Page 5 of Ice Me Baby

I nod. It will be nice to be home. There are only a few weeks left for me to get settled before I start my new job. It may be the off season, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a job to do. I need to learn the players’ names that I’ll oversee and make sure I have a system down for treating the players before the regular season starts. Four and a half months before the season starts, then the real fun begins.

…I didn’t realize that two of my boys would come to mean more to me than I was comfortable admitting. I oversaw ten men who would have my back no matter what. They were my boys, but I’d fall for not only one but two of them. The bonds I’d make with my boys would be stronger than I ever thought possible. Our friendships stronger than any bond Emmitt and I ever had. A love I never thought possible…

I’ve been staring at myself in the mirror for an hour now.I shouldn’t wear a suit, right? I mean… I already got the job. But… shouldn’t l look professional on my first day of meeting them? I won’t be dressed appropriately if I need to do anything physical, though, if I wear a suit. With agroan, I twist back and forth.Maybe I should just wear khakis and a polo shirt.I’d still look professional but be free to move and work if I need to.

I run back into my closet and change—for the sixth time. Rushing around the apartment, I grab my coffee off the counter and shove a piece of toast in my mouth.Coffee? Check. Food? Check. Keys… keys… check. Purse? Check.

With everything I need, I rush out the door, somehow locking it without everything falling out of my hands. I make it to my car and throw my purse onto the passenger seat as I slide in. In my rush, I didn’t notice the note stuck under my driver’s side windshield wiper. Odd. Sliding back out of the car, I reach for the note. When I open the small piece of paper, I find scribbled writing.

A shiver runs down my spine as I look around; it feels as if someone is watching me. Nothing seems out of place, so I shake it off and get back into my car, tossing the note on the back seat. I don’t have time for this. Shaking off the nerves, I finally bite into my toast as I pull out of my parking spot. Off to the first day of my new job.

I didn’t expect to get to work thirty minutes early. So, here I am, standing in the parking lot, debating whether to go inside.I don't want to appeartooeager, but I don’t want to look as if I’m not excited, either. Should I go in? I… should probably go in. Yeah. Yeah, I should go in.

“Ma'am?”

I jump when I hear a feminine voice call out behind me. Looking over my shoulder, I squeak out, “Yes?”

She offers me a genuine smile before her eyes widen, her smile widening as well. “Elizabeth Monroe?”

I nod. “Yes. That’s me.”

“Oh my!” She shifts her small briefcase to her other side and holds out a hand. “Aubree Roberts! I’m the Assistant General Manager for the Washington Wraiths.”

I immediately place my hand into hers. “It’s so wonderful to meet you, Ms. Roberts!”

She laughs as we release hands. “You can call me Aubree.”

“Elizabeth is fine. Or Liz,” I say.

She gestures for me to follow her as she starts walking. “Come on inside! I’ll show you around. Nicholas Diaz is our General Manager, but he’s not here today. Nick is out promoting this coming season.”

I nod as I follow her. She opens the door with a flourish and a grin. “Welcome to the Home of the Wraiths!”

My smile is huge as I step through the doors. This place is a dream. Aubree comes to stand next to me as she gestures to the left. “The offices are down that way. So HR, managers”—she begins ticking off fingers— “physicians, basically anyone who needs a desk lives down that way most of the time.”

Pointing to the corridor in front of us, she continues, “The rink is that direction as well as the locker rooms and gym.” Then she points to her right. “That way leads to another set of offices. But those are mainly for use by the medical staff. So that will include you. You’ll find the other athletic therapists, stretch-training coaches, and massage therapist making camp there.”

She points down the center again. “But you’ll be mainly in this direction unless you need somewhere quiet to do paperwork.” Her eyes meet mine as she smiles brightly. “Ready to meet everyone?”

No, not really. To be honest I feel like I am going to vomit.Instead, I nod. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

“Don’t worry. It can be overwhelming at first, but you’ll get comfortable. This will start to feel like a second home soon.” She walks forward, gesturing for me to follow. “You will be taking over the care of players the previous athletic therapist worked with. I hope that won’t be an issue.”

I shake my head. “No. Of course not.”

Aubree hums as her heels click-clack across the tile. “They are a rowdy bunch. Also, a warning, they are very excited to meet you. So please don’t run if they start bombarding you with questions.”

I chuckle. “I’m used to working with children, so it shouldn’t be much different, right?”

She laughs. “No, I suppose it shouldn’t.”

We continue toward what must be the gym; I can tell because that’s where the loud male laughter is coming from. She looks over her shoulder as we come to the door. “Hope you are ready for these crazy boys.”

I smirk. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

She nods and swings the door open. I thought I understood chaos, but what I had in mind doesn’t begin to compare to what we walk into. Yelling, laughing, and loud music greet me as Aubree ushers me into the room.

They don’t notice us until Aubree cups her mouth and yells, “Line it up boys! New therapist on deck.”

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