Page 48 of Scoring Chance

“He’d be crazy not to be interested in you, but it seems like he’s had every chance to take the next step but he hasn’t.”

I groaned. “I’m such an idiot. I developed a crush on the first guy I met here. I should know better.”

She pulled into the parking garage for the arena and parked before turning to me. “Maybe he just moves really slow. He’s never dated anyone that I know of, so I don’t know what’s normal for him. I can tell he likes you, but maybe what both of you need right now is a friend.”

I nodded and pushed the door open.

“Who knows what will happen in the future. Some of the best couples started out as friends.”

I cringed at the stupid ”f” word and followed her into the elevator.

“Okay topic closed.” I had all weekend to think about it, and as much as I wanted to talk to someone else about it, I regretted it now. Madi just confirmed my worst fear. It was time to get back to work, and I had to prepare myself in case we ran into Derrek while we were here.

She led me to the team training room, and I smiled when I saw Olli waiting for us.

“Good morning,” she greeted while Olli stared glumly at the mirror in front of him.

“Is it?” He grimaced as he twisted on the bench to face us. His left arm was in a sling, and I tried to keep my face expressionless. I hated seeing one of my friends like this, especially when I knew the cost.

She narrowed her eyes. “Yes, Olli. It is. You’re alive and the damage wasn’t nearly as bad as it could have been.”

I bit my lip to keep from smiling. Madi was great at dealing with grumpy men. The clients that came in weren’t always in the best mood. I couldn’t blame them. We worked mostly with professional athletes, and if they were in the clinic it meant they were injured and not playing. Madi had a way of breaking through the tension and putting them in a better mood.

“You’re right,” he grumbled. “They said it would be three weeks.”

She nodded and took a binder out of her bag, flipping it open before sitting on the bench next to him. “If you do as we say and rest when you’re supposed to, we should get you back out there in three weeks.”

Olli glanced up at me. “You’re here to make sure she doesn’t kill me, right?”

I laughed and shook my head. “Nope. I’m here to make sure you listen to her.”

Madi offered to let me come to these sessions for more practice. She thought the Cougars might ask for more hours from me if I had experience working through a recovery plan with an athlete.

It was a chance I jumped on. Plus, more time spent at the arena meant more chances for me to be seen by the team trainer...and maybe Derrek, too.

“So, what’s the plan, Doc?” He asked Madi while nodding toward his left shoulder.

“We’ll be doing a lot of icing, so get the complaining out of your system now.”

He narrowed his eyes but didn’t say anything.

“Amelia, why don’t you go get a pack and we’ll start with that while I explain the rest of the plan.”

I nodded and went to the attached room where the ice tubs and freezers were. I grabbed one of the packs and spun around, coming face to face with one of the Fury’s trainers. His black polo gave away his title like the one I wore for the Cougars.

He shot me a kind smile. “Hey, finding everything you need?”

“Yeah, sorry for letting myself in. I probably should have asked.”

He waved off my concern. “Don’t worry about it. Madi knows to make herself at home. That means you too.”

I was a bit surprised he know who I was, or at least who I was with. “I’m Amelia, by the way.”

He took my offered hand and shook it. “I’m Taylor. Feel free to use anything you need. I’ll make sure to check in with you guys before you leave so I know Olli’s plan.”

“Sounds good.” I awkwardly tossed the ice pack between my hands before stepping around him and back to the training room. I mentally shook myself. I should’ve been trying to make a good impression with the Fury’s training team. It was my dream job, working with the guys I knew and loved already, but here I was letting my awkwardness ruin it.

“Here you go,” I offered Madi. She stood and pressed the pack to the top of Olli’s shoulder.