Chapter 4
Paige grimaced at her reflection in the mirror after taking off her swimsuit cover-up. The pink-floral tankini she'd worn as a teenager didn't fit like she remembered.
Was I really that late of a bloomer?
She leaned on one crutch and tugged the top of the tankini up to minimize the amount of exposed cleavage, but that only widened the swatch of skin visible on her midriff. And the bottoms… She wished the boy short bottoms had been popular ten years ago, instead of the bikini cut ones.
She either needed to make a trip to Seattle soon to pack up some clothing or go shopping. She was tired of wearing the clothes she left behind when she moved out ten years ago. Clothes her mother was supposed to have donated to charity.
She frowned as she surveyed the scars on her shoulder and upper thigh. They looked much better than they did two months ago, but they were still purple and slightly puckered.
Reminding herself there was nothing she could do about them, she followed the smell of chlorine from the dressing room to the pool. She stepped out just in time to see Gabe pull his t-shirt off over his head.
Holy cow!
Paige could tell by the way his button-down hugged his shoulders on Monday that the man was built, but she hadn't expected chiseled pecs and six-pack abs. His blue swim trunks hugged equally muscular thighs.
Paige's stomach flipped then flopped. As if she wasn't already self-conscious of her scars, she had to work with a Greek god.
"Are you ready for this?" Gabe clapped his hands, then rubbed them together with too much enthusiasm for so early in the morning. The noise echoed through the large open area with high glass ceilings.
Paige scowled at him. "Are you always this eager to torture your patients?"
"Torture?" He put a hand to his chest. "I'm offended. I like to think of myself as a gentle yet ruthless taskmaster."
"Ruthless, huh?" Paige couldn't help cracking a smile as she gave him an exaggerated eye roll. "Is that why we're doing this so early?"
"It's not that early." Gabe quirked an eyebrow and looked at the clock on the wall. "Besides, the pool opens for lap swimming at nine-thirty. I figured you'd rather not have other people stirring the water while you do your exercises."
"You figured right." Still, it felt strange to be alone with him. Technically, they weren't alone, because the manager was here somewhere, but Paige would have Just Gabe's undivided attention again.
He motioned to the water. "Shall we?"
"How do I get in?" She crutched to the edge of the pool near the steps then stopped. "At the rehab center they lowered me into the water with a special chair."
"Unfortunately, they don't have one of those here." Gabe glanced around. "Looks like you have two choices. Crutch down the steps—"
"Won't water get into my crutches?"
"Yes, but it should drain out fine."
"What's my other choice?"
"I carry you."
Paige's gaze—which she'd tried to keep on his face—dropped to his bare chest. The last time he held her against all that muscle, she hadn't wanted to let go, and he was fully clothed then.
Having her physical therapist hold her in his arms while he was shirtless felt all kinds of wrong.
Besides, going into the pool was one thing, him carrying her out when they were both wet.
.. That was another accident waiting to happen.
"A little water won't hurt my crutches." She plunged them into the pool, placing them on the first of three wide steps.
"Wait a second." He stepped around her. "Let me get in first, so I can catch you if you slip."
The water was colder than she expected, and goosebumps covered her skin.
Her whole body shivered by the time the water reached her waist. Whether from the cold or the anxiety of trying to keep her feet under her with the movement of the water she wasn't sure.
Or maybe it was knowing she'd be working closely with Gabe.
"Are you okay?" Concern lined Gabe's face.
"Yeah, just cold," she lied.
"It is a little chilly, isn’t it? I'm sure we'll warm up once we get moving." He guided her to the side of the pool. "Hand me your crutches and I'll get the water out of them."
She did as he asked, and he raised each in the air to drain out the water before laying them on the side.
"They shouldn't be any worse for wear." He rubbed his hands together again, a sign—she was learning—that meant he wanted her to get to work. "Are you feeling steady?"
She let go of the side of the pool. Her body swayed with the gentle rocking of the water, but she was able to keep her feet under her. She shook her hand in a so-so motion.
"Let's give walking a try. I'll stay close in case you find yourself off balance.
" He motioned for her to walk farther into the pool.
When the water reached her shoulders, he stopped her.
"This is deep enough. Now let's walk across the pool.
" He placed himself between her and the deep end where the floor of the pool sloped. He stayed by her side as they walked.
"It's crazy how much effort it takes to walk with the resistance of the water.
" Paige focused on keeping her balance as she moved.
The caress of the water against her skin—now that her body was mostly submerged and no longer cold—invigorated her.
"It feels so good to move though. Especially without crutches. "
"Your muscles have atrophied over the past couple months.
That makes even simple exercises challenging.
It's going to take hard work to rebuild the muscle.
Movement is important. It lubricates our joints and muscles.
" Gabe pointed a finger in the air as though lecturing someone.
"'Motion is lotion.' That's what my physical therapist used to always say. "
"You did physical therapy?" When he nodded, she asked, "When? And for what?"
"I suffered a cervical spine injury back in high school while wrestling."
Wrestling? No wonder he's so muscular. He certainly hasn't let himself go.
Paige grimaced. "A neck injury?"
"I had a dislocation and hairline fracture of the C5 vertebrae. Inflammation and a bulged disc caused temporary paralysis." He grimaced. "I had to wear a halo for three months."
"A halo? Is that some sort of neck brace?"
He motioned to his chest. "It strapped around my chest, over my shoulders, came up under my chin, and up the back of my neck. It also strapped around my forehead."
"That sounds torturous." Paige shuddered. "You had to wear that for three months? I thought I had it bad. I can't even imagine the kind of restrictions you must have had." The feeling of near weightlessness lessened as she considered how painful and difficult that must have been for Gabe.
"It was a nightmare. Getting comfortable to sleep was almost impossible.
Even after the inflammation went down and I was able to walk and use my arms, all variations of physical activity were banned.
" When they reached the other side of the pool, he turned.
"Let's go back now a little faster. If you're able to keep your balance, we'll add more movement. "
Paige started walking back. "I bet you were sick of lying around and watching Netflix after the first week."
A shadow flickered through his eyes. "Streaming services were still new at the time, and we couldn't afford them. So, my mom borrowed every possible DVD and audiobook from our city library."
"I bet even that got old real fast."
"It did. The worst was not being able to play soccer or hike and bike with my friends.”
"I know the feeling. I never thought I'd miss Zumba class so much."
"Zumba? Are you a dancer?"
"Not really. I just enjoy moving." She shrugged one shoulder. "Did your accident end your wrestling career?"
"Yes, it came to a screeching halt my senior year right when I had college scouts looking at me."
"I'm guessing it cost you a scholarship."
More dark shadows filled his eyes as he nodded.
"How long did you have to do PT?"
"Six months." A small smile lifted his lips. "You think I'm a tyrant, you should have seen my mom."
Her brows arched. "Your mom was your physical therapist?"
"No, but she went to every appointment with me. Then she made sure I did all my exercises at home every day."
He understands that recovery is difficult and painful. He isn’t pushing me for the fun of it.
When they reached the edge of the pool, Gabe turned again. "Okay, let's go back, but this time lengthen your stride and swing your arms under the water like big scissors." He demonstrated. "Exaggerate your movements."
She followed him, mimicking his actions. The additional movement of the water pulled at her, threatening to throw her off balance, but with concentration, she managed to keep her feet under her.
"Tell me about your family," Gabe said as they walked. "I've met your parents, obviously. Do you have siblings?"
Paige told him about her brother Ben and his family, who lived across the cul de sac from her parents. She talked about her cute nieces and nephew before asking him about his family.
"What about you? Do you have siblings?"
"A younger sister. She and my mom live in Richland, about thirty minutes from my apartment in Pasco."
Paige noticed he didn't mention his dad. Was he still in the picture? Curbing her curiosity, she asked, "Is your sister married?"
"No, we're both still single, much to my mom’s dismay."
Well, I guess that answers that question.
Not that it mattered. Gabe might be single, but as her physical therapist, he was off limits. Besides, she wasn't looking for another relationship. She was better off single and lonely than getting her heart broken again.
They continued to talk about their families, interests, and hobbies as they made multiple laps across the pool. First walking, then marching and sidestepping. They followed the laps with a combination of resistance and low-impact exercises designed to strengthen and elevate the heart rate.