F this thing called Football

This sucks. My new apartments sucks. Moving sucks. Being in thousands of miles away from my family sucks. You would think that a highly educated woman could come up with something other to think than “This sucks” but here I am. I’m living just outside of London with everything I could afford to ship over seas sitting around me in boxes. I can’t find where I put my underwear in these stupid boxes either. I roll my eyes and stub my toe for the third time this morning. I have my first day at my new job and I can’t show up without underwear on. Yup, this officially sucks. I finally found dress pants and a polo shirt that was sent over in my welcome to the team basket. My soon to be ex-husband’s dad helped me secure a job for a London soccer team. I have my nursing degree in the states and now I need to study to take my exams in the UK. I am working under the Red Hawk’s team doctor and athletic trainer. I know this is a made up position but I need the money and a clean start. My little dog’s bark brings me out of my own thoughts. “Okay, okay Ella I’m hurrying.” I finished getting ready and raced out the door with Ella. We were ready for our first day with the Red Hawks. My stomach was a ball of nervous energy. I hope it wasn’t written all over my face. The nice 10 minute walk to work helped me calm my nerves. I saw the stadium up ahead and the nerves I got rid of came back double time. I felt like I was going to throw up. My knees were weak. At the front entrance I stopped with my team badge. The middle aged grumpy woman behind the desk stared down her nose at me. “ No animals allowed Miss…” she looked at my badge. “Miss Stark.” I reached into my bag and pulled down Ella’s own staff badge. The woman’s eyes almost bugged out of her head. She quickly recovered and waved us through with a small tilt of her head. I was supposed to meet with Dr. Anders when I got here. I turned to go back and ask the receptionist where to find him when I ran into a walk of muscle. Ella’s leash fell out of my hands. I bent down to pick up her leash while stumbling through my apologies. I looked up to find the most handsome face I’ve ever seen in person. Outside Hollywood I didn’t know people this beautiful existed. He was tanned from being outside, tall (like well over 6 foot tall), he had sandy brown hair and light brown eyes the color of honey. “Bring your pet to work day? I didn’t know such things existed.” Someone said from behind him. “Well lucky for Ella, she’s now on staff like me.” He pushed himself to the front of the group smiling. “Name’s Nick. This is Noah, Lance, Bryce, and the grumpy on you bumped into is Mac.” He pointed around at the group of men. I smiled at the group and half waved nervously. “Nice to meet you all. I’m Grace Stark. I working for Dr. Anders. I was just going to ask where his office might me.” “You’re in luck! It’s in the hall down by the lockers. Come with us.” Nick swung his bag over his shoulder, put his arm around me like we were the oldest of friends and steered me towards the elevators nearby. All the men of the group followed shaking their heads. “If you think this is chummy you should see him softer a few.” The blonde of the group mumbled- I believe it he was Lance? Standing in an elevator with five incredibly attractive soccer players was not helping my nervous. I was starting to sweat and shift from foot to foot. “Come on Grace you are a confident, capable, smart woman. Five good looking men in a new city on the first day of your new job can not and will not shake you.” Oh who was I kidding, this little mental pep talk want helping anything. Nick took me to Dr. Anders’ office. I waved goodbye to the group and dove right into business.