Page 44 of Play Along

At the time, touch was such a foreign concept to me that it was both shocking and intriguing to see an entire profession dedicated to using your own body to fix someone else’s.

I had never really been touched. I couldn’t tell you a single time I was hugged as a child. Never had someone hold my hand or cuddle next to me. At the time, I didn’t know that was abnormal, but once I got to college, I realized there was something wrong with me when my entire body would tense up because my new university friends would try to hug me in greeting.

The next semester, I started interning for Dean’s baseball team and changed my major to premed. I fell in love with the science of it all. How the human body was able to break down and recover. How you could build strength to avoid injury.

I learned that there’s something so amazing about using your own two hands to help heal someone else. Sure, physical contact outside of the confines of medicine is still unnatural for me, but I’m working on it.

“Are you going to make eye contact with me at some point, or...”

I continue to work on Kai’s hand as he sits on a training table. “Not if I can help it.”

He chuckles.

“Do you hate me?”

“Damn, Kennedy. I’ve never known you to be so dramatic.”

I drop his hand, finally looking up. Yes, up because even though he’s sitting and I’m standing, the Rhodes boys are ridiculously tall. “Do you think differently of me now?”

“Of course not.”

“I’m basically using your brother.”

“He doesn’t seem to mind. I’m fairly certain he’d volunteer for the job if given the opportunity.”

I’ll never understand Isaiah’s so-called crush on me. If he knew anything about me, his feelings would evaporate. Connor was offered the keys to my family’s company. All he had to do was be with me, and even he couldn’t.

Kai’s voice is low, for only us to hear. “This will, however, be a very different conversation if he gets hurt.”

“He can’t get hurt. It’s not personal. It’s a business arrangement. One that ends in six months.”

He taps his mom’s ring on my finger. “I’m not so sure he sees it that way.”

That’s my concern too. This ring feels far too real for what we’re doing.

A paper plate with a homemade sandwich drops onto the training table next to Kai. “Eat,” Isaiah says, directed at me.

I look up at the other overly tall Rhodes.

“I told you I’m fine—”

“Eat the damn sandwich, Kenny. You look like you’re going to pass out.” He turns to his brother. “She’s been here all day and won’t stop working. Don’t let her work on you any more until she eats.”

Kai bursts a laugh as his brother walks away and leaves me with a homemade sandwich and very strict orders.

There’s a dining hall here, and I’d imagine that’s where he put this together. As part of the staff, I’m allowed to eat the food provided there too, I just haven’t had a chance yet. When my colleagues get breaks, I don’t let myself stop.

Dr. Fredrick may not want to promote me, but when called for a reference, he won’t be able to say I’m not the hardest worker on his staff.

I take Kai’s hand again to finish our pregame stretch, but he pulls it out of my reach, pushing the paper plate towards me. “You heard him. I’m not going to be the reason my sister-in-law passes out.”

“You did not just call me that.”

His mischievous grin looks a whole lot like his brother’s.

“Can I get everyone’s attention?” Monty announces to the entire training room. “Our team owner, Mr. Remington, has something he’d like to say.”

With the entire team and staff in here, I immediately find Isaiah across the room. He’s looking at me too, sharing a silent conversation that something doesn’t feel right.

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