My brain took a good minute to process what was right in front of me. The Cyclones team hustled about, completing their post-game rituals while my mind fired off in disbelief.

Keep it together.

Alicia continued to shepherd me through the busy group when we were blocked by a solid, muscular chest, bare and gleaming with sweat. My gaze rose to clash with big baby blues that kept bouncing between Alicia and me. Then, those same eyes narrowed when a hand was shoved my way.

“Ethan Harris,” he said as introduction, his tone angry and borderline antagonistic.

Is it me?

I knew who he was, as did the whole world. Almost starstruck, I accepted his handshake, which I regretted immediately as he crushed my fingers in his bulking, tight grip.

Alicia scoffed beside me, not bothering to hide the rolling of her eyes. “We’re busy. Move.”

Nope. Definitely not me.

His hostile expression immediately dropped as his gaze ran over Alicia—who didn’t unfurl from her ice queen persona.

Oh, hell. I knew that look all too well since I had been sporting the same for years. Ethan Harris had fucked up bad.

Ignoring his presence entirely, Alicia sidestepped him, expecting me to follow.

Once we made our getaway to a sidelining room, she introduced me to the head physiotherapist for the Cyclones, and left me speechless when I was told I would be shadowing him the rest of the day.

Mind-blown.

I was put to work immediately, slipping into the new role with little dissension. No one seemed to care that a complete stranger had just infiltrated their ranks—except for one.

Ethan laid on his front as I massaged his calf. He was highly strung, the tension radiating off him like a whip. For some reason, I didn’t think it was the game he’d just played. More so, a particular woman with the last name Thorne.

I remained silent, waiting for him to ask. I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist.

“So… How do you know Alicia?”

I smirked. The girl herself was nowhere in the vicinity. “Ah, we went to high school together.”

“High school? You must be close…”

“We used to be.”

“Used to be?”

I huffed and stopped my recovery massage. He read the cue and sat upright, shifting to face me. I analysed him as I said my next statement. “Her sister is the love of my life, and I’m trying to win her back. Something tells me we’re in the same boat?”

His jaw ticked before he deflated. “I met Alexis once. Let’s just say those Thorne girls are fucking scary.”

I chuckled. “Scary, but entirely worth it.”

“Entirely.” Ethan sighed before running an errant hand through his hair. “I don’t know what to do. How to fix what I’ve done.”

He looked miserable, absolutely wrung out. I knew that feeling.