Page 14 of Huge Pucking Play

Martinez nods. "Best in the league. Speaking of which, next stop's the PT area. It’s where a lot of the magic happens. If these boys’ injuries aren’t addressed, we’ve got serious problems."

We round a corner, and there she is. Cyn. In a navy blue polo and chinos, her blonde hair pulled back. Professional. Poised. Gorgeous.

I watch as Cyn's hands move with practiced precision over a player's shoulder. Her brow furrows in concentration as she applies pressure, testing the joint's mobility. The player winces slightly, but Cyn's reassuring voice soothes him.

"Alright, Jack. We're almost done," she says, her tone professional yet warm.

I can't take my eyes off her. The navy polo hugs her lithe frame, accentuating her toned arms as she works. Her ponytail swings gently with each movement, revealing the graceful curve of her neck. Even in this clinical setting, she's breathtaking.

Cyn glances up, catching my gaze. Her green eyes widen in surprise. She quickly composes herself, turning back to the player she’s working on.

"That's it for today. Continue to ice it for fifteen minutes on the top of every hour until you go to sleep tonight, okay?" she instructs, helping the player sit up.

Jack nods, rolling his shoulder experimentally. "Thanks, Cyn. It’s already starting to feel better."

She smiles, the expression lighting up her entire face. "Just doing my job. Now scoot, I've got more victims waiting."

She looks in my direction and our eyes meet. For a split second, I see excitement in her gaze before it's replaced by polite neutrality. For whatever reason, it’s obvious Cyn isn’t comfortable admitting we know each other and I decide to follow her lead. I’m sure she’s got a good reason.

"Cynthia," Martinez calls out. "Meet Garrett Hughes, our new assistant coach."

She extends her hand, all business. "Welcome to the Blades, Coach Hughes."

I take her hand, fighting to keep my voice steady. "Pleasure to meet you, Cynthia."

Her handshake is firm and impersonal but I feel an almost imperceptible tremble.

"Cynthia's one of our top physical therapists," Martinez explains. “She’s new as well, just joined us within the last six months.”

She smiles and blushes slightly. "I look forward to working with you, Coach."

As Coach Martinez leads me away, I can't help but feel a mix of relief and disappointment. It's clear Cyn wants to keep things professional. I should do the same. I’ve found in the past that mixing business and pleasure always bites me in the ass. And, she’s so young…

But a small part of me wonders: what if?

I stand at the floor-to-ceiling windows of my new condo, gazing out at the glittering Chicago skyline.

I struck gold and stumbled upon this gem after I got my offer with the Blades. It's everything I had envisioned—an incredible view that stretches out for miles, with a modern and sleek designthat exudes simplicity. The kitchen is a chef's paradise, equipped with state-of-the-art appliances and ample counter space. I love to cook so a top-notch kitchen was high on my list of necessities. And best of all, the condo is located just ten minutes away from the Blades facility.

The city lights blur as my mind drifts back to Vegas, to Cyn.

"I still can’t believe this," I mutter, running a hand through my hair.

I eventually turn away from the spectacular view, padding across the hardwood floor to my oversized sectional. The buttery leather creaks just a little as I sink into it, grabbing the remote.

"Game time, Shade," I call out.

My black cat materializes from the back bedroom, leaping onto the couch with feline grace. She quickly settles beside me, purring softly.

I always had dogs growing up and never liked cats much. In my mind they were inferior to dogs in every way. But Shade quickly changed my mind on that. She appeared on my doorstep one day shortly after I retired from the NHL and quickly weaseled her way into my heart.

I click on the TV, queuing up Blades footage from last season. The familiar sounds of skates on ice fill the room.

"See that defense, girl? We gotta tighten that up."

Shade blinks at me, unimpressed.

“You disagree, huh?"

---