Page 25 of Forever Offsides

“Besides, I like you working with your brothers and father.”

“I don’t. It’s unethical.”

She sets the pen down and shifts on her desk. “You’re not treating them unless one of them gets hurt, and then you can pass off any surgery to a colleague. I worked with the team for years, and no one ever said boo about it.”

I huff, not even caring if I sound like a petulant teenager. She’s my mother. It’s not the first time she’s heard this tone from me. “I don’t want football.”

“One season. It’s only one season, and I’ll put you on hockey next year.”

I glare at her as I point a stern finger. “One season. That’s it. I’m not doing others. I mean it. I know how you and Dad work.”

“Yay.” She claps her hands. “Your dad will be so happy. Training camp starts in like two hours, so you’ll need to head to the field.”

“You waited till the last possible second to throw this on me, didn’t you?”

She beams. “Yep. Draft day is so fun. And because I know you as well as I do since I birthed you, you’re the last to get your assignment. And it’s only for games and like two to three practices a week. Other than that, you’re here in the clinic and in the OR.”

“Better be,” I grumble. “Do I have to travel with the team?” Some of the teams required it.

“Technically, no, but some people do. Maybe you’ll learn to like football.”

“When it becomes hockey or basketball, maybe.” I wink and push out of the chair to leave her office so I can go to the stadium.

It will be nice to regularly see my older brother and my father. I already see Crew all the time, but he’ll love this even if he hates it when I’m around his teammates because they hit on me. The unmarried ones hit on everyone, but they especially do it with me to get a rise out of him.

I pull up my group chat with my friends and Crew.

Me: The pick is in, and I’ve officially been drafted as the Rebels’ new orthopedic surgeon.

Braelyn: I’m positive you’re excited about this. I can practically hear your joy from downstairs in the ER.

I snicker as I climb on the elevator to head to the garage.

Me: You know me so well.

Crew: Aw, come on. Aren’t you looking forward to all our quality family bonding?

Me: Because I don’t see you enough already? We shared a womb and share a friend group.

Crew: Be honest.

Me: Fine. Yes. I’m happy to see you and Mason play and hang out with Dad. The rest… meh.

Crew: It’ll be great. Mason will be excited. But stay the fuck away from my teammates.

I roll my eyes before I put my sunglasses over them to shield them from the relentless summer sun.

Me: But your teammates are so hot.

Crew: Careful, sis.

Skylar: I’m off tomorrow and can come and join you at training camp. I’ll bring snacks since my pregnant ass doesn’t know how to stop eating. It’ll be fun. Anything to get away from the hospital and the new interns, who I constantly have to stop from trying to kill my patients. *Shudders with fear*

Braelyn: You’re telling me. The ER is like a war zone with them. They don’t pay nurses enough for this.

Skylar: Truth!

Braelyn: Micha legit had to pull one into an empty room to yell at them because they ordered morphine for a patient with a morphine allergy.