Page 2 of Breakaway to You

She gestured to one of the treatment tables. “Come take a seat and we’ll get started.”

I made my way over to the table and sat down.

“We’ll start with your medical history.” She reached for her clipboard again.

She stood a few feet away from me, and being this close to her made me want to examine her instead. She wore minimal makeup, her long eyelashes accentuated with mascara, her skin clear and smooth, and her lips had a subtle sheen on them.

How old was she? She looked young, and I assumed she hadn’t been the team’s therapist for long.

“Is Zeke Lawson your full name?” she asked, still all business.

“Yep. No middle name.”

“Age?”

“Thirty-two.” I couldn’t help feeling sheepish as I said my age. Would she think I should be retiring too, like everyone else?

She jotted that down and moved onto the next question. “Any history of heart conditions in your family?”

“How old are you?” I asked instead of answering.

This had her finally looking up at me, her eyes wide. “Excuse me?”

“Why do you get to ask all the questions?” I asked, giving her a smirk.

She looked at me in disbelief. “Because that’s my job. I need to know this information so I can treat you.”

I shrugged. “Seems a bit personal for me to be sharing all this information, but then I don’t get to know anything about you.”

She blinked at me a few times before speaking, like she was baffled by my statement. “I’m the team’s physical therapist.Yourphysical therapist. This information is vital to knowing how to provide you the healthcare you need.”

“So you said. Twice,” I pointed out. “But besides your name, I don’t know anything aboutmyphysical therapist. How do I know you’re not some crazy fan pretending to be a physical therapist to get close to me? To find out all this personal information?”

She was now full-on gawking at me, her mouth open. I had to work to hide my smile. This was too much fun. But she was acting like a robot, and I wouldn’t be living up to my reputation if I didn’t mess with her a little.

“I amnotsome crazy fan,” she said adamantly. “I’m not a fanat all. Hockey is full of egotistical men who think they are god’s gift to the world, and I make sure to stay far away from people like you.”

I quirked a brow at her. “So that’s why you work for a hockey team. To stay away from hockey players like me? Sounds a bit contradictory to me.”

We stared at each other in some silent battle, her jaw clenched as frustration oozed out of her. I, on the other hand, was thoroughly enjoying myself.

“Lawson.” A deep voice broke through our stare, causing us both to look over at the door. Raymond, the team manager, poked his head through the open doorway. “Glad you’re here. I need you in tip-top shape this season.”

I nod. “I won’t be anything less, sir.”

“That’s what I like to hear.” He turned his gaze to Piper, his slick black hair shining in the overhead lights. “Fallon, make sure you take good care of him. I want his full report on my desk by the end of the day.”

She forced out a smile. “Will do.”

He shot us a finger gun and was gone as quickly as he came.

Piper let out an exasperated sigh, her grip tightening on her pen. “Let’s just get this over with.”

As much as Piper was exasperated, I was equally excited to extend this little meeting of ours. Because, like usual, I didn’t have any other plans. Hockey was my life, remember? And I’d rather stay put trying to get to know Piper than go back to my apartment, still filled with full moving boxes, which I wondered if I should even unpack.

Yeah, spending the afternoon with my attractive and feisty physical therapist sounded way more enticing.

Chapter2

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