Page 12 of Pucking Strong

“I’m offering,” she says over me. “I’ll go call my dad right now. We can have the plane here by tonight. You’ll be in Stockholm by tomorrow morning.”

“It’s a good plan,” says Singh. “And it’s generous of you, Rachel.”

“It’s literally the least I can do,” she replies, pulling her phone from her pocket. “We’ll have you at Karolina’s side in eighteen hours.” She steps from the room, her phone already to her ear.

“What if you need help getting her loaded on and off the plane?” asks Weiss. “She could be confined to a hospital bed or be on crutches. Can you handle that on your own, Karlsson? Would you prefer we arrange a proper medical transport?” He’s still thinking through all the contingencies. I’m glad someone is. I’m certainly in no fit state.

“Is there no one we can send along with him?” says Jake.

Weiss shakes his head. “Not ten days out from the start of training camp.”

This upsets Jake and the three men argue, all talking over each other about schedules and priorities until a new voice enters the fray.

“Hey, send me.”

We all turn to look at Teddy.

“What did you say?” asks Weiss.

Teddy shifts nervously in his chair. “Uhh … yeah. Well, I was just gonna say that I haven’ttechnicallystarted yet, right? I mean, I filled out my paperwork, and I gave Novy half a leg massage today. I’m covering for Rachel when she goes on leave.” He turns to Jake. “Do you think she’d be cool staying on for one more week if I go help Karlsson?”

“She’d be totally cool with it,” Jake replies, relief evident in his tone.

“I can’t ask that of you,” I say.

Teddy just shrugs. “I’ve got the qualifications. Injury rehabilitation is my jam. And I’ve worked with kids before. A lot, actually.” His smile falls as he holds my gaze. “I can help, Karlsson … if you’ll have me.”

It would be easier to know I have support in this. I don’t even know what I’m walking into. All I know is that Petra is dead and Karolina is injured. I tried calling the hospital back, but they said her doctor was in surgery. My phone sits heavy in my pocket as I wait for it to ring. Fighting the emotions threatening to tear me open, I just nod.

“Perfect,” says Jake. “It’s settled.”

At that moment, Rachel steps back into the room. “What’s settled?”

“Teddy is going with Henrik to Sweden. And you’re covering for him until they get back.”

She sighs. “Oh, that’s perfect. I hated the thought of you going alone, Karlsson. Teddy, you’re a treasure.”

“It’s nothing.”

Standing, I turn and offer him my hand. “It’s not nothing to me. I’ll not forget this kindness, Teddy.”

He stares down at my hand for a moment before he shakes it. “Anything for the team, right?” But then he drops it, eyes wide. “Oh, shit.”

“What?”

“I gotta go make sure my passport isn’t expired!”

What the hell am I doing? Oh god, I need to have my head examined. I signed a contract for my dream job today, and thentwoseconds later I threw myself at the world’s most unobtainable man. Now, instead of getting ready for a busy week at my new job, I’m standing on the tarmac at the Jacksonville airport, staring up at Hal Price’s private jet. I watch as Karlsson scales the steps ahead of me. After shaking hands with the flight attendant, he ducks inside the plane.

The U.S. customs official flashes his little light on my passport. “And what is the nature of your visit to Sweden?”

“Umm … business?”

His bushy mustache twitches as he frowns. “You’re doing business in Sweden?”

“Well, it feels weird to say ‘pleasure.’ It’s definitely not a vacation. We’re going for family business, I guess. Karlsson’s sister died. We have to get his niece from the hospital. I mean—are you—” I point at his flashlight and my passport. “You’re not even writing any of this down, so does it really matter?”

“Why don’t you let me ask the questions? Does that work for you?”

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