Page 4 of Offside for Christmas
From:[email protected]
Subject:Welcome to the Team - PT Schedule
Cole,
Welcome to Evergreen Cove! We're excited to have you. Your first physical therapy session is scheduled for tomorrow (December 4th) at 8 AM sharp. Please arrive at the training facility at 7:50 AM to complete paperwork.
Looking forward to working with you.
Best,
Noelle Winters, PT, DPT
Head Physical Therapist, Evergreen Cove Eagles
Cole read the name three times.
Noelle.
Noelle.
Of course her name was Noelle. Because apparently, the universe had decided that his exile to Christmas Town USA needed to be as on-the-nose as possible.
He closed his eyes and let his head fall back against the wall.
"Six weeks," he muttered to himself. "Just six weeks. Prove you can still play, then get the hell out."
From below, someone started singing "All I Want for Christmas Is You."
Cole reached for the pill bottle.
His phone buzzed. Email notification.
From:[email protected]:I'd like to talk
Cole stared at the name. Sarah Chen. The reporter. The woman from the parking lot. The bar fight.
What the hell did she want?
He deleted it without opening.
It was going to be a very long six weeks.
2
ELLIE
Ellie Winters was halfway up a ladder, arms full of evergreen garland, when the training room door burst open with enough force to rattle the framed team photos on the wall.
"It's December third," Sophie Teller announced, kicking the door shut behind her with one foot while balancing two travel mugs in her hands. "You're already decorating for christmas?"
"It's never too early for Christmas spirit." Ellie secured the garland above the doorframe with a push pin, stepped down one rung, and eyed her work critically. The swag was slightly crooked on the left side. She climbed back up to adjust it.
"You're deranged." Sophie set one of the mugs on the equipment table and took a sip from her own. "Most people wait until at least mid-December."
"Most people lack vision." Ellie climbed down, accepted the offered coffee, and took a grateful sip. Perfect—Sophie knew her order by heart. Oat milk, two pumps vanilla, enough espresso to wake the dead. "Besides, the facility looks depressing without decorations. All those beige walls and fluorescent lights. The guys need some holiday cheer."
"The guys need to win more games."
