3. Chapter Three

I 've been staring at myself in the mirror for an hour now. I shouldn't wear a suit, right? I mean… I already got the job. But… shouldn't l look professional on my first day of meeting them? I won't be dressed appropriately if I need to do anything physical, though, if I wear a suit. With a groan, I twist back and forth. Maybe I should just wear khakis and a polo shirt. I'd still look professional but be free to move and work if I need to.

I run back into my closet and change—for the sixth time. Rushing around the apartment, I grab my coffee off the counter and shove a piece of toast in my mouth. Coffee? Check. Food? Check. Keys… keys… check. Purse? Check.

With everything I need, I rush out the door, somehow locking it without everything falling out of my hands. I make it to my car and throw my purse onto the passenger seat as I slide in. In my rush, I didn't notice the note stuck under my driver's side windshield wiper. Odd. Sliding back out of the car, I reach for the note. When I open the small piece of paper, I find scribbled writing.

A shiver runs down my spine as I look around; it feels as if someone is watching me. Nothing seems out of place, so I shake it off and get back into my car, tossing the note on the back seat. I don't have time for this. Shaking off the nerves, I finally bite into my toast as I pull out of my parking spot. Off to the first day of my new job.

I didn't expect to get to work thirty minutes early. So, here I am, standing in the parking lot, debating whether to go inside. I don't want to appear too eager, but I don't want to look as if I'm not excited, either. Should I go in? I… should probably go in. Yeah. Yeah, I should go in.

"Ma'am?"

I jump when I hear a feminine voice call out behind me. Looking over my shoulder, I squeak out, "Yes?"

She offers me a genuine smile before her eyes widen, her smile widening as well. "Elizabeth Monroe?"

I nod. "Yes. That's me."

"Oh my!" She shifts her small briefcase to her other side and holds out a hand. "Aubree Roberts! I'm the Assistant General Manager for the Washington Wraiths."

I immediately place my hand into hers. "It's so wonderful to meet you, Ms. Roberts!"

She laughs as we release hands. "You can call me Aubree."

"Elizabeth is fine. Or Liz," I say.

She gestures for me to follow her as she starts walking. "Come on inside! I'll show you around. Nicholas Diaz is our General Manager, but he's not here today. Nick is out promoting this coming season."

I nod as I follow her. She opens the door with a flourish and a grin. "Welcome to the Home of the Wraiths!"

My smile is huge as I step through the doors. This place is a dream. Aubree comes to stand next to me as she gestures to the left. "The offices are down that way. So HR, managers"—she begins ticking off fingers— "physicians, basically anyone who needs a desk lives down that way most of the time."

Pointing to the corridor in front of us, she continues, "The rink is that direction as well as the locker rooms and gym." Then she points to her right. "That way leads to another set of offices. But those are mainly for use by the medical staff. So that will include you. You'll find the other athletic therapists, stretch-training coaches, and massage therapist making camp there."

She points down the center again. "But you'll be mainly in this direction unless you need somewhere quiet to do paperwork." Her eyes meet mine as she smiles brightly. "Ready to meet everyone?"

No, not really. To be honest I feel like I am going to vomit. Instead, I nod. "Yeah. Let's go."

"Don't worry. It can be overwhelming at first, but you'll get comfortable. This will start to feel like a second home soon." She walks forward, gesturing for me to follow. "You will be taking over the care of players the previous athletic therapist worked with. I hope that won't be an issue."

I shake my head. "No. Of course not."

Aubree hums as her heels click-clack across the tile. "They are a rowdy bunch. Also, a warning, they are very excited to meet you. So please don't run if they start bombarding you with questions."

I chuckle. "I'm used to working with children, so it shouldn't be much different, right?"

She laughs. "No, I suppose it shouldn't."

We continue toward what must be the gym; I can tell because that's where the loud male laughter is coming from. She looks over her shoulder as we come to the door. "Hope you are ready for these crazy boys."

I smirk. "As ready as I'll ever be."

She nods and swings the door open. I thought I understood chaos, but what I had in mind doesn't begin to compare to what we walk into. Yelling, laughing, and loud music greet me as Aubree ushers me into the room.

They don't notice us until Aubree cups her mouth and yells, "Line it up boys! New therapist on deck."

Twenty pairs of eyes swing in our direction. The music stops, and they all mosey over to form a staggered line. Aubree holds out a hand in my direction. "This is Elizabeth Monroe. She's the new athletic therapist who will be taking over Doug's group."

She looks my way as she says, "I'll make sure you have a list with the names of everyone on the team as well as one with those under your care. But I'll quickly go down the line now, so you can start to match faces to names."

I'm really good with names and faces, but a list will definitely help me remember. I nod as she begins on the left side of the room. "Alright. First up we have Dean Lewis, Ace Langlois, Ives Perri, Russ Coleman, Bobby Tucker, Corin Mercier, Jake Ford, Juste Travere, Max Gill, Philbert Rey, Marshal Lynch, and Raimond Victor." She stops a third of the way through the guys to look at me, brow arched. "Good?"

I nod with a smile. "I'm good." I point to my temple. "Got them all. Go ahead."

She smiles and continues her introductions. "Guillaume Tremble, Mason Osborn, Aillard Tasse, Doug Fennimore, Quintin Sameul, Simon Palmer, Mac Oliver, and Kemp Mann. You'll pick up their nicknames fast, and you will only oversee ten of these troublesome boys."

"Now come on, boss lady. We're not that bad," a deep voice rumbles from the left side of the room. If I remember correctly, that's Raimond Victor. He appears young, which may explain the mischievous look on his face.

Aubree smirks. "Vicy there is the most troublesome of all. He'll be one of yours. The ones who don't have families of their own live in a house close by. Nick owns two small houses near here that he used to rent out, but now he just uses them for these boys."

I nod as she continues to explain. "Danni Phillips is the other athletic therapist. Her boys live in one of the houses, and your group live in the other. Nick thought it would be easier to have them all in one spot in case you two need to check on them for any reason. The guys with wives and kiddos don't live far, either so, if need be, they can pop over to the house as well."

She takes a breath before continuing. "Max Spencer is the head athletic therapist for the Wraiths."

All the guys holler, "Pen-nay!"

Aubree laughs and gestures to them. "As you can see, Max is well loved around here." She taps a finger to her chin and says, "I feel like I'm forgetting something."

"The welcome party!" a man in the middle says. He also looks young. I think his name is Aillard Tasse.

She snaps her fingers. "Right! Thanks, Taz. The boys, though I told them to ask first, have planned a little welcome party for you. The office will throw a welcome party for you in a few days, but the guys you oversee wanted to throw you one at their house too. I hope that's okay."

I grin and nod. "Of course. It's no bother. It will give me a chance to see them in their natural habitat." I give them a wink as I say, "I'll see just how much trouble they are."

"No trouble at all, Ms. Monroe," one of the guys who looks to be closer to my age says.

I arch a brow. It takes me a moment, but I remember his name. "Is that so, Corin?"

He smirks. "Scouts honor. And you can call me Merc."

I laugh and shake my head; I doubt he was a boy scout. "Were you even in the scouts?"

His smirk widens, and he shakes his head. "Not at all."

Aubree laughs as she bumps my shoulder. "I should probably show you over to your desk, so you can get settled in."

I nod and turn back to the men. "It's a pleasure to meet you all. Oh, and you can call me Elizabeth or Liz."

"Nah. We'll find you a proper nickname. You're part of the team now," Vicy says with a grin.

"I look forward to it." I give them one last nod before following Aubree out of the gym.

"So, what do you think?" she asks with a smile.

I huff out a breath before returning her smile. "I'm excited to get started."

"Just so you know, your number has been entered into the employee database. We try to make everyone's number accessible in case of emergencies as well as easy communication."

"Understandable." Just then my phone goes off. Brows furrowed, I pull out my phone. Opening the screen, I see a text from an unknown number.

Aubree snickers. "That didn't take long." I look up at her in confusion as she points to my phone. "I'm sure that's the boys adding you to their group chat."

I open the message and click on the icon to see who all is in the chat. There is already a message waiting.

XXX-XXX-8525

Associate captain here! Raymond Victor AKA Vicy, also known as the greatest rightwing this team has ever seen.

XXX-XXX-8327

If you hype yourself up anymore, Vic, you won't be able to play with that big head of yours.

I quickly save the first number, so I at least have that one saved.

Vicy

That's Aillard Tasse, also known as Taz. Anywho, guess I'll introduce everyone in the group chat since our captain is a bit shy. He'll say he's antisocial, but I say it's the same thing.

He makes me a list of all the players and the last four digits of their phone number, so I can add them to my contacts. I try to save each name and number as he sends them, not wanting to miss any.

Vicy

Along with being the best rightwing, I'll also be your favorite.

I snort because I know several of the players can interchange positions. But that doesn't mean they don't have their favorites. Aubree gave me a list of the players along with their preferred positions. I'll make sure to add those to my notes in each of the players notebooks.

How do you know you're my favorite?

Vicy

How could I not be?

Gilly

I could be her favorite rightwing. You're not the only one in the group.

It seems the others are checking their phones with the barrage of incoming messages. They will have to leave their phones in the locker room during practice, though.

He's right, he could be my favorite.

Vicy

?? Blasphemy!

Gilly

?? You're so dramatic. She literally just got here today.

Vicy

So! I can still be her favorite!

How about you're both my favorite for now?

Vicy

…fine…

Peri

Stop acting like a child Vic. I'm sure she has work to do. Stop bothering her. Plus we need to get back to our workout.

Ozzy

He does have a point.

Tuck

Sorry to have disturbed you, Ms. Liz.

Just Liz.

Vicy

What about Lizzy?

?? Maybe…

Vicy

I'll take it!

Aren't you guys supposed to be getting ready for practice?

Vicy

Leaving now boss lady!

When I look up from my phone, I see that I've stopped in front of someone's door, and Aubree is looking at me with a knowing smile.

I feel my face blush as I put my phone in my pocket. "Sorry."

She shakes her head. "No worries. It's good to know they like you already." She shrugs. "As long as you get your work done, I don't mind you talking to them. We encourage you to develop a strong bond with the players, especially the guys in your group. You will be working closely together, and trust is very important."

She opens the door that leads to the offices and points to an empty desk in the corner. I notice that no one else has arrived yet. When she sees my questioning look, she smiles. "Everyone else is out for the day, either getting supplies or on holiday before the season begins. Time off is hard to come by once the season has started, so many try to plan ahead."

Nodding, I make my way over to the empty desk. There are several folders and envelopes neatly stacked on top. She points to them and explains, "Those are lists of your players as well as any notes from the previous therapist. You are more than welcome to go through them and get yourself settled. I'll be in the main offices if you need me or just send me a text."

She turns to leave but stops at the door and glances over her shoulder. "It was a pleasure meeting you. Welcome to the Washington Wraiths family, Liz."

"Thank you."

She gives me a quick nod before leaving. I look over the folders before taking a seat in the chair. With a deep breath, I begin flipping through the pages. It's time to get to work.