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Tamryn nibbled on a chip, and I was enthralled watching her do it. Something so simple, yet it made my blood heat. I tried to get myself back into the story. “Long story short, I proved myself, yet somehow, I never felt like it was enough for Pop. Especially when I got traded to Baltimore and Jayce took my job.” I laughed ruefully. “Funny how that seems to be coming back around, huh? I love the guy—Jayce, that is—but…” I popped a chip into my mouth and continued after I’d swallowed.
“Anyway, I didn’t feel like Pop really saw me until the first time I hoisted that Lombardi trophy. Then, I felt as if I had finally given him what he expected of me.” I had to stop and take a deep breath before I continued. “Both he and my mom died later that same year in a car crash. I never got to show him that I wasn’t just a one and done quarterback. I brought that trophy home a couple more times. And I should be bringing it home again this year.” I pinched the bridge of my nose.
Tamryn placed her hand on mine and lowered it from my face. While I knew it was a touch of comfort, I couldn’t help the feeling that raced through me. “Holden, I’m so sorry. And I’m even more sorry about your injury. While I’ve said this before, I mean it, and you need to remember it. You are still a part of the team. Whatever happens in the big game is because of you. You got them that far. You’re still taking them there.” I flinched a bit, and I knew she felt it. She pulled back and settled into her own space on the couch once more.
I looked in her eyes then, her stormy blue orbs shimmery with emotion. “But am I? We still don’t even know if I’ll be able to travel. I said I was going to make it happen, and we have a little bit of time, but nobody will give me a straight answer. Everybody’s consistently pussyfooting around whether or not it’s even possible.”
She gave me a sad smile. “Honestly, that’s because we don’t know. We all have a lot of work to do before we can even talk about that. Let’s get you back into the facility first. Get some of the really hard rehab done. See what the ortho says after. Then, we’ll have this discussion again. Deal?”
“As if I have a choice.”
“You’re right. You don’t,” she said with a grin. “Just like you don’t have a prayer of beating me in our last game.”
“Now that I know what you’re capable of, I might prove you wrong.” I flashed her a saucy grin and then grabbed her hand to kiss her knuckles. “Bring it. Game on.”
She bit her lip and then smiled before taking her hand back. “Consider it brought.”
Chapter Ten
TAMRYN
I’d been trying to focus on work all day, yet all I could think about was Holden. And that kiss the other day. Damn, that kiss. He’d taken me utterly by surprise when he pulled me in, but once I got over the initial shock, it was quite possibly the single most thrilling experience of my life. I’d admired him from afar for a while, but I never pictured it going anywhere. And I certainly never expected the way he made me feel.
Holden had the unique ability to make me experience a wide range of emotions. Most of which were wonderful. All of which were confusing. He was my patient. My coworker. While there were no team rules against us dating, my professional side couldn’t help but be a bit conflicted. Yet the feminine side of me told the doctor to shove it and enjoy the ride.
I glanced at the clock. I needed to get across the quad to the training center and the physical therapy rooms. Holden had an appointment with the surgeon and then was meeting me for some rehab afterwards.
Once I arrived, I made sure I had everything I needed for our session, and then popped into the changing room to get out of my khakis and polo office garb and into some workout gear. I’d learned early on that I worked up a sweat almost as much as the guys did.
When I stepped from around the corner, I saw Holden at the other end of the mat near the Pilates machines. He had his back to me, but he must have heard my footsteps on the cement floor. When he turned the chair around, I saw a look overtake his face that made my heart skip a beat. Blatant interest, sure, but also something…more. I saw the heat in his gaze and couldn’t help the answering blaze in my body. Still, I smoothed down my tight workout top and then wiped my now-sweaty palms on my leggings.
“Hey,” I said as I continued forward.
“Hi,” he said as he gave me a full once-over. “Nice outfit.” He grinned slyly.
I couldn’t stop the blush. “Thanks. I’ve learned from experience to wear comfortable clothes when I work with you guys.”
“I’m not gonna lie, I’m kind of jealous. Maybe I should have gotten hurt sooner.” He winked.
“Don’t even joke.” I looked him over and noticed that his ankle and lower leg looked less bulky. Leaning against a weight rack and crossing my arms over my chest I asked, “What did the ortho say?”
“He changed out my cast and took scans of everything. Said it’s healing pretty well. He’s worried about the atrophy, so I guess that’s where you and Osric come in. And he said something about a suspicious shadow on the scans, though. An area between one injury and the other.”
I couldn’t help but be concerned. I walked forward a bit. “Concerned how? Did he tell you why?” I started to move around what we’d need for today’s session and waited for him to answer.
“Something about a possible blockage and that the risk of blood clots is high given everything they did in there. Especially since my circulation is hindered.”
I felt my stomach roil. Everything Holden had just said was definitely concerning. It was one of the reasons the medical staff and I were still so torn on letting him fly to Miami. Flying increased the risk of clotting.
“Gotcha. Okay, well we’ll watch all of that. For now, what do you say we get this show on the road? I have a great session planned for you today.”
He shook his head. “I bet you do. All right, Doc. Do your worst.”
Nearly two hours later, we were both sweaty and sore. Seriously, sometimes working out like this to help others was almost better than my morning workouts, and I did plenty of it as the injury management specialist. My job description included more than just my duties as a doctor.
I handed Holden a bottle of water and then took a big gulp from my own.
“I need to get you in the other room for some aqua therapy. Are you up for it?”
