Page 89 of Offside for Christmas
"Fine."
"Any pain during yesterday's practice?"
"No."
She moved behind him, placing her hands on his shoulder to check range of motion. Once, this touch would have made them both catch their breath. Now it just felt empty.
"Raise your arm. Slowly."
He did. Perfect extension. No hesitation, no compensation, no pain response.
"Good. Rotate."
He complied wordlessly.
Ellie made notes on her tablet, not meeting his eyes. "Your shoulder is fully healed. You're cleared for full play. Games. Contact drills, whatever Coach needs."
"Great." Cole stood, grabbing his jacket. "We done here?"
The question felt like it meant more than just the session.
"Yes."
He left without another word.
Ellie stared at the closed door, her tablet still in her hands, and tried very hard not to cry.
Sarah Chen arrived on Wednesday. Three days after the breakup, not that Ellie was counting.
Ellie recognized her immediately from the photo byline on her articles—mid-twenties, with sharp, intelligent eyes and dark hair pulled back in a practical ponytail. She was smaller than Ellie expected, maybe five-foot-three in boots, wearing a professional blazer over jeans and clutching a messenger bag like it held something precious. But it was her expression that struck Ellie most: exhausted but determined, with dark circles under her eyes that suggested she hadn't been sleeping well.
Evergreen Cove was in full Christmas mode—garlands on every lamppost, carolers on corners, the town square tree glowing even in daylight. Normally, Ellie loved this week before Christmas. This year, it all just hurt.
Sophie's café was decorated within an inch of its life—tinsel everywhere, holiday music playing softly. Through the window, families shopped for last-minute gifts. Everything was perfect and festive and absolutely miserable.
Sarah looked exhausted but determined over coffee. "I want to tell my story," she said. "The whole truth about what happened that night. About what those men did, about how Cole defended me, about why the video was edited. I'm ready, Ellie. But I need to talk to Cole first."
"He won't want you to do it," Ellie said quietly. "He'll try to protect you."
"I know. But this isn't about him. It's about me reclaiming my story. Taking back control." Sarah's eyes were fierce. "And if it clears his name in the process? That's just a bonus he deserves."
Ellie wanted to take Sarah to Cole immediately. Wanted to fix this, to give him back his reputation, to make everything right.
But she couldn't. Because Cole wouldn't see her. Wouldn't take her calls. Had made it very clear that they were done.
"I'll reach out to him," Ellie said. "Set something up. But Sarah? Don't get your hopes up. He's... he's not in a good place right now."
"Did something happen? Beyond the shoulder injury?"
Dread settled in her gut. Through the window, the Christmas lights were starting to come on—the same lights Cole had finally stopped hating.
"Something like that," she said quietly.
Day four post breakup.
Ellie saw Cole at the grocery store.
She'd been in the cereal aisle, debating between brands she didn't care about because her brain couldn't focus on anything, when she heard his voice from the next aisle over. Talking to someone—probably Mac—about slap shots.
