AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Who’s his physio?” I ask, clearing my throat and trying to keep my voice casual.
Streicher sighs, and I’m already shaking my head.
“Hazel,” he says.
Fuck. I need to do something about this.
Tomorrow, at Streicher and Pippa’s engagement party, I’ll talk to her.
CHAPTER2
HAZEL
“Congratulations,”I say into Pippa’s hair as we hug at her engagement party the next evening. “I love you and I’m so happy for you two, but if he breaks your heart, I’ll photoshop pictures of him in diapers with a dominatrix and release them on the internet.”
We pull back and she grins. The intimate restaurant I booked for the event is filled with our family, Vancouver Storm players and their partners, and a few friends from the tour Pippa opened for this summer as a singer-songwriter while she promoted her new album.
“I’m just kidding,” I tell her, tugging on a lock of her long, wavy, honey-blond hair.
She laughs. “I know.”
Under the soft, dim lighting in the restaurant, she’s glowing. Maybe that’s what happens to people when they fall head over heels like my sister did. Jamie needed an assistant when he moved to Vancouver; little did he know it would be his high school crush who he’d end up engaged to.
Behind her, Jamie looks on with a small smile, leaning down to give me a big hug.
“I’m not kidding,” I whisper, and he snorts.
“Thanks for organizing this.” His eyes go to Pippa, who’s deep in conversation with our parents and Jamie’s mom. “It means a lot to us.”
Emotion rises up my throat. “You’re welcome. I really am thrilled for you two.” I give him a tentative smile. “I know she’s everything to you and you’ll take care of her, and I’m happy you’re going to be my brother-in-law.”
He arches an eyebrow, but there’s a teasing spark in his eyes. “Even if I’m a hockey player?”
I huff a laugh. At the beginning of their relationship, I made my thoughts on hockey players—that they’re treated like gods and feel entitled to whatever and whoever they want—very clear to Pippa. “You’re the exception. I wouldn’t let just anyone marry my little sister.”
That warm, liquid emotion moves up my throat again, stinging my eyes as he gives my shoulder a squeeze.
“Let’s get some photos before dinner,” my mom says, gesturing at Pippa and Jamie.
“One second.” Pippa grabs my hand and starts pulling me away. “I need Hazel to help me with the… something.”
“What something?” I ask as she hauls me through the restaurant. “I’ll take care of it so you can have fun—”
In the quiet foyer area at the front of the restaurant, away from the guests in the main dining area, she whirls on me. “You’ve been avoiding me.”
“Uh.” I scramble for an excuse for not answering her three texts about the team’s new trade.
“Connor is on theteamnow, Hazel.”
For the tenth time in the last twenty-four hours, my stomach drops through the floor. “I know.”
It’s all I’ve fucking thought about. My lying, cheating, manipulative, narcissistic ex is now on the hockey team I work for, and I’m assigned to be his physiotherapist.
All night, I tossed and turned.
“What are we doing about it?” she asks.
I can’t quit, because working for the team is an incredible experience, and I actually love my job. The senior physios are knowledgeable and kind, and it’s surprisingly rewarding, working with the players. While I’m saving to open my own inclusive fitness studio one day, working for the Storm is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’d be stupid to walk away.
