Page 35 of Offside

I knew what he meant. He'd built the plan that kept me playing. He knew the joint's history. Handing his authority to Zoe was the right move, but it was still a loss.

"Sometimes the right thing hurts," I said gently.

He looked at me as if he'd expected reassurance.

"I'm not going to tell you it shouldn't." I wanted to reach for him.

"Thank you." He let out a long breath.

"Should we tell Marchetti?"

Declan leaned against the wall. "He needs to know enough to represent you if the club raises a conflict later. Nothing about Rochester. Nothing about last night, other than that nothing physical happened while you were under my care."

"Can I give him your name and your role in the transfer?"

He considered it. "You can tell him I was the treating PT, we disclosed and I recused, and that care transferred cleanly today. You can tell him there's a potential personal relationship. That's all."

"You want to be on the call?"

"No," Declan said. "Just tell him what we agreed. Let me know if he asks for more."

We stayed by the stairwell for another moment. I wanted to put my hand on the back of his neck. I didn't know whether the signed transfer gave me that right, or whether he'd be comfortable with that. I kept my hands at my sides.

"Zoe's waiting," Declan said.

"I know."

He went downstairs first. I called Marchetti from an empty office before I returned to the training room.

"My treating PT was Declan Pryce," I told him. "We disclosed a potential personal relationship and he recused today. My care transferred to Zoe. Everything was done cleanly and documented. There was no physical relationship during care. I have his consent to tell you."

Marchetti was quiet for a beat. "Does the club know?"

"The necessary people."

"Any interruption in care?"

"None," I said. "My care transferred this morning with the current plan intact."

"Any claim that the prior notes were compromised or need review?"

"They're accurate." I kept my voice level. "Nobody's challenged them."

"All right. I may need the conflict record if the club puts it into the contract discussion."

"Ask me first," I said. "That record isn't yours to deploy without my express consent."

"Of course. Anything else I need to know?"

"No, that's all, at least for now. Anything more requires another conversation."

14

Declan

On Monday morning, Zoe measured Bishop's active elevation while I worked with Eriksson at the next station.

"Again," she told Bishop. "Same range. Don't buy another inch with your neck."