Page 15 of Ice Me Baby

I tilt my head and blink at him a second before my office door is suddenly flung open again. I let out a squeak of surprise when it hits the wall and reveals Taz and Vicy standing there panting. Max chuckles and points at the door as if to say ‘told you so’. “Case and point. Boys, you shouldn’t scare your new therapist.”

They both mutter, “Sorry.”

Max shakes his head but nods to me. “I’ll leave you to it then. I’m sure they will all be here soon.” He slips out of the door right as Oli shows up. Oli nods briefly to Max before turning to look at me. He smiles as if to say ‘hello’, but it looks as if he’s dragged someone along behind him.

I’m about to ask what’s going on, when a different man is shoved through the doorway into my office between Taz and Vicy. My eyes widen when I realize it’s Lewi. I look expectantly between the four of them, waiting for someone to explain. When no one does, I hesitantly ask, “What’s all this about?”

Vicy and Taz have huge grins on their faces as Oli says, “Lewi has something to say.”

My eyes fall on Lewi as he straightens and unruffles his jersey. He looks everywhere but at me, rubbing the back of his neck. I peek at the others again before leaning back in my chair. “What is it that you need to speak to me about?”

His eyes quickly flick to mine before they drop to the ground. When he speaks, his voice is barely audible. “I shouldn’t have said what I did on Friday.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I say, “Agreed.”

He runs a frustrated hand through his hair while glaring up at the ceiling. “I’m sorry for what I said. It won’t happen again.”

It’s odd to see this normally grumpy smartass look completely uncomfortable in my presence. I’m sure apologizing isn’t something he normally does. “Are you sorry that you said it, or are you only apologizing because the others dragged you here?”

His eyes finally meet mine, and his dark-chocolate pits, usually filled with anger, have changed to a soft milk-chocolate full of insecurity. “I’m doing it because I want to not because I have to.”

I slowly stand from my chair and move toward him, pausing once I’m in front of him. He stiffens in response. What does he think I am going to do? Offering him a soft smile, I say, “Thank you for apologizing. You mind if we start over?”

He looks at me quizzically for a moment as if unsure of my motives. “So, you forgive me?”

My smile grows, and I hold out a hand. “Hey! My name is Elizabeth Monroe. You can call me Liz or Lizzy. Izzy is off limits. I’m the new athletic therapist. I’ve heard you’re one of the players I’m in charge of.”

He stares down at my hand for a moment as if confused. His eyes meet mine, and he tilts his head to the side with a small grin but then reaches out and shakes my offered hand. “Dean Lewis, but the team calls me Lewi. I'm one of your centers.”

The way he says ‘your’seems like he’s implying something more. Ignoring the flutter in my chest his words give me, I go to slip my hand out of his, but he tightens his hold. Brows knitting, I watch him step closer. He bends to whisper in my ear, “Thank you.”

Lewi steps back, releasing my hand in the process, then turns to the others, his face shifting back into his normal grumpyprofile. “There. I’ve apologized. She forgives me. Can we go back to working out now?”

The others shoot me a quick look, and all I can do is shrug. “We’re good.” Shifting my gaze back to Lewi, when he looks back at me, I can’t help but ask, “Right?”

He nods. “We’re good, Lizzy.”

My face heats at the use of the nickname. He must notice my blush because a small smirk pulls at his lips before he turns back to the others. “Let’s go, fuckers! She’s got work to do.”

“I was expecting more bloodshed. That was disappointing,” Vicy whines.

Taz hums in agreement. “I thought she would at least punch him in the face.”

Oli chuckles. “You two are bloodthirsty.”

I laugh. “Sorry to disappoint, boys. Now, get out of my office, so I can get some work done before you blow up the group chat.”

Vicy and Taz both groan as they make their way back down the hallway. Oli gives me a smile and says, “You should come by the house again. We have a few cheat days left before the dietitians crack down on us for the start of the season.”

“So, what you’re saying is there may be ice cream?”

He shrugs. “Possibly.”

Shaking my head, I laugh. “I’ll see what I can do. May bring some of my work with me, though. I need to make sure I have every note on you guys that I could possibly need before the season starts.”

“If you need help, let me know.” He gives me a wink, then says, “Sounds like a date.”

“Not a date, Oli.”

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