Page 224 of Pucking Around

“If the guys have a problem with Doctor Avery, they haven’t mentioned it to me,” I admit. “But I do treat several of them in the capacity of a PT. Langley and Sully, J-Lo, Karlsson…Kinnunen—”

Ilmari steps forward. “The only reason I even approached Doctor Price is because I didn’t trust Avery. I went to him twice in the off season to discuss my pain andtwicehe shut me down. He told me I needed a better stretching routine. And then he said I was too old. His official recommendation was that I retire.”

I gasp, turning to face him. “He didnotsay that.”

“He did,” Ilmari mutters. “Why do you think I was so reluctant to have you help me?” He turns back to the coaches. “She helped me when I felt abandoned by the medical staff here. She used her own resources to get me up to Cincinnati for treatment when I refused to go through Avery. Doctor Price has never once done anything to jeopardize my health or my safety. And if you fire her—”

“Stop right there, Kinnunen,” Coach barks. “You may be a fantastic player, but you are not in charge here. The fact remains that she knowingly broke the rules, and you helped her do it. She knew what she was doing was unethical—”

“Is it unethical to provide the level of care a player deserves?” Jake counters. “Just because this team employs subpar medical professionals, doesn’t mean we should suffer for it. Mars was right to get treatment from her—”

“I’m not contesting that fact,” Coach shouts over him. “But Doctor Price still engaged in a sexual relationship with her patient! It sounds like she’s been doingeverythingin the shadows since she got here. How are we to know what she did and didn’t do with Kinnunen? Where are the records of this Cincinnati trip? Why wasn’t I informed that my star goalie left the state for clandestine medical procedures?”

He turns his stormy gaze on me. “I don’t begrudge you your servant’s heart, Doctor Price. I even thank you for the care you’ve so clearly shown my players. But you’ve got a lot to learn about working as part of a team. Secrets and lies and operating on your own without any oversight is not the kind of teamwork I expect. It’s not conduct I can condone either,” he says, a note of finality in his voice.

“What are you saying?” says Jake, one arm looping protectively around my waist.

“I’m saying this is out of my hands,” Coach admits. “I may be the Head Coach, but I’m not the ultimate shot-caller here. My personal recommendation is that Doctor Price be fired, effectively immediately—”

“Coach, no!” Jake cries.

“Oh my goodness,” Poppy gasps, tears in her eyes.

“This is wrong,” says Ilmari.

“So fucking wrong,” Caleb echoes.

“As I said,” Coach calls over them, “it’s not my decision. This has to go up to the General Manager. With all these accusations about Avery—to say absolutelynothingabout the rat’s nest that is your complicated romantic lives. Then there’s Compton and his coming out, Kinnunen and his Olympic announcement—I mean, what thehellare you thinking?” he barks, eyes on Ilmari. “They’re gonna pull your offer, son.”

“They won’t,” he replies.

“Theywon’t?” Coach echoes, his tone incredulous. “How the hell can you—”

“Because I already told them everything,” he explains.

“Ilmari,” I murmur, tears now burning my eyes.

“I told them to be prepared that the news of my relationship with Doctor Price would make the American press,” he goes on. “Luckily, Finns are more amenable to the idea that people can dare to have personal lives. And it is no scandal to be a man in love with a smart, talented woman. It is no scandal for that man to cohabitate with two men he sees as closer than friends. They are family to me. Finns who know my history will be happy that I have a family to call my own. My agent is already working on the press releases. I have the full support of the FIHA.”

“Kulta,” I whisper, taking his hand. Relief floods me, mingling with my shame and embarrassment. I’ve made such a mess of everything. To still have his support means the world to me.

“Right,” Coach says on a tired sigh. “I can’t possibly make this decision. Not without input from the GM. What Icando is say that, effectively immediately, Doctor Price is suspended—”

“No,” Jake barks.

“Shut up,” Caleb says, grabbing his arm. “Suspended isn’t fired. It’s a fucking win.”

Jake grumbles, shaking his head. Next to me, Ilmari is silent as the grave. Jake and Ilmari inch closer to my left and right, buttressing me.

Coach holds my gaze. “You’re suspended until further notice, Doctor Price. Give us time to unravel this mess, and we’ll decide what to do with your fellowship. But I have to warn you,” he adds. “It doesn’t look promising.”

“Yes, sir,” I murmur. “I understand.”

He sighs again. “Fine. I can’t deal with any more of this tonight. All of you go home. And Compton, Kinnunen, you let this affect your play or your attitudes out on that ice, and I’ll suspend you too. Understood?”

“Yes, sir,” Jake grits out.

I squeeze Ilmari’s hand, and he mutters out a, “Yes.”