MATTÉO: …
CHAPTER 13
SOPHIE
Thirty minutes until show time. Gabe thought it would be a good idea if I took some pictures of the players before they head out to the ice. Derek ushered me in with the reassurance that the guys were presentable. Still, I entered with caution and eyes averted to be sure. And I held my breath, just in case.
Except for gloves and helmets, they’re geared up and gathered around as the coaches give them some final instructions and a healthy dose of encouragement. Coach Gabe may be on the younger side as far as coaches go, but he has an age and wisdom about him that I’ve watched influence these guys for the better. They’re looking more like a team than just a bunch of hockey players.
And I’m pretty sure Luke deserves some, if not most, of the credit. I’ve caught moments of him talking to the players during practices, watching through my photo lens. I couldn’t always hear what he was saying, but I know how to read body language enough to understand the guys respond well to him. Even Jayce seems more open to his input of late.
Almost makes me reconsider my opinion of him.
I move to the other side of the locker room to take more shots of the players as they listen to the coaches’ last words.
Coach Markelson takes a few steps forward until he’s standing on the Icemen logo in the middle of the floor. “And remember—a team above all. Above all, a team, right?”
“Yes, Coach!” The guys agree in unison.
Luke’s intense expression makes me pause when I snap a shot of him. He looks like he’s ready to kick butts and take names, but the strain around his lips is the same as yesterday before he got on the bus. I could sense his anxiety then, and I suspect it’s back.
First game jitters, maybe? I wanted to ask him about it after we finished his interview, but by then, he appeared more relaxed and settled, so I didn’t want to poke the bear.
The players head toward the tunnel to start warm-ups on the ice.
I catch Luke near the end of the line. With his skates on, he towers over me. “You okay?”
“Are you asking for my benefit or yours?” He stops and stares down at me, mild suspicion sitting in his eyes.
If he wasn’t wearing all that gear, I think I’d gut-punch him. I lower my voice to a harsh whisper. “Yours, of course. You look like you’re about to murder anything that gets in your way.”
The entire terrain of his face changes. I can only describe it as somewhere between surprise and curiosity, as if he’s caught off guard by my concern.
One side of his mouth twitches, and his glare warms to something almost flirtatious. “Are you worried about me?”
“You’re delusional.” I shove his arm, which doesn’t affect him at all. The man is a wall of muscle wound tight for the game. Now I kind of wish I’d caught him with his shirt off so I could see what’s under his jersey.
The realization hits me that he’s not saying anything. His eyes, on the other hand, are telling me an entire story. He’s looking at me, but I don’t think he’s really seeing me, if youknow what I mean. Could be pregame jitters, but this seems like more than that.
I tug the bottom of his jersey. “You’ve got this, Captain.”
His gaze clears as he takes a deep breath. His exhale is shaky at first, then smooths out. “Thanks.”
The appreciative smile he leaves me with sends an unexpected warmth through me. But before I can even consider what it means, a woman with blonde curls dressed in a staff uniform catches my eye. I don’t recall seeing her at practices, but I heard they hired a new massage therapist for the team. No better time than the present to get the story.
I follow her into the treatment room where she sits down, watching the game on the provided screen. “Are you the new massage therapist?”
Her subtle frown reminds me she probably has no idea who I am.
“Sorry. I’m Sophie Adams. I’m the journalist assigned to the team for the season.”
Her expression shifts to a smile. “No, I’m just filling in for Angela tonight since she’s sick. I usually handle their physical therapy treatments. I’m Hannah, by the way. Hannah Lawless.”
“Oh, I was hoping I’d get a chance to interview you as part of the series. You treat animals, too, right?”
Her curls bob around her face when she nods. “Yes, I do.”
“Mind if I ask you some questions?”
