Page 3 of Sideline Sweetheart (Greenville Generals #4)
Chapter Three
Bryce
It took all my self-control not to accept Leo’s invitation to join them for drinks. The gorgeous redhead with porcelain skin and bright blue eyes intrigued me from the moment I saw her. I’ll have to discreetly ask Leo about her tomorrow during our session.
I pull my ‘vette into the underground parking garage and to my designated space.
Being single, I enjoy the benefits of living in the city and close to the stadium.
The training facility is located on the outskirts of town, and I admit I enjoy the longer drive and time to decompress after an intense workout.
I grab the bag containing my dinner, exit the car, and click the lock before heading to the elevator.
When the car arrives, I step inside and enter my code for the penthouse.
The elevator glides effortlessly to the top floor where it opens outside my door.
I enter the six-digit code and the lock clicks allowing me to step inside my sanctuary.
I received a two-year contract upon being drafted with the Generals.
Proving myself beneficial to the team, I signed a four-year extension which allowed me to move out of my small apartment and into something much nicer.
The open concept floorplan is great when I want to have some of the guys over.
Three bedrooms is more room than I need, so I converted one bedroom to a combination office and home gym and the other I use as a guest room for my parents so they can visit much more often and stay with me, instead of a hotel.
I set my dinner on the coffee table and head to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water.
Back in the living room, I punch the remote and bring the television to life.
I get sucked into the Marvel movie while I dig into my dinner.
Felipe put me through my paces today and the need for a little comfort food was necessary.
I pride myself on my diet both during the season and the off season, but sometimes a guy needs fifteen or so spicy buffalo wings and fries or a homecooked meal from his mom.
I didn’t completely ditch the diet; there’s a southwest salad with grilled chicken waiting for me as well.
Once I finish my dinner, I throw the takeout containers in the trash and make a grocery order to pick up on my way home from practice and then head to bed.
The next morning, my alarm wakes me at five.
The early morning alarm has been my standard since I started playing in high school.
Back then I would get up and run a couple of miles through town before coming home to shower and head to school.
Once I started college, I’d head to the stadium and use the treadmill and weight room.
Nowadays, I clock five miles on the treadmill before showering and heading to the training facility.
A few other players are already taking advantage of the weight room when I arrive.
I head to the locker room and drop off my duffle before walking back in to get started on weight training.
Since I’ve already had my cardio for the day, I head to the bench press and lower the weight to allow for warmups.
Felipe joins me and grins when he sees I’ve set the weights at one-hundred-fifty pounds. “Taking it a little easy on yourself, aren’t you?”
I let the weights set back down as I glance at him. “Funny, because my strength and conditioning coach can be a dick about warmups when he wants to be.”
He tips his head back and laughs before he moves the pin in the weights up another seventy-five pounds. “You think I’m a dick now, wait until later.”
I level him with a glare. “I don’t even want to know what that means right now, but I’m sure I’m going to hate you for it.”
He laughs again and walks away.
Finished with my workout, I head to the locker room to shower and then make my way down the hall for my appointment to meet the new team doctor.
The nameplate on the wall next to the door reads Dr. Flynn, and I knock announcing my arrival.
When the door opens, it reveals the gorgeous redhead from last night.
Surprise lights her blue eyes for only a moment, giving way to a smile as I wrench my jaw closed.
“Bryce?”
I glance at the nameplate on the wall once more to make sure I’m in the right place. “Dr. Flynn?”
“At your service,” she says as she steps aside and opens the door wider to let me into her office and then motions for me to take a seat as she moves back behind the desk. “It looks like we were both the objects of a little practical joke last night.”
I chuckle as Felipe’s words ring through my memory. “It appears so.”
“I’ve tried to study the roster and learn everyone’s number so I can recognize you on the field, but I guess I need to pay more attention to the faces as well, so I recognize you without your uniforms too.”
I grin because I can feel the nervousness rolling off her as she’s beginning to ramble a bit. And I find it adorable, however the need to tease her is too great to pass up. “It’s fine with me if I’m the only one you recognize out of uniform.”
Her cheeks turn a bright shade of pink as she stutters to correct herself. “No, uh, I, what I meant was, I, mean you’re a handsome man, but I should have known you were part of the team without being in your uniform.”
I raise an eyebrow as she digs herself deeper into a hole and the blush returns to her cheeks. “You think I’m handsome?”
She rolls her eyes at me. “Don’t act like you don’t know you are or haven’t been told before.”
I tilt my head as I study her and decide this flustered side of her isn’t something she shows to many people. “I have been told, but I like hearing it from you.”
She closes her eyes and takes a breath before opening them again and smiling sweetly. “I think we need to start over,” she says holding out her hand. “Mackenzie Flynn, team doctor.”
I regard her proffered hand a moment before wrapping my hand around hers. The contact sends a sizzle of electricity through my arm and by the quiet gasp I hear from across the desk, I know she felt it too. “Bryce Coban.”
She swallows as she withdraws her hand without breaking eye contact. “It’s nice to meet you, Bryce.”
“You too, Doc.”
She smiles again. “Mackenzie or Mac is fine, if you’d like.” I nod wondering if she’s told all the players she’s met with to use her first name or if I’m the only one she’s offered the honor to. “Shall we get started?”
Mackenzie taps on her iPad and has me stand on the scale and then takes my blood pressure. Once she’s recorded the information, she begins questioning me. “Okay, I’ve reviewed your medical file, and you seem to be one of the lucky ones who hasn’t sustained a major injury.”
My eyes widen and I shift in my seat. “Woah, there, Doc, don’t jinx me.”
She chuckles softly. “Sorry.”
“You’re right, I’ve had the typical cracked ribs, and contusions, but nothing major.”
“Any allergies to medications I need to be aware of?”
“Not so far.”
“Lola Coban is listed as your emergency contact, is she your wife?”
I raise a brow at her and grin. “Why, Mackenzie, are you trying to ask me if I’m married?”
“No,” she replied quickly, the blush had returned to her cheeks. “Standard question so I can get to know the players and make them comfortable enough to talk about their families.”
“No, I’m not married or dating anyone at the moment. Lola is my mother. My father’s name is Dean; in case you are interested.”
“Okay, thanks,” she says attempting to move on.
“What about you, Mackenzie? Are you married?”
“Me? No, much to my mother’s chagrin, I’m definitely single,” she says, preparing for the next question.
I shifted in my seat, my forearms resting on my thighs. “So, if I asked you out, there’s no reason for you to turn me down?”
A nervous laugh escapes her. “Oh, I’m sure there are plenty of reasons to turn you down. The first one being an issue with human resources.”
“I’m not hearing a no,” I say as I rise from my seat. “Any other questions?”
Her blue eyes watch me intently before she clears her throat. “Um, no. No other questions.”
I reach across her desk, pick up a pen and scribble my number on the back of one of her business cards. “Text me your address, I’ll pick you up Friday at six.”
She finds her voice as I reach for the door. “I didn’t agree to go out with you.”
“You’re right, you didn’t, but you didn’t say no either.
” I open the door but turn back to her before I step into the hallway.
“Oh, and just so you know, there’s nothing in the employee handbook about fraternizing with the players.
” I toss her another grin along with a wink before I walk out the door closing it behind me.
On my way back to the locker room, I run into Felipe sporting a huge grin. “Meet the new doc, Coban?”
“Yep, and I am glad to see I was right in my assessment of you this morning.”
His boisterous laughter fills the hallway. “Hey, I wasn’t alone in withholding information.”
“Oh, I know, and you can tell the rest of the group I hate them too,” I say as I continue down the hall.
“You know you don’t,” he calls as I open the door to the locker room and toss him my middle finger, more laughter his only reply.