Chapter 22—Emma

I couldn’t believe it. Dad had just phoned to say that all his problems were over and thanked me a thousand times. Thanked me for what? That was what was on my mind. I was exhausted, having been through every one of Sebastian’s injuries and procedures over the years. I didn’t want to miss anything. I wanted to make sure that the conclusion was right, and that he could play next season.

Sure, I had gone a bit overboard and the consequences had I found something had run through my mind. There was nothing worse than finding out that another doctor had done a procedure incorrectly and being forced to flag it. It would have hurt not only their reputation, but mine too. I could be seen as an underdog and the sports-medicine business was already so damn political.

I did find a couple of red herrings, but after digging deeper. I found nothing to be wrong with his treatment and his after-treatment, which was just as important. He had gone to the right number of physiotherapist sessions and kept up his diet.

Apart from when he was in Vegas, that is. Then again, no one was perfect. It couldn’t have been expected for him to keep it up the whole time he was in rehabilitation, especially with all the temptations.

I did come across one thing that made me smile; it made me feel special. Sebastian had noted that he had never had sex with a woman without a condom. Yet, with me, he hadn’t minded taking the chance.

It was stupid on my part. I should have been more careful, but the idea of his fat cock sliding inside me turned me on. So much more than if he had used a rubber. I liked touching it, stroking and holding it before he did it sometimes.

I shook my head.

I had to pay him a visit.

My dad said that my “boyfriend” had called last week and said that he wanted to help. At first Dad had been reluctant, but when Sebastian had said his name and that it could be some kind of loan, my dad hadn’t hesitated. I suppose he must have been more desperate then I gave him credit for. He said that he wanted his baby girl to be off the hook. Dad said that whenever he had called me lately, I was working. He had no idea that I was bending over backward just to make sure that my so-called boyfriend was good to play.

I had seen the hurt in his eyes, the distress in his voice as he talked about playing this season, and how he didn’t want to have to retire if he sprained his ankle or something. Those were the kinds of tricks that the mind can play with you when you are vulnerable. It could be a minor injury but thinking the worst would probably make him do something stupid like give up completely.

Even the consultant had warned me about going on a witch hunt. He said that it would only end my career. But I had to make sure that Sebastian was safe. Maybe I was being too over protective.

I was driving to his house to say that he was in the clear. The he should get training and prepare for the next season. I had avoided his calls; not only his, but Sophia’s too. I wanted to concentrate on work.

So I kept telling myself. In fact I just couldn’t handle the emotion. I had signed a contract that had made explicit that there was supposed to be no involvement with the players and I had broken that rule. If the hospital found out I would be in trouble.

And if the club discovered the truth then I could be sued. My career could be over. I didn’t know if Sebastian was serious about us. We’d had hardly spent time together and what? I was supposed to give up my job and career for him? And then a couple of weeks later he would dump me for a younger, more slender model? I wasn’t going to take it.

No, I wasn’t one of his groupies.

As soon as I hopped out of the car and rang the bell, he opened the door and serious doubts entered my head as I saw a girl standing behind him. But as I entered the house I realized that I was the one that was kidding myself.

I wanted him.

I was just too scared to admit it.