2. Blessing
A FEW DAYS LATER…
“Thank God it’s Friday,” I mumbled, stepping out of my car.
The past few days seemed to drag on. Working with Saint wasn’t the issue; it was his overly attentive girlfriend.
I’ve been working with him every day this week, and she’s been there each time, hovering over us during our sessions.
It’s becoming uncomfortable. She kept commenting on my scrubs, even after I followed her advice and ordered a larger size.
The size of my scrubs didn’t matter; my figure would always be visible.
She also kept trying to micromanage me, telling me how I should do my job.
I was tired of it and planned to talk to Saint after our session today.
“Good morning, Ms. Jackie!” I greeted Saint’s mother as I walked into the house.
“Good morning, pretty lady.” She responded, handing me my stainless-steel tumbler filled with my favorite coffee and a breakfast sandwich.
I’d accidentally left my tumbler here on the first day, and ever since, she’d been filling it with coffee and saving me a plate of breakfast. I thanked her and took a seat at the island to eat.
We spent the next few minutes chatting while we waited for Saint to get ready.
I was so engrossed in the conversation with Ms. Jackie that I didn’t notice Mariah and Saint enter the kitchen. “Have a good day, Saint. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Mariah said, before she placed a quick kiss on his lips and turned to leave. She didn’t bother to speak to Ms. Jackie or me.
“She has no manners, Moo. I know her parents raised her better than that.” Ms. Jackie said with a scoff.
Saint shook his head, taking a seat next to me at the island.
The woodsy smell of his cologne immediately filled my nostrils.
I fought back a moan. He smelled so fucking good, “Ma, I’ll have a conversation with her, I promise.
She’s just cranky today. You ready to get started, Blessing?
” He asked, turning towards me. His mom set his protein shake down in front of him before leaving the kitchen.
I nodded and stood from my seat to throw my trash away, then headed into the gym.
“So, how do you feel after this first week of sessions? How are your pain levels?” I asked as we entered the gym. He was only a couple of weeks post-injury, and he was already moving better than most athletes with this injury.
“I’m not in as much pain as I was right after I got injured. I can bend my knee higher, and I’m standing for longer periods of time. You really do have healing hands.” He said as he slid down on a mat. We always start our sessions with quad flexes, heel slides, and leg raises.
“My parents didn’t name me Blessing for no reason.
” I winked. “I’m really proud of you. Your mom told me that your attitude has changed a lot.
I’m glad you’re feeling better. Next week, we’re going to work on assisted leg holds with both knees.
If you’re good with those, we’ll move on to single-leg holds. Sounds good?”
“Perfect.” He flashed me a smile. This man is so fine, and he knows it.
We spent the next few hours going through different exercises. By the end of our session, I was tired as hell, and I could tell he was too. Things went smoothly without the wicked witch of the west hovering over us.
“Great job today, Moo,” I stated, starting to gather my equipment, “I have a few things to run by you before I go.”
“What’s up, Bless?” He responded, taking a seat on the bench
“First, I would like your consent to start filming our sessions for my social media accounts. It’ll help motivate others with the same injuries.
You can post them on your page as well. Second, I know Mariah means well, but she makes me uncomfortable during our sessions.
I let her slide with the constant remarks about my scrubs.
But the micromanaging is too much. I know how to do my job, and I’m very good at it.
So, either have a conversation with her and keep her out of our sessions, or the sessions can be held at the facility. ”
He sighed, running a hand across his face.
“I apologize for her actions. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable while you’re in my home.
From now on, it’ll just be my mother and us here during our sessions.
I never had a problem with your scrubs. Wear what makes you comfortable.
As far as filming our sessions, I’m perfectly fine with that.
I have a camera we can film with, and I know someone who can edit them for us if you’re okay with that. ”
I smiled, nodding eagerly. “Oh, I would love that, Moo! I was just gonna film on my little iPhone with a ring light. Thank you!”
“You’re welcome, Bless. My whole career is in your hands.
You can get whatever you want from me.” He stood, grabbing his crutches as he walked over to me.
His body towered over my short frame. He had to be over a foot taller than me, weighing 305 pounds.
I could only imagine how it felt lying beneath him.
I sucked in a breath, shaking away the thoughts.
I threw my workbag over my shoulder and laughed, “Anything I want, huh? I’ll keep that in mind. See you Monday, Moo.”
I left the gym and headed for the front door to leave.
It was only noon, so I had a few hours before I needed to pick up my daughter from daycare and my sister from school.
I loaded my gear into the trunk before climbing into the driver’s seat.
I pressed the button to start my car, but nothing happened.
Confused, I tried again, but it still wouldn’t start.
“Shit,” I muttered, pulling my phone from my pocket.
Before I could unlock it, I noticed a text message from an unknown number.
(578)333-8859: Time’s running out.
I rolled my eyes and deleted the thread before getting out of the car to knock on Saint’s door. He immediately opened the door with a confused look on his face. “What’s wrong?” he asked, stepping aside to let me back in.
“My car won’t start. I think the battery died. Can I wait inside while I wait for roadside assistance to come?” I asked, looking up at him.
He swiped his tongue across his lips and nodded. “Yeah, you can wait in the living room. I was just about to shower.”
“Thanks, Moo,” I responded, heading towards the living room. I plopped down on the couch, letting out a slight groan. The couch was so soft it felt like I was melting into it. I called roadside assistance, and they estimated a ninety-minute wait.
I looked around the spacious living room, appreciating its beauty.
A gigantic television was mounted above a faux fireplace.
The Sports Center was playing on the screen, with the volume muted.
In front of the couch, a glass coffee table was perfectly centered, holding small decorative items and several remotes.
I settled in by tucking my feet underneath me, making myself comfortable on the couch, and then pulled out my phone to scroll through social media.
It felt like hours had passed by the time Saint finally emerged from his room.
I could smell him before I saw him. He laid his crutches on the floor beside the couch before he took a seat at the other end of it and turned his body to face me.
He was dressed in a pair of gray Nike sweat shorts and a white muscle shirt.
“What time did they say they’d be here?” He asked.
“I have about an hour left. This is the third time my battery died.” I whined, rolling my eyes. It was obvious I’d probably need a new battery.
“I’m surprised you ain’t use those healing hands to fix it.”
I burst into a fit of giggles. “I fucking wish. I ain’t Kevin Gates. A new battery is gonna run me at least $800. The price isn’t an issue, but I hate spending my own money.”
“Don’t trip, it happened on my property. Let me pay for it.”
“Moo no,” I shook my head. “I can’t let you do that.”
“I insist. Matter fact…” He pulled out his phone and began typing.
A few seconds later, my phone dinged, indicating an Apple Pay payment.
I gasped, unlocking my phone. He’d sent me fifteen hundred dollars.
It was way more than I needed. My mama always told me not to turn down my blessings, so I wasn’t about to complain.
I grinned, leaning over to pinch his cheek. “Wow. Thank you so much. That’s way more than I need, Moo.”
“Just use the rest for whatever maintenance you need done, whether it’s your car or your hair shit. I told you, whatever you want, you can get it. Look at how much progress we’ve made with my injury. If it wasn’t for you, I don’t know where my career would be going.”
“I’m just doing my job. You’ll be back on that field before the new season starts. Shit, you might even be better than you were before. I got you. I told you these hands are magic.” I winked.
We started a casual chat, gradually learning more about each other.
I discovered he knew my older brother, Messiah, and his girlfriend, Gia.
Some of his friends ran in the same circle as my brother.
Oasis Cove truly is a small city. Soon, roadside assistance was allowed through the gate by security.
Moo remained outside with me while they replaced the battery in my car.
I thanked him again for paying for it and said goodbye before driving off.
By the time I made it home, I had an hour before I needed to pick my daughter, Sage, up.
I took a few minutes to clean the house, then jumped in the shower.
After moisturizing my body, I threw on a pair of light blue jeans, a cropped white T-shirt, and a fresh pair of white AF1s.
I pulled my hair from the ponytail and brushed it out.
Because I was pressed for time, I threw on a red baseball cap.