Page 4 of Charming Crosschecks

Button Buster? Were his teammates making things worse?

“Coeur, stop it!” Coach Mike barked, his tone sharp. “Thierry, can we talk?”

“No,” Gerry shot back as he rushed down the walkway to the offices and locker rooms in the distance – away from where she was standing there reeling. Did he think she was implying that he was fat? Was he self-conscious about his weight? It was only to help him and she wasn’t mocking him in the slightest, but rather trying to help him in his career. Surely she wasn’t the first physical therapist to suggest core work?

“Thierry, please…” Coach Mike’s tone softened, but Gerry’s resolve was firm.

“I don’t need to talk about this or hear?—”

“Awww, just let thePantry Piratego get his cookies and?—”

“COEUR!” The name ricocheted through the corridor, shouted at by several voices – including her own. She might be timid and shy, but when her frustration built up like it was doing now – she was also reckless. Molly took three steps toward the man who was yelling after Gerry, calling him a Pantry Pirate and mocking him – and kicked him in the shin with the inside of her foot.

“What the…” Coeur barked, turning immediately, and laughed. “Oh my gosh, was that seriously you, Tiny Tot?”

“My name is Molly – and you are awful!”

“I am not your patient, Tiny Tot,” he chuckled – patting her on the top of her head and Molly smiled sweetly, grabbed his hand, and turned his pinky back almost to his wrist with a savagery that made his eyes widen as they watered painfully. “That’s attached!”

“Not for long…”

“Let go, Tiny Tot…”

“Molly.”

“LET GO MOLLY!” he wailed as she pulled it back further to get her point across – and realized there was silence around her.

“Now, you are going to go after Gerry, apologize, and tell him I’d like to speak with him… or you are my first pet project to torture – eh – I mean, get into real shape.”

The slip of the tongue was fake, but this man whose pinky she just mangled didn’t know that. Instead, he nodded, and she released his hand, stepping back. He glared at her for a moment and walked off, making Molly feel quite satisfied in her efforts. As he opened the door to the locker room, he turned back to look at her and winked.

“HEY THIERRY! TINY TOT OUT HERE WANTS TO DISCUSS YOUR BIG BUTT, BRO!”

Molly’s mouth dropped open in shock as she heard Couer’s cackle of laughter before it faded and the door closed. She felt several of the other guys pat her on the shoulders, almost in sympathy, as the coach looked at her frowning, shook his head, and walked off to go salvage some of what just happened.

What just happened?

Had she really flubbed her first day meeting the team so badly by implying that one of their players was overweight and out of shape? She never even got a chance to talk to Lafrenerie or any of the others… and the only thing she discovered was that Coeur had a wretched sense of humor. If the coach wanted her to be a part of the family – did it have to be the red-headed stepchild no one cared for on the holidays?

I’m not gonna let them see me cry…

I’m not gonna let them see me cry…

That echoed in her head for as long as it took to clear the arena – and for her to get to the bathroom, where she closed the door behind her, threw the lock, and slid down the wooden panel of the door into a heap of tears on the floor. That was not the impression she intended to make.

Not by a long shot.

CHAPTER 3

THIERRY

Gerrywasin the weight room and felt her presence the moment she entered, knowing darn well she was going to single him out once again. He looked up from where he was on the leg press machine and saw her eyes meet his before looking away. Angrily, he moved the pin, increasing the weights and went back to pressing.

I hope you’re looking…

Eat your heart out…

I can do this… and I don’t need you!

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