Page 19 of The Rebound Plan

One of the most painful lessons I’ve secretly learned over the last year is that people who are in healthy, happy relationships don't see a limit on how good their relationship can be. They only want it to get better. They find ways to be softer together, they find ways to be happier, to laugh more, to turn each other on more.

It’s my greatest shame that I don’t have that kind of marriage.

I set my wine glass down and shrug off my wrap. “Who wants to swim?”

CHAPTER 6

RUSS

“Okay, boys, gather round.” Max claps his hands together, grabbing everyone’s attention. We’ve gathered in the massive garage, which already was partially set up as a gym—part of what I liked about this compound—but as soon as Max invited the team here, I got on the phone and called in favours to get everything we might want delivered and set up for today.

Red light therapy. Cold plunge pools. A second weight rack. Tether points installed for bands and suspension training.

I even rented a couple extra bikes and treadmills.

“Last year was a roller coaster. Nobody expected us to make the playoffs in our first season, but we beat those expectations and finished the regular season on a real high.” Max’s expression tightens. “Going out in the first round after finishing the regular season on a high note was honestly fucking brutal. I never want to do that again. We had momentum on our side and we squandered it.”

The rookies exchange nervous looks. Hayden Calhoun, who was in their shoes last year, slumps. He got a lot of pointed criticism from the press for mistakes he made, but at the end of the day, hockey games are won and lost with team systems, not individual errors.

Jenson bumps shoulders with him. “None of us were happy with that, right? That’s why we’re here. We know we’re capable of it.”

“Here’s the thing,” Max continues. “We’re not going to do another post mortem on last season. We’re not even going to think about next season. Not yet. That’s coming. But right now, I want us to take a deep breath and be in this moment, together. All of us have spent the summer working on our fitness. I can see that. You all look like beasts. You look hungry. So let’s dial in now and find our focus.”

“Amen,” Jenson says.

“I third that,” Kieran says.

And the rookies—and Hayden—let out a sigh of relief.

I can’t deny that the man is good at saying what they need to hear.

Foster takes over again, and Max comes over to me—and Emery, who is standing at my side. “We haven’t had the pleasure,” he says, giving her a once over that makes me grunt to get his attention.

“Buzz Granger,” she says, wrapping her hand around my arm. Presumably so he can’t try to shake it. “But now I’m Emery to Russ.”

Max’s eyebrows shoot up.

Right, that’s my cue to wrap my arm around her. “She also has the most Olympic medals in her family,” I say dryly.

“Those Grangers.” Max nods. “Cool.”

“The first and last time I underestimated her fierceness in the gym, she was seventeen years old and kicked my arse.”

“And that was when he was a much younger man,” she teases.

“Watch it, kiddo,” I growl.

She blows me a kiss.

I push her past Max. “Let’s go listen to Foster, you brat.”

The trainer is just finishing up his explanation. “We’re going to warm up with some dynamic movements that will help us find our edges, and I want us to do this in pairs. Max and Ty, let’s start with the two of you.”

He goes through the group, pairing everyone up with someone who will push them. No buddies.

And the group responds to it, turning the warm up into a push or be pushed contest. By the time we’re all limber and starting to sweat, Foster has their full attention.

Once he explains the stations he’s set up next, and the scoreboard for the workout—because of course he’s scoring us—the next hour and a half flies by.

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