Page 9 of Break
“Hi, guys.”
I watch them walk up to Knox and slap hands with him in greeting, acting like they’re old buddies. Heat bubbles within me as anger climbs to see how easily the guys were able to integrate themselves into the team. How can no one see past their masks?
Why am I the only one who is able to peek behind the curtain?
While Knox is distracted by the two other players, I quickly slip past them and go to the therapy room.
As I flick on the light, I’m welcomed by that familiar buzz of them above me and I rest my back against the wall to catch my breath, my skin burning hot.
It’s only day two, and I wonder what they have in store for me. I’m terrified to find out.
Four
Ijust have to get through another day. It’s a day like any other. I can manage it. I have to. Dimitri, Knox, and Jaxon have taken too much of my life away from me. They don’t get to take my job too.
So, I start the day by avoiding them. I check in with Jared instead. He’s safer. He smiles gently and increases the weights until I give him a playfulglare.
“Go easy on yourself, Jared. I don’t want you hurt and out for the rest of the season,” I say gently, touching his bicep. “I’m serious.”
“You’re sweet is what you are,” he says, his warm smile washing away another bit of frustration and upset that lingers from my three bullies returning with a vengeance.
“Sometimes sweeter than others. Watch how bitter I get if you push yourself too hard,” I counter.
He chuckles and stops pumping weights for a minute. “I don’t think you have it in you to be mean, Hope. I like that about you.”
I wish I were the kind of girl who could tolerate dates. I’ve tried it, but something always reminds me of the past, makes me feel unsafe, and since I’m determined to find agood man, I don’t want to drag any of those guys into my problems. I chose the type that aren’t heavily muscled or threatening, which means they can’t hurt me, but they can’t protect me from my night terrors either.
“Hope?” Jared asks, starting to stand up.
“Hope!” my boss calls. “I need you to do the physicals for the new guys. Can you handle that?”
It’s a rhetorical question. I’m sure of it. It’s my job and since it’s my job, he’s just making sure I’mgoingto do it. I force a smile and nod. “Of course. Let me just wrap up with Jared.”
My boss gives me a thumbs-up before walking away, and Jared gives me a warm smile. “I’m almost sad that I’m not going to get one-on-one time with you once I’m better.”
“That’s silly,” I say. “You’ll be able to get back on the field with plenty of fans screaming your name instead of riding the bench.”
I linger with Jared, going over everything way more in depth than necessary. If he notices, he doesn’t say anything. He feels safer. He’s warm and has such a kind, sweet face. He’s plenty muscled, but Jared has always made sure I feel comfortable.
The three I’m supposed to be checking out today havenevermade even the slightest effort to make me feel safe, let alone comfortable. In fact, I have this constant, pervasive thought that they’re actually competing to see who can upset me the most.
Based on the list I’m given, Knox has the first opportunity to ruin my day. Of course he’s going to take it. It’sKnox.
I walk to the private office and call Knox over. He sets some weights down and stands at his full height. He flicks his dark brown hair off his forehead and subjects me to his intense green eyes. Seven years and his eyes are still as entrancing, wicked, and intense.
Knox walks over to me, his broad shoulders, his fists down at his side, tightening his biceps. God, he’s big. Too big, too intense. He doesn’t need piercings or tattoos to overwhelm anyone.
“Eager to see me again?” he asks in a low, deep voice.
“I need to do your physical,” I say as calmly as I can after this morning.
“Oh, so you’re going to call in your backup so that way you can control yourself, right?” he asks, his gaze flicking to Jared.
“No. Yourprivacy will be protected,” I say, trying to focus on the checklist rather than the fact that I’m going to be alone with Knox in a small room… asking him to strip.
“So, you want me all to yourself,” Knox purrs. “Want to properly make up for the lost time, sweetheart?”
I ignore his comment, trying to let everything he tosses at me glide off my skin. “Professional physical checkup so we have a baseline for—”
