Page 23 of A Whole New Trick

I didn’t anticipate how hard it would be to find a qualified chef. Anyone who fits the bill is already working for a notable athlete in the Dallas metro area. That’s the downside of living in a town with three professional sports teams, I guess.

Dane skates over to where Coach Miller stands in the penalty box. Words are exchanged. I don’t have to be able to hear them to know they’re heated. Part of me can’t help but feel responsible for Dane’s crappy performance, even though I know I’m doing the right thing.

Dane has been on a modified diet for just under two weeks. While I know he’s getting all the nutrients required for peak athletic performance, he’s experiencing some nasty withdrawal symptoms from significantly diminished sugar intake.

In my experience, his energy levels should normalize soon. In the meantime, he has to work through the discomfort.

That isn’t going so well.

Coach Miller dismisses Dane. The center skates off the ice without looking at me, even though I know he knows I’m here.

Should I go talk to him?

I bite my bottom lip.

Another annoying hiccup in my plan to maintain my dislike of the center is his enigmatic younger brother. Eli Larson is warm and lighthearted, and his presence soothes the harsh awkwardness that hovers overhead every time I’m cooking in Dane’s state-of-the-art kitchen.

I also take advantage of Eli's giving me his number, using it instead of Dane’s whenever I arrive at the condo.

Is that childish of me? Maybe.

However, I rationalized the choice by remembering that Dane had my number and decided never to use it. I’m just giving him the same treatment.

I’ve gotten to know Eli pretty well these past weeks. Through our conversation, I’ve gleaned there’s some family drama between him and his parents and that Dane has chosen his brother’s side. I don’t pry, but I get the sense it has to do with Eli’s sexuality.

On my first day cooking at the condo, Eli kept me occupied with stories of his latest romantic conquests before asking my opinion on the four different men he matched with on a dating app tailored to same-sex couples.

If I’m right in thinking Eli’s parents don’t approve of who he’s romantically attracted to, Dane’s support for his brother raises him in my esteem, which is annoying.

I’m still hurt by his rejection. I want to view him as the villain. It’s the only way I’ll be able to keep the visceral attraction I still feel for him in check.

With a fortifying sigh, I rise from the stands and make my way to the locker room.

Dane hasn’t complained about how crappy he’s feeling to my face, but part of my job as his nutritionist is to encourage him when healthy food choices feel hard. I need to remind him why he’s doing this and assure him that he’s going to be a better athlete at the end of this.

I reach the closed double doors separating the wide hallway from the locker room. A towel boy rolls a plastic cart from the laundry room at the end of the hall.

Before I can say a word, he asks, “You looking for Larson?”

After half a year of flying under the radar, it seems almost everyone in the Ranchers organization knows me now that I’m working with the team’s captain.

“Yes.” I gesture towards the doors. “Is he inside?”

“Nah, he changed and then went straight to the weight room.” He reveals. “I think he’s trying to blow off some steam.”

I’m not surprised.

“Thanks.” I head towards the weight room, dipping my head in acknowledgment as I pass by even more members of the team’s support staff.

There’s no noise coming from the locker room. Usually, music blares over the speakers. When I turn the corner and look through the glass wall, I see Dane all alone, standing in front of the mirror on the other side of the room in silence. Two dumbbells are in his hands.

Irritation suddenly overcomes the guilt trying to weave its way into my mind.

I plant my palms on the door and give it an angry shove. “You do know that you’re risking injury right now, don’t you?”

Dane’s back muscles tense before resuming his bicep curls. He stares at himself in the mirror, but I’m not sure he really sees anything.

His silence is fuel for my attitude. “You’ve been practicing for hours, and now you’re lifting weights. You need to give your muscles a break before you fatigue them to the point where they won’t be able to heal and function in time for the first playoff game.”

---