I smile. “Olivia's husband. Theo is lovely, and so is their baby. I've met Maya. She's adorable.”
“She is.” Ivory taps his file. “Theo had shoulder surgery three years ago. It's solid now, but he tends to overcompensate with his right side when he's fatigued. Watch for that imbalance.”
She moves to the next file. “Logan Shaw, defenseman. He's quiet but intense. Don't take his silence personally. He's not being rude, he's just in his own head most of the time. Some people find him intimidating, but he's actually a good guy once you get past the brooding exterior.”
Like someone else I know. I push the thought away.
“Logan's had chronic lower back issues for years. We do maintenance work on him twice a week, minimum. He knows the drill and won't complain, but don't let him skip sessions even if he says he's fine.”
“Got it.”
“Liam Novak.”
I smile at the mention of my cousin’s boyfriend. Liam is a riot and the life of the party. He and Avery are such a contrast, but they work.
“He's charming, and he knows it. He teases everyone constantly. Shut it down early, or he won't stop. He's harmless but relentless.” She smirks. “Physically, he's been lucky. No major injuries. But he's reckless on the ice, so it's only a matter of time. His ankles are his weak point.”
“Noted.”
“Jake Morrison is Nova's best friend. They're attached at the hip, and they feed off each other's energy. When they're together, expect chaos.” Ivory grins. “Jake had a concussion last season, so he's on the watch list for any head-related symptoms. He also has a history of hamstring tightness.”
She runs through the rest of the roster quickly. Ryan, the quiet defenseman who keeps to himself and has an old ACLrepair that needs monitoring. Alex, the winger with a dry sense of humor and a surgically repaired wrist that acts up in cold weather.
Blake, who is one of the more mature players on the team, has never had a significant injury in his career.
“And then there's the others you'll meet today,” Ivory says. “Rookies trying to make the roster and veterans fighting to keep their spots. Training camp is intense. Everyone's on edge, and bodies break down. You'll be busy.
“I don’t need to add this, but do keep an eye on Ethan,” Ivory adds.
Pain races through me, and Ivory notices because her expression softens.
“I heard about you two,” she says gently. “The facility isn't as big as people think. Word travels.”
My cheeks burn. “It's over, whatever it was.”
“I'm sorry.” She squeezes my hand. “For what it's worth, I think he's an idiot.”
“That makes two of us.”
Ivory glances at her watch. “Ken wants to introduce you to the guys before practice. Are you ready?”
No. I'm absolutely not ready to walk into a locker room full of hockey players while the man who broke my heart pretends I don't exist. “Yeah.”
We leave the office and find Ken waiting in the hallway. He falls into step beside us as we make our way toward the locker room.
“The guys are finishing up their gear check,” he says. “Perfect time for introductions. They're in good spirits today. First day back, everyone's excited.”
The sound of male voices and laughter grows louder as we approach. Ken stops at the door and raps his knuckles against it.
“Everyone decent in there?”
“Define decent,” someone shouts back, followed by a chorus of laughter.
“Decent enough for ladies to enter?”
“Ladies? Plural?” Another voice calls out. “Now I'm interested.”
Ken rolls his eyes and pushes open the door. “Behave yourselves.”
