Slammed by Victoria Denault

Author:Victoria Denault
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2017-12-05T05:00:00+00:00

14

Dixie

I walk into the office just before eight, which is early, but Ann requested I get here before the normal nine o’clock start time. I assume it’s because she knows there’s going to be a ton of media requesting locker room interviews for the game tomorrow night and she wants to make sure I get an early start. The Thunder again last night in Michigan. Elijah started again and he was pulled again. I have to get official confirmation from the coach when he comes in today, but I know Eli isn’t starting the game tomorrow night.

I watched both games Eli played, my eyes riveted to the screen like I was watching a train wreck. And my heart ached for him. But both games I saw the point where it happened—where he froze up. Being obsessed with him has paid off. I watched a lot of his game videos from his college website and I know how he moves—intimately. The way he controls his limbs. Despite being six foot four and as wide as a brick wall, Elijah Casco moves like a panther on and off the ice—slow, methodic, sure. He started both games like that, you could see it, even under the pads. But in both games, after a serious scuffle in front of his net, everything changed. His motion became spastic, his reflexes delayed. It’s subtle, but if you know him you see it. I can only hope someone else noticed it too, like the goalie coach or even Levi, and brings it up to him. I don’t think he’s aware of the change, but if he knows about it I know he’ll figure out why, like I have. It’s the accident. The jostling in front of his net, the players falling and the skates flying, is pushing him back to that incident.

The team flew back late last night, but they don’t have practice today. I’m dying to see Eli again. I know we can’t interact, at least not the way my heart and body want, but I feel like just laying eyes on him will bring some relief to that ache I have for him. And of course, the other side of me, the rational one, knows it’s for the best he’s not here. Seeing him and not touching him, having to pretend he’s just another rookie on the team, is going to be brutal. Also, there’s this weird vibe in the office this week, and I don’t need to add to it.

Yesterday everyone was running around in closed-door meetings, which I couldn’t find on our shared Google calendar, so I know they were unplanned. What I don’t know is what they were about. I hope it wasn’t Elijah.

I drop my coat on the back of my chair and put my latte and my breakfast burrito down on the desk. I swung by my parents’ this morning instead of Jude’s, figuring he needed alone time with Zoey. Mom was making her amazing breakfast burritos and made one for me.

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