Page 16 of Don't Let Me Go (Don't Let Me 2)

“Or games,” Ash adds with a smirk.

Through gritted teeth, I remind them, “He’s as healthy as a horse. I’m sure he won’t need any physical therapy or anything.”

“Burrows will, though,” Mia argues.

“Aw…I love Burrows,” Ash gushes, clutching at her heart. “He’s such a sweetheart.”

“A hot sweetheart,” adds Mia with a grin.

“Ooo, is he the guy who was on crutches a couple months back?” Kate asks. “He comes into the restaurant sometimes. Good tipper.”

“Yup. That’s the one,” Ash confirms. “He got hurt during last season and went home to have surgery on his knee. But the coach is planning on playing him this season as long as he’s ready, which means Blake will have plenty of time to help him feel better. Won’t you, Blake?”

Mia’s brows bounce up and down as I pour my smoothie into a to-go cup and head down the hall like a bat out of hell. “Aaaand, I’m done talking to you guys. Wish me luck today.”

“Good luck!” they call as I retreat to my room.

Boy, am I gonna need it.

5

BLAKELY

Toying with the red and black lanyard around my neck, I scan the rows of lockers in the hockey facility. After arriving for my first day at the internship, I was given a badge with my picture on it, along with a keycard for after hours, and a quick introduction to Coach Sanderson and my mentor, Russell Trist, aka Russ. He’s the athletic trainer for the hockey team and is older than my grandpa. But he’s nice in a snappy, take-no-shit kind of way. I like him immediately.

“As you can see, Sanderson’s office is over here,” Russ motions to a closed door off the main locker area. “And here’s the team’s lockers.” He waves his hand again. There are rows and rows of black and red lockers with wooden benches lining the front of them. Pictures of LAU hockey alumni are hung on the walls, showcasing players in their most memorable moments on the ice. There’s also a black framed display of every previous player who was recruited to the NHL. Their jersey numbers, athletic stats, and which team they played for are all there too. It’s crazy and shows exactly how prestigious LAU’s program really is.

My chest swells with pride as I take in the names.

I’m not related to them or anything, but it’s still cool. To see some of the greatest professional hockey players’ origin stories. Their history. And now, I share a piece of their history. It’s freaking amazing.

Epic, actually.

I trace a name with my finger, a smile gracing my lips.

This.

This is why I want to go into athletic medicine. So I can help some of the future greatest players of all time stay great. So I can help prevent and mend injuries. So I can keep the players healthy and on the ice instead of on the bench before they reach their full potential.

Like I did with soccer.

Sure, some are a bunch of big babies, and it’ll probably feel like babysitting half the time, but it’s still worth it.

Isn’t it?

“My office is down the hall past the showers,” Russ says behind me. “Have you ever seen a dick before?”

I nearly choke on my own spit as I twist on my heel and face him. “I’m sorry, what?”

“I’m just saying.” He shrugs and tucks his hands into his front pockets. “You’re the first girl we’ve hired. I think you have what it takes to excel in this field, but there were a lot of people chomping at the bit for this internship, and you’re gonna be around a lot of guys. They like walking around naked. You okay with it?”

An image of Theo in nothing but a towel comes to mind. I shove it away.

“Not a problem,” I lie, praying my cheeks aren’t as red as they feel.

His bushy white brows rise on his weathered face. “You sure?”

“Definitely. Yup. Positive.” I bite my tongue to keep from rambling even more.

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