“What do you mean?”
“I can tell you’re frustrated, and I’m trying to put myself in your shoes, but it’s tough.”
This was the first time someone listened to what I was saying and seemed to care rather than blowing me off. I was intrigued by what she would say next.
“What do you mean?” I set my uneaten food down on the seat next to me.
She sighed quietly. “I don’t want you to get upset. This is the first time we’ve met so I don’t even know if I should say anything. It’s not my place.”
I blew out a breath. “Please just tell me. It’ll be nice to have an outside perspective.”
“Okay, here’s how I see it. You’re young and fairly new to the league.”
I opened my mouth to interrupt but she held up a hand and pleaded with her eyes to let her continue. I leaned back and waited.
“I’m also new to my career, so I’m trying to picture myself in your shoes. I understand wanting to prove myself and establish myself in the industry as someone great to work with. I want to be known as one of the best. I want to be sought after. I understand that drive and desire.”
I nodded. She matched my thoughts exactly.
“But I know it takes years of experience to get there. I know there are things I still need to learn. There are people I have to meet and work with. They have expertise they can share with me. They can train me and make sure I don’t make the same mistakes they did. I’ll keep pushing myself and working hard to get to the position I want, but I also know I need to be patient. I can’t just walk into a team’s training facility and demand they hire me. I might be good at what I do, but I haven’t earned that yet.”
She watched me, but I didn’t give her a reaction. I was still letting the words sink in.
“I’ll be honest. I haven’t seen you play, and I don’t know your stats. You’re probably an amazing goalie. You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t, but you still need to go through the fire. You have to learn from others and respect that there are guys that are better and more experienced than you. You have to respect that your time will come if you stay dedicated and work hard, but right now is the time for you to learn.”
I shuddered as a chill ran through me. I didn’t like what she was saying. I didn’t want her to be right, but it was impossible not to agree. She was annoyingly spot on. I didn’t know how or why she knew exactly what to say to get me to hear her words, but I felt like my soul was shaken. Coach said something similar, but hearing it from her seemed to resonate. She was unbiased, a complete outsider, yet her words connected. Had I been spending so much time trying to prove myself that I’d become insufferable? This wasn’t who I wanted to be.
“I’m sorry if I overstepped.” She moved to stand but my hand shot out, and I grabbed her knee, holding her in place.
“No. I’m just processing.” I looked down at the ground and relaxed when she didn’t leave. “I’ve been really struggling with this for a while. Then I meet you, a complete stranger, and you say the exact thing I need to hear in a way that I can’t help but agree with.”
She reached forward and took my hand in both of hers. “I think it’s easier to hear it from someone you don’t know. There are no personal feelings involved, no bias.”
I stared at our hands for several seconds before meeting her eyes. She smiled and squeezed my hand. “Sorry for getting so heavy the first time we met.”
I ran my free hand over my face and blew out a breath. “I feel like you reached into my soul and shook it.”
She let out a slight chuckle. “That sounds harsh!”
I matched her smile. “It kind of was.”
She pursed her lips in a challenge and I found myself drawn to them. I wanted to know what it felt like to kiss them. I couldn’t though. She probably thought I was unstable. I leaned back, pulling my hand away.
“Why are you out here? Isn’t this your party?”
She looked at me like I caught her stealing, and cringed. “Madi and my sister were so excited about throwing me a party and introducing me to everyone, so I didn’t say anything, but I kind of hate parties.”
I barked out a laugh. “Then you joined the wrong group of people.”
“Really?” She sounded dejected.
“Yeah, the Pride is notorious for celebrating every little thing with a big dinner or party.”
She dropped back into her chair, resting her chin on her chest. It was a funny sight with her puffy jacket pushed up around her face, covering the bottom half.
“At least you won’t be the center of attention at the others.”
She shrugged and dropped her eyes.
“You can always hide away with me,” I offered.
Her eyebrows raised, and I laughed. “Promise?”
“Definitely. Anytime you want to escape, I’ll go with you.” At least, until she hears what the team says about me and decides to stay away.
“Thank you.” She seemed genuinely relieved.
“Amelia! There you are. We have a cake for you.” We both turned to see Madi walking toward us. “Hey, Derrek. What are you guys doing out here?” She raised her eyebrow suggestively, and I wanted to run.
Amelia was blushing and jumped to her feet. “We were just talking.” She glanced back at me and waved before hurrying inside.
Madi gave me a knowing smile and followed behind her. Once the door was shut, I let out a groan. Of course, the first woman I met that actually got to know me for me and I felt a connection with had to be a part of the Pride. It was only a matter of time before they turned her against me.
I stood up as a wave of panic washed over me. I just shared my deepest thoughts and fears with a stranger. Someone close to the Pride and Nikolay and soon the rest of the team. Would she tell them what I said? I couldn’t imagine the torment they would put me through if they knew. I rubbed my face and picked up my plate. I needed to leave before things blew up in my face.
6
Amelia
I was really beginning to like my job. It had only been three days, but it was so much better than the clinic at school and the internships I’d done. Once Madi walked me through how to set up a machine or wrap an injury, she let me do it on my own. No one watched over my shoulder. There wasn’t anyone taking notes or breathing down my neck. I got to use what I’d learned and put it to practice.
It didn’t hurt that the basketball team was my first group of clients. I was in charge of getting six of them through a basic exam. They’d been injured within the last six months and their coaches wanted them to get checked out as they geared up for the second half of the season and playoffs. Some of them wanted massages or electric stimulation to loosen up the injured area, but all of them wanted a clean bill of health.
“I don’t recognize you.” My second client watched me closely as I placed monitors on his chest before I started the treadmill. He was an attractive man with dark skin, hair trimmed short, and an easy smile. I knew he was one of the stars of the team, but I pushed that out of my mind. Every single one of these guys was famous, rich, and handsome, but right now they were my patients. Nothing more. Back in school, I treated most of the football, volleyball, and baseball players. I learned quickly if I wanted to get my job done I had to ignore who they were and focus on what they needed me to do.