ll work on being more aware of that.”
“That’s all anyone could ask.”
“But I’m not the only one who has messed up.”
A small smile curled on his lips. “I’m well aware. The other guys have been spoken to as well. They’re in strict order to watch what they say. We expect the older guys on the team to lead by example. Everyone is going to be responsible for improving team camaraderie and morale.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “How did you know about what they were saying?”
“I don’t think I should reveal our sources.”
I narrowed my eyes. “It’s the Pride, isn’t it?”
He chuckled. “Let’s just say, there are people out there that don’t like how you’ve been treated either.”
My first thought was Elena, but I knew better than to underestimate any of those women. None of them would stop to think about the consequences of going behind their men’s backs and talking to the coaches if they felt there was something that should be addressed.
“Thanks for talking to me and giving me a chance to fix things.”
“You truly are a talented goalie and a good person. Sometimes we just need a push in the right direction.”
Scoring Chance (Utah Fury Hockey Book 9) Page 5