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Everything that doesn’t include me.

If she walks, I’ll let her go.

But I’ll make damn sure she wants to stay.

Because I don’t just protect the net…I protect what’s mine.

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Chapter 1

I’m already in the room when the chirping starts.

They see me. They just don’t think I’m listening. Or maybe they don’t care.

From my seat near the back, I hear them, voices low but not low enough.

“Did we seriously just hire a shrink?”

“Sports shrink, James. Supposed to ‘fix our heads.’”

“Good luck with that circus.”

“Wait till she makes us talk about our feelings.”

“I’ll retire before I say ‘I’m sad’ in a group circle.”

“Bet she’s got one of those soothing voices. Like one of those sleep apps.”

“You mean the kind where they whisper at you for an hour?”

“I mean, I wouldn't mind if she whispered at me.”

And then, the kicker—just loud enough:

“Didn’t know we were hiring a Barbie for the bench.”

I clear my throat and smile.

“If Barbie has three degrees, several years of experience with combat veterans, and a black belt in judo, sure. Let’s go with that.” I interrupt because it’s time to get started.

“Oooooooh!” The entire room reacts in unison.

Then silence, sharp and sudden, like a puck slamming against the glass.

Coach Stephens steps in beside me, not missing a beat. “This is Dr. Nina Erwin. She’s here to help get your heads straight and your game back. I expect full participation and zero bull.”

“Are we getting graded on this?” James Henderson interrupts. “Because I left my No. 2 pencil at home.”

“If I misbehave,” Ethan Lovelace adds, “do I get detention or just a spanking?”

Several groans. A few laughs.

Connor Jessup, team captain, shrugs. “Can she fix a fear of commitment? Asking for a friend.”

“Gentlemen,” I say with a bright smile. “If you’re all finished proving why your emotional maturity levels hover somewhere around kindergarten…”

Silence.