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More ier and hurt over what she did all those years ago need to take a backseat right now I don’t need to make this anyon her shoulders And besides, why do I really need the answers anyway? That’s over and done with and I’ve es within me and I push up off the bench Bruce Duvall is the only athletic trainer out here on the ice during this practice session, as there’s usually one nearby at all tiets injured I assu or therapy roos over the boards and drop down onto the ice As I skate by hiet it iced"

He hardly spares aze slides back over to watch the drills in session I skate across the empty half of the rink to the far side where the door to the underbelly of the arena is, slapping onback toward the locker rooo ahead and strip down out of e canvas bins on wheels set along one wall The equip of everything I put on a dry T-shirt and workout shorts, slip on a pair of athletic slides, and thenroo department The treatment room where Vale taped my knee, the therapy room that holds ice baths, TENS units, and other modalities, and then the workout roo All three roo the interior of the locker rooine Vale gets an eyeful if she is so inclined after practices and gauys walk around naked and let their junk hang loose But she’s a professional and so are we, so I suppose it couys willfully wave their dicks in her face, it’s all good

I can see Vale in the treat one wall, an adjacent wall holding a long counter with cabinets above and below that hold supplies The far wall houses Bruce’s and Goose’s offices with a s them I don’t see Goose in there so I have no clue where he is, but it’s even better that we’re alone

I have so as Vale rips tape off a box and starts unloading packages of Steri-Strips from it She doesn’t hear htly on the door jaives a little jump and turns to face ht off as she recognizes me, and cool politeness takes over

"Hey," I say as I walk her way "Knee’s a little sore Thought you could take a look at it"

Vale’s brows draith concern and shehappen to cause it?"

"Nah," I say, not feeling the slightest bit guilty for my lie just so I can have a few moments to talk to her "Just came off the ice and noticed it"

I hop up onto the table with e and kick off my slides She’s silent as she turns to the sink and washes her hands After they’re dry, she walks up to e-of- the best way to break the ice with her So far, her stilted, short answers to any questions I’ve posed haveto do withto work

I’ not to focus too ainst ht before it was flowery, but I think itdelicious

"Any pain when I do this?" she asks with one hand on h as she rotates my knee

"Not really," I say, because I don’t want to call any attention to o in my chart, and that will be considered when decisions are made at the end of ca the opposite way

"Nope"

The hand onthe botto on to h, she pushes hard into my foot "This cause any pain?"

"Nope," I say quickly, and then add, "I think it’s nothing ured soives ’s loose or torn, but if it’s worrying you, we can make an appointment with Dr Godson"

He was the tea that Talk about an unnecessary red flag

"I think it’s just lack of conditioning Got lazy this suet o sit you in an ice bath," she says as she turns back to wash her hands again at the sink

"No fucking way," I growl "Those things are torture and o into hibernation until next summer Just an ice pack will do"