by C. Morgan
I hugged Alysha. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
“Hey, it was your idea. I just get to play decorator. I hope it’s what she likes.”
“I’m sure she will be happy with anything at this point,” I said. “Am I a total asshole for not getting her an office sooner? You have an office. My last assistants never needed one.”
“Because your last assistants never really did the kind of work she does. Rachel is bored. With Trinity taking over a lot of your side of the business, she doesn’t have to do anything but answer the phone.”
I laughed. “Isn’t that a good thing?”
“It’s a great thing. Don’t screw this one up.”
“I know. I’ve been warned. I’m going to get out of here. I have to pack and make sure the housekeeper knows I’m leaving town. I’ll see you Monday.”
“Have fun and try to enjoy the game.”
“I will,” I said and walked out of the office.
It was Wednesday night. This morning, I walked by that storage room and got the idea to clean it out and make it her office. Alysha was on board with the idea and was going to have it all done for Trinity. Monday morning it would be her surprise.
This was my first step into getting into her good graces. I wanted her to see I could be thoughtful and caring. I wasn’t just the guy she worked for and occasionally had sex with.
I thought I was giving up on the idea of her and me ever being a thing. I spent a lot of time thinking about it and getting right with myself. I weighed all the advice from my mother and brother and decided to bite the bullet. I was going to give this thing a go.
If she wanted me as something more than an occasional fuck, I was all for it. If she didn’t, I would accept it. But I had to try.
If I didn’t at least try and tell her I was interested in something more, I was sure I would never be able to live with myself. I would constantly wonder what if.
Thursday morning started off much like last Monday. We arrived at her apartment. She was waiting outside with her suitcase on the sidewalk.
I greeted her with a smile. ““Good morning.”
She gave me a funny look. “You’re in a good mood.”
“I am. I’m looking forward to this weekend.”
“Because you want to watch the game?”
“Because I love what I do. I love being able to help the guys.”
I opened the door for her and let her get in before I closed it. I got in and couldn’t help the feeling of hope that was inside me.
“Do you expect to be busy?” she asked.
I shrugged. “It’s hard to say. We’ll be at the hotel if they need us and I usually like to hang out at practices to keep an eye on things. If they need me, I’m there.”
“You really do enjoy your job,” she said with a smile.
I nodded. “I do. I took a lot of flak in school for being a quack doctor. Chiropractors don’t earn a lot of respect in the medical field.”
“Why?”
I shrugged. “Because they don’t think what we do is real. They don’t believe there is any science to it. I’ve seen patients come into my office that have been suffering for years and walk out feeling a hundred percent better. I’ve worked with young and old and have seen almost immediate results. The other guys don’t like it because there isn’t any pharmaceuticals involved. It’s all about the hands.”
“Magic hands,” she teased.
“You know it.”
“Do you ever see the guys outside of the game? Like are any of them regular clients?”
I nodded. “A couple are local. Most of them live in LA or somewhere warm and tropical.”
“Oh, that makes sense.”
I liked that she was talking to me. Actually talking. It had taken almost a week to get back to this point. It made me appreciate her friendship even more. “I hope we get to see some action,” I told her. “I don’t want you thinking I just made up this fake job.”
Her light laughter floated around me. “Trust me, I know it isn’t fake. I’ve seen your files and the hundreds of emails between you and chiropractors and doctors from around the country. You’ve done a lot.”
I felt my chest puff up a bit. I liked that she noticed. I did feel like the bulk of the medical community and even the doctors for the team looked at me like I was more of an extra than a valuable addition. It was probably partly my own self-consciousness, but stuff had been said.
I was the son of a wealthy man and didn’t technically need to go through medical school. I heard every joke there could possibly be said about my chosen profession. Things like I wasn’t smart enough to be a real doctor or daddy’s money bought me a cheap medical degree so I could be called doctor.
It didn’t matter. None of it mattered. I made it in my own way and I was a lot younger than most of the other team chiropractors. They hired me because I was damn good at what I did. That was more than a lot of other guys could say. I got the job on my own merit. It had nothing to do with my family name.
“This is it?” she asked as the car pulled to a stop at the small private airport.
“Are you afraid to fly?”
“No, but it looks like a very small plane.”
“It is but it’s safe.”
She didn’t look convinced. “All right.”
We boarded the plane and settled in. Once we were in the air, she seemed to relax. We weren’t going far. When we landed, it was another hustle and bustle to get to the hotel. “I’ll meet you back down here in fifteen minutes,” I told her.
“Sounds good.”
I changed into my jeans and polo shirt with my name on it. She had her own set of work shirts now as well. When I arrived in the lobby, she was on her knees petting a tiny dog. She and the owner were talking like they had known each other all their lives. That was Trinity. She started conversations with just about everyone she met.
I walked up to where she was on the floor. “Are you ready?”
She popped her head up with a bright smile on her face. “I am. I was just getting to know Mr. Thomas.”
The older woman who held the leash looked proud. “You have a beautiful, lovely wife,” she said.
Trinity’s head popped up. I could see she was about to deny it, but I smiled at the woman. “Thank you.”
Trinity got to her feet and wiped her hands on her jeans. “It was nice to meet you both,” she said as we walked toward the exit. Our car was waiting to take us to the stadium where the various practices were being held.
“Are you ready for this?” I asked her as we walked into the back entrance of the stadium.
“I don’t think there is anything for me to be ready for. I’m just the girl holding the iPad.”
“Some of these guys can be a little, um, abrasive,” I warned. “Some are spoiled and entitled and are not always kind to those they think are not worthy of their time or attention.”
She snorted. “I’ve been dealing with people like that my entire life. I don’t care.”
“Good. If any of them does anything, tell me and I will put a stop to it.”
“I’m sure it will be fine,” she said. “I’m a big girl.”
We were just getting my chair and table set up in our little corner of the training room when someone came in. “Are you the back guy?” a young guy with a lanyard around his neck asked.
“That would be me. What do you need?”
“I’m bringing in Holl. He’s all messed up and says you can fix him.”
I nodded. “Ready when you are.” The kid turned and left. I looked at Trinity. “I need you to pull up Kenny Holland’s file.”
She had her game face on. The tablet case was strapped to her hand while she quickly entered the information. “Got it. You treated him last year. The last time was in late December. You noted it was a subluxation and you used spinal manipulation. You did an ultrasound a few weeks before that last visit. You noted it was a recurring injury.”
I nodded as she spoke. I saw
a lot of guys and could not possibly remember every single detail. I did remember Kenny though. He was a nice guy.
“Doc, what’s up?” I heard Kenny say.
“I think you go out there and purposely get smashed so you can come in here,” I teased.
He stopped when he saw Trinity. “Damn, Doc, how do you always get the prettiest ladies?”
Trinity looked up from the tablet as if she wasn’t sure he was talking about her.
“I pay them well,” I answered.
“I’m Kenny,” he said and extended his hand.
She shook it. “Trinity. It’s nice to meet you.”
“It is so nice to meet you,” he said with that football player swagger.
I was not thrilled to watch him openly flirting with her. “Let’s get you on the table,” I told him.
Kenny pulled off his shirt and handed it to Trinity. “Can you take care of this for me?”
I didn’t need his shirt off and he knew it. He was flaunting his muscular body. “I will guard it with my life,” Trinity said with a smile.
I bit back a snarky reply and focused on my job. “Note that it’s the same area as before,” I said to Trinity.
“Got it.”
“What are you looking at on there?” Kenny asked her. “Are there pictures of me?”
“Oh yes. I’m looking at your spine. It’s hot.”
I jerked my head around and shot her a glare. She grimaced before looking back at the tablet.
“Are you a doc, too?” Kenny asked her.
“Nope, I’m just the assistant.”
“I bet you have magic hands. Doc, why don’t you teach your fine assistant how to do that thing you do? I might like a gentler touch.”
I almost pushed the heel of my hand through the man’s back. I was really not okay with the flirting. “You need a firm hand.”
He grunted as I pushed a little harder than necessary. It wasn’t going to break him, but it made him shut up.
Chapter 23
Trinity
I looked up from the tablet to find Kenny staring at me. His dark eyes were intriguing. I stared back at him until a slow smile spread over his face. “Where are you from?” he asked.
“Vancouver.”
“That’s where you’re from or where you live? You’ve got a country thing going on.”
The man was perceptive. “I grew up in rural Oregon and moved to Portland to go to school. I live in Vancouver now.”
“Are you a cowgirl?”
“A cowgirl?”
“Yeah, like you ride horses and—” He grunted. “Ow, Doc. What are you doing back there?”
I looked at Ryker. His lip was curled and he looked pissed. It was a little alarming. “Do you need something?” I asked.
“Can you get me some water?” he asked politely. Too politely. I got the feeling he was mad at me.
“Of course.”
“Me too, babe,” Kenny said before grunting and wincing in pain. “I think you got it, Doc. Are you trying to remove my spine?”
“No, I’m trying to get your spine to remember where all the little pieces of it belong,” he snapped.
I quickly left the area to get them water. I smiled as I walked past some of the other players coming and going with their handlers. That was what they appeared to be anyway. The handlers looked like me. They were carrying phones or tablets and talking a mile a minute. I was essentially Ryker’s handler. I was in charge of his schedule.
I made my way back with the two bottles of water in hand. Kenny and Ryker were chatting like old friends when I walked up. “Here you go,” I said. “Should I just put them over here?”
“Yes,” Ryker answered.
“You could hold mine up for me,” Kenny said.
I assumed the guy was parched if he’d been out practicing in the heat. I wasn’t going to deny him water. I opened the bottle and stepped forward to do as he asked.
“Are you fucking serious?” Ryker snapped. “Just sit up before you spill it all over.”
Kenny grinned and propped himself up on his elbow as he gulped down the water. I watched his throat work. Damn, he was hot. I should have been used to being around hot guys with as much time as I spent with Ryker, but nope, it still got me all flustered.
“Thanks, sweetie,” Kenny said and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
“You’re welcome.”
“Do you need anything else or can I finish this?” Ryker asked impatiently.
Kenny winked at me. “I think we’re good. For now. Stay close, though. I might need you to save me from this man’s vicious hands.”
“I’m trying to fix this.”
I stepped back and stayed out of the way. I had watched Ryker work before. Never had I seen him so rough. He was tense and suddenly cranky. I wasn’t sure if it was the situation or Kenny. I decided I would be a fly on the wall. Out of sight and out of mind.
While I did my best to pretend not to see him, I couldn’t help but not look at Kenny. He was smiling at me and giving me looks that made me feel like he was undressing me with his eyes. I was not used to being hit on by guys like him. He was probably crazy-rich and famous. I might not know who he was, but I had a feeling he was popular with the ladies.
“That will be good for now,” Ryker said. “I need to make some notes. Ice packs tonight.”
“Got it,” Kenny said and sat up. He pulled on his shirt before flashing me another smile. “I might just have to jack up my back again so I can come hang out with this pretty lady.”
Ryker said nothing. He took the tablet from me and started attacking the screen with the stylus.
“It was nice to meet you Kenny,” I said with a friendly smile. I wasn’t sure why Ryker was being so rude, but it made the situation uncomfortable.
“It was nice to meet you,” he said. “See you later, Doc.”
“Yep,” Ryker mumbled without looking up.
“Did you need your water?” I asked him.
“Yes, please.”
I handed him the water and took the tablet back. “That was interesting,” I said with a smile.
He drank from the bottle before nodding once. “Yeah. Kenny is a character.”
“Are they all like that?”
“Like what?”
I was afraid to come right out and say it. What if I was reading into the situation? I cleared my throat. “Friendly,” I said after choosing my word carefully.
“Most of them are friendly.”
“Good. I can’t wait to meet more of them.”
“Dr. Fallon!”
We both turned to see two guys in white polos headed our way. “That’s me,” Ryker said and stepped forward.
“I’m working with Bull Potter,” the older man said. “I’m Johnny Point. I’ve heard great things about you and what you’ve done for some of the other players. I was hoping you could take a look at Bull. He’s had this kink in his neck for weeks.”
“I would be happy to help,” Ryker said. His whole demeanor changed. He looked excited.
“I’ll go get him,” the younger guy said and jogged out the door.
“My assistant will need his information,” he said.
I stepped forward. “My name is Trinity. I’m looking for him on the roster right now.”
I found his name and clicked on it. Thankfully, my hard work over the past two weeks paid off. His file was at my fingertips. I verified the information, and a minute later, the player was walking in with his hand cupped over his neck.
Ryker sprang into action. “I’m going to put you in the chair,” he said with a great deal of concern in his voice.
“This will probably be about thirty minutes,” I said to Johnny. “He’s in good hands.”
“Thank you. I’ve got a couple of other guys out there I need to check on. I’ll be back, Bull.”
I stood back and watched Ryker work. He was so different with Bull than he had been with Kenny. He was gentle and confident. He was talking to Bull
like they were best buds. He was comforting him while his hands worked over his neck.
“Dude, that feels better already,” Bull groaned. “I don’t know what you are doing, but don’t stop.”
I watched the tension leave Bull’s face. “This is going to need some heat tonight,” Ryker told him. “I can help somewhat, but you’ll need to try and rest your neck.”
“I’ll do it,” Bull said. “My wife told me if I didn’t get this fixed, she was going to take me out of the game.”
We all laughed. “Is your wife here?” I asked him.
“Yes, she’s waiting outside.”
I looked at Ryker, silently asking if it was okay for me to get her. He nodded once. “Bull, would you like her here? I can go get her.”
“If you don’t mind, that would be great. Then you can reassure her my neck isn’t going to snap off or something.”
“Your neck is definitely not going to snap off,” Ryker said with a laugh.
“What does she look like?” I asked him.
“She’s the prettiest lady in the place,” Bull replied. “Brown hair pulled up in a giant ball on her head. She was wearing black jeans and a T-shirt with my jersey number on it. She likes everyone to know I belong to her and vice versa.”
“That’s sweet,” I told him. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
I went in search of the wife. I liked Bull and it appeared Ryker did as well. I found the woman in question. She was on her phone and pacing back and forth. “Excuse me,” I said to get her attention.
She put her phone down. “Yes?”
“Are you Bull’s wife?”
Her face paled. She put the phone back to her ear and told the person she had to go. “What happened? Was it an aneurysm? Is he okay?”
“Oh no!” I said, feeling horrible for scaring her. “He’s totally fine. He’s with Dr. Fallon, the chiropractor.”
Her shoulders sagged. “I’m never calling my mother again. She was on Dr. Google and finding all these horrible things.”
“My name is Trinity,” I said with a smile. “I’m Dr. Fallon’s assistant. You are welcome to come in. Bull said you might want to hear what Ryker—I mean Dr. Fallon—had to say.”
“I’m Tally. Thank you so much. I’ve been so worried about him. He’s not as young as these other guys. I don’t want him to be a statistic.”
