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I turn off the water and grab a towel. I don’t bother to dress since he ordered me an ice bath.
“Sit,” he says, pointing to the chair across from his desk when he spots me in his doorway.
I do as instructed.
“I warned you about this exact thing at the beginning of the season. I told you this needed to be a year with no distractions. When you and Ellery started dating, I thought it was going to be a problem, but then you started playing better than before. And then today you show up so hungover you can’t throw a decent pass.” He shakes his head, and I feel that disappointment deep in my bones.
“I’m sorry, but it’s over. She’s no longer a distraction.”
He shakes his head and laughs. “She’s more of a distraction than when you were dating her. You think the whole world doesn’t know how you feel about her?”
“Why would they? I’m fine, Coach. It’s better this way anyway. She’s moving, taking a job in New York.”
He rocks back in his chair and studies me for a long time. “Sometimes I think I should have gotten my psych degree. Actually, you have one, right?”
I nod, remembering my first class with Ellery when I had to tutor her.
“So, enlighten me, Rice. You and the girl you’ve loved forever get into a relationship. And now that you’ve broken up, she’s not going to be a distraction?”
“Because I’m only going to concentrate on football.” I cross my arms, trying to convince myself that this is the best thing that could’ve happened.
“Doubtful, but if you show up like this to another practice, I’m benching you for the next game.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
This is my job, and I can’t jeopardize it. I can’t let the rest of my team down.
“Deal with this shit in the off-season. We’re almost there, Rice. The third championship is within your grasp.” He smiles.
He’s right. If Ellery can put her career ahead of us, there’s no reason why I shouldn’t do exactly the same.
Chapter 29
Ellery
A month later…
I walk into the patient’s room and sanitize my hands. Although it’s not my direct patient, Amber, one of my attendings, asked for a second opinion.
The room is packed with people, and they’re all wearing the New York football team’s jersey, all their eyes on the television.
Since the Grizzlies are here playing for the division title against New York, I went out to eat with Bryce and Adeline last night. It’s still weird not going to the games, but I will say that no one here has referred to me as Cooper Rice’s girlfriend since I started here.
“Hi, I’m Dr. Wallace.”
The room erupts in a roar. They all hoot and holler because the Giants got a first down. I look up at the television just as it shows Cooper on the sidelines.
I’m not one to bring trauma to myself, so I haven’t watched a game since he broke up with me. Or when he said we needed a break and he left his apartment. We haven’t spoken since then. I’ve wanted to reach out so many times, but I’m not sure what there is to say without causing each other more pain.
Cooper looks good. His face is stone-serious, his eye on the prize of winning the division, which will only propel Chicago closer to the chance to win the championship. I hate the fact that I wonder if he’s hooked up with anyone else since me. If those pouty pink lips have been on another woman’s. I shake my head and tell myself to stop thinking of that, it does no good.
New York is nothing like Chicago. I miss my smaller city where I knew every inch of my concrete world. My mom just moved here last week, so at least I’ll have her to do some things with since I’m still trying to make friends.
Although the staff here is nice, I haven’t really connected with any of them. Then again, my mind is constantly in another world, especially if I’m not working.
I still can’t figure out why Cooper would think I wasn’t one hundred percent in it with him. Bryce told me last night that it’s just the way I’m wired, and when I asked her what she meant by that, she just said that my career has always been my priority.
“So, Mrs. Jennings, you came in complaining about?—”
