Tangled with the Tight End (Evergreen Lake: Under the Mistletoe)

Chapter 22

twenty-two

GAbrIEL

Once I leave the gym, I travel through the hallways to the team doctor’s on-site office. He’s also meeting with a couple of other players today, making it easier on me not having to go to his downtown office and then over to the stadium.

The walls are lined with team memorabilia and accolades of successes throughout the years. However, the accolades mostly came from when Coach Slater and our QB came on board several years ago. Since then, we’ve racked up the wins.

I step through the lobby door to find Dr. Daughtery waiting for me.

“Hello, Gabriel.” He smiles and offers his hand. The room smells faintly like antiseptic, muscle rubs, and antibacterial soap. “You’re my last victim today.”

“It’s good to see you.” I clasp his hand in mine. Dr. Daughtery is a thin, older man with a trim, muscular build. Back in his youth, he played multiple sports and focused on sports medicine once he chose his profession.

“You look good.” He eyes me up and down. “Decent gait when you walked in, no wincing or hesitation, and your weight looks nearly the same.” He meets my gaze. “Dark circles under your eyes. I thought you were on vacation with your son and family.”

He ushers me into the adjoining exam room. It’s twice the size of a typical doctor’s exam room with an oversized bed, workout equipment, and space for athletes to move around. Dr. Daughtery doesn’t just pop a knee with a tiny rubber hammer. I’ll be expected to simulate workout positions and repetitions.

“I am. The mountain air is fantastic.” But being blown off by Norah is eating me alive. It shouldn’t. I’ve only known her for less than two weeks, so I should be able to walk it off without a backward glance.

However, that message isn’t getting through my thick skull. She’s shoved her way through my defenses, and I don’t know how to get her back out.

I rotate my head in a circle to ease the tension. And that has me pissed. Almost as angry as her rejection did. “And spending time with Gino, my brother and parents on Thanksgiving was great.”

“Good. Good.” He nods and asks me to be seated on the bed.

He goes through a series of checks and peppers me with questions. Am I getting enough calcium and protein? How about other vitamins? How long do I work out? When was the last time I felt pain in my knee? Are there any exercises I’m unable to do? When was the last time I worked out?

The questions continue to come as he checks mobility and for tenderness. “You look good. Let’s get you up and run you through the paces. Start at 50%. I don’t want you to re-injure anything.”

Thirty minutes later, I’m back on the exam bed as the blood rushes through my veins. It feels good to be back at the stadium working out. The cool air fills my lungs as I hold it in. I love football. I’ve always loved football.

But what am I going to do when it’s all over? Go into business with Marco? Sure, we talked about it years ago, but I assumed he’d moved on from that plan. A restaurant? An Italian restaurant in Evergreen Lake? It’s a beautiful place. Lots of tourists for skiing, golf, and sightseeing. So, the location is viable. But is that where I want to live?

I tip my head back to ease the tension balling between my shoulder blades. It’s not like I have any ties to here outside of the team. Sloane is in Florida, and I don’t want to live anywhere close to her. My parents live in Texas and travel a lot. That leaves Gino and me in Kansas City by ourselves. But Evergreen Lake?

Dr. Daughtery examines my knee as he adjusts my leg into different positions and glances up. “It’s looking great if I do say so myself.” He grins and rises from the rolling chair he’s used to following me around the room. He should know as he performed the surgery. “I see some slight swelling, but it should resolve itself over time. You’re progressing ahead of schedule and should be able to play in two weeks.” He slides his mobile workstation in front of himself and taps on the keys.

Two weeks. Remember, your entire goal was to return to the field, not spend the holidays in Evergreen Lake. Yes, it’s beautiful. Yes, Gino loves it and has never been happier. And… Don’t. She broke up with you. Or told you a vacation fling was out of the question.

After Sloane, I promised myself I’d never have another hook-up. At least this time, I wasn’t drunk and knew what I was doing. Unfortunately, neither situation was a lesson in listening to my brain instead of my dick.

“Thanks, Dr. Daughtery.” I straighten my back and rotate my shoulders in a desperate attempt to reduce the stabbing pain shooting through me and swallow hard. There’s one question that hasn’t been answered. “How do you think it will hold up?”

He shoves the computer back and leans his hip against the cabinet. “Short term?” He arches an eyebrow. “Or long term?”

My stomach clinches, dreading that Marco’s right. I focused solely on getting back into the gym and avoided asking any questions I didn’t want answers to.

It’s time. “Both.”

He crosses his arms over his chest, bunching up the top button on his white lab coat. “Short term, you’ll be fine. But this is the third time your knee has been operated on and the most structural damage to date.” His gaze is intense and unwavering. “If you injure it again to this level, you’ll need a knee replacement by the age of 35.”

Fuck. I’m 32. That’s only three years away.

“If not at the time.”

I hold my breath deep in my lungs. The truth. That’s not what I wanted to hear.

“But…. The injury was a fluke. I’m not worried that you’ll injure it again. The healing is fantastic. You’re in excellent shape, and the training you receive is state-of-the-art. There’s no reason to worry about it when you’re on the field.” He winks. “I’m that good.”

Thank God. My shoulders slump as the unease rushes from my body. “I’m relieved to hear that.”

“Good.” He shakes my hand again. “Two weeks, report back, and we’ll get you cleared to play.”

“Perfect.” I return his handshake with enthusiasm and hop down off the bed. “I look forward to getting back onto the field.”

I’ve got to start making plans for Gino when I return here.