Four
MIA
AJ is secretly a robot. I’m convinced. There is no way that a normal person can push as hard as she does and still look this good. I hate her. That’s a lie. I actually love her so much it hurts.
Every day I’m thankful that she lets me be as chaotic as I want and never makes me feel dumb about the way my brain works.
She always just sits and lets me process things before even trying to talk because she knows that even though I’m such a mess, eventually I’ll get there.
Like right now, she has taught me this same move probably ten times.
I haven’t kept count but it’s been a lot and she hasn’t gotten frustrated in the slightest. She just goes over it again and again.
I should maybe be offended that she’s teaching me like she teaches the kids, but I think most people forget that our age doesn’t define the way we learn.
We just get better at it the older we get.
“I can't figure out the way my body is supposed to be moving. I’m sorry, A.” I release the breath stuck in my chest as I stand back up to try again.
I can feel the sweat gathering on the back of my neck and the small of my back.
AJ, however, has not a single drop of sweat on her body.
No wonder Rory was so infatuated with her from the day he met her. She makes everything look effortless.
“You’re overthinking it.” She speaks gently.
“Just react the way that you think you should instead of following exactly what I say. You’re wanting to get it perfect and it’s causing your brain to be cloudy.
” She positions me back in front of her to rework the same movement.
The women’s empowerment class starts in a few weeks and I’m supposed to lead it.
It’s going to be for women who need to have their strength brought back.
For the women who need to be reminded they are capable and strong.
We will teach them how to use their body as a shield, a weapon, and be aware of situations before they reach a place of danger.
We will empower them in the circumstances that are out of their control and help deliver them from that darkness.
But most importantly, we are going to give them a safe space here.
That’s the goal. When I first brought it up to Eddie, he didn’t even bat an eye.
He just asked me what I needed to make it happen.
I had a whole binder of plans and options ready which made him smile even bigger.
I give Oliver hell about how hot his dad is, and Eddie West is the hottest, but he is also the most supportive dad and boss I’ve ever seen.
I focus back on mastering this demonstration.
“I get this part.” I reach out to put her fingers around my throat like she is trying to choke me.
She puts the smallest pressure with the tips of her fingers.
I tuck my chin in and she nods her approval with the tiniest proud smile.
I bring my right elbow up, breaking the hold.
I get past this part every time but as soon as I break the hold and I try to get away, I nearly fall from losing my balance.
I forget my footing which is embarrassing in front of her because footwork is her favorite thing.
AJ catches me before I fall past her and helps set me right back on my feet.
“You're dropping your elbow too soon.” She helps me steady myself back out. “You’re moving fast but you forget your feet. Keep your base and keep your elbow up to push me off balance first before running away. The follow through is the most important part. Either push me away at my chest or chin. Whichever feels more natural.” She lifts my elbow in position and pulls it through each movement.
“It takes time. It’s not second nature. That’s why we train.
” She lets go and motions for me to get back into position. Her patience is never ending.
We try it a few more times and I still fail each time.
I’m frustrated and out of breath and in desperate need for a water break just to clear my head a little bit.
As if my body’s request was uttered out loud, the guys all enter the gym at the same time.
I don’t think I will ever be over the fact that I work in a gym with triplets.
Oliver is the first to acknowledge me, taking inventory of my whole body before he makes eye contact.
Rory immediately steps up and kisses AJ’s temple before whispering something to her.
I glance up at the clock on the wall. Looks like our hour of training is up and it’s time for her to move on to training Rory.
I know she’s very busy with training, running classes, and still running office hours but somehow she still made sure to set aside this hour to train me for a class she could teach in her sleep.
Eddie’s back but she is still pulling a lot of hours.
I think he secretly loves handing the gym over to his kids.
I know I can get this move though and in an effort to keep training I turn to Eli and Maxwell.
“Can either of you help me train a little longer?” I expect Eli to say no, he likes to workout with his loud music and in his own world for two hours every morning like clockwork.
Maxwell usually joins him but they don’t speak or sometimes he hits the bag.
Oliver runs. AJ and Rory run drills because both of them have already had their morning run like the little psychos they are.
“I can do it this afternoon?” Eli offers while holding his headphones in one hand and his water bottle in the other.
Maxwell and Oliver exchange a look and it’s so subtle I almost miss it.
Maxwell dips his head before grimacing at me.
“I have to prep some stuff for the morning classes.” He turns so fast that I don’t even get a chance to say anything.
AJ hands me my water bottle before walking off to meet Rory on their bench where he is wrapping his hands.
She’s already in trainer mode and misses whatever weird triplet shit is happening.
Which leaves just me and Oliver, “not even going to ask me if I have time to help you?” He smirks at me. I hate that stupid smirk. It always makes me want to get in trouble.
“You hate training other people, Ol.” The defeat in my voice breaking through. AJ tries to get him to teach the new members when they want private trainers and he refuses every time.
I watch him drop his bag on the edge of the mat and roll his shoulders. “I’ll make an exception, pretty girl.” There’s that softness in his voice that he only uses when he knows I don’t have the energy to fight.
“Don’t call me that.” I poke at him. I actually adore him calling me that.
It’s been getting increasingly difficult to not get used to him calling me that.
I need to separate the memory of being with him and who we are right now.
I came here to not fit a mold, and falling for the first cute guy I see is too cliche even for me.
“What does she have you working on?” He ignores my attempt to agitate him and steps forward to be in front of me.
“Front choke escape. She said that was a good first tactic to teach the class.” I see the quick moment of confusion on his face before he lets it fall away.
“I know I have two weeks to learn it, but I’m so close to figuring it out.
” I hate failing. It’ll haunt me until I can successfully do it and then do it again.
“I can help.” He offers again and I know he is genuine in his offer. All the West men take training seriously. They practically breathe to train.
“You just want your hands on my body.” I grin.
Flirting with Oliver is a reflex. It happens without even thinking about it.
“Oh, are we going to finally talk about me having my hands on your body?” Instant regret weighs in my stomach.
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” I’m quick to try and change the direction of this conversation.
“Mmm.” He steps forward, holding out his hands but hesitates. He’s waiting for permission to touch me. That’s something that is always so prevalent in this gym. It’s one of the reasons I feel so safe here. They are a bunch of delinquents, but they are respectful.
I grab his hands like I did AJ’s placing them on my neck and nod for him to start.
He squeezes slightly tighter than she did and averts his eyes the second I look up at him.
Eye contact with someone you’ve seen naked and have felt every inch of them against you isn’t easy.
Especially when you want it to happen again.
I bring my elbow up and back down to break the hold and I don’t lose my balance this time because his arm is around my waist before my body even has the chance to stagger.
“Don’t drop your elbow so fast, you don’t have the space to get fully out.
That’s why you are losing your balance. You have to push me out of your proximity.
” He parrots what AJ was saying earlier.
He quickly positions me back in place and gives no restart time, just goes straight in with his hands around my throat.
I go through the movements and barely miss his chest knocking his arm out of the way but he stays rooted in his footing, still failing at creating the space to get away. The way he crowded me so fast left no time for my brain to react.
“Again.” I square back up in front of him and barely nod the okay to start before his hands are tightening around my windpipe again. I break the hold, swing, and miss again.
“Stop dropping the elbow.” He repeats, not angrily just focused.
“You sound like AJ.” I huff out as I straighten back out.
His eyebrow raises. “Who do you think trained her?” I didn’t think about that. They train so differently though. She is so patient with me and he is so controlled. “Again.” And an ass.
We go through it again, and this time he crowds me a little when I break the hold and I press against his chest, which does absolutely nothing.
He only pushes in closer. “I’ll overpower you.
Don’t do that.” He puts his hands around my throat again and starts over.
I break his hold easier than ever before and my elbow barely grazes the middle of his chest. “Better.” He moves faster and a little more aggressively.
Putting pressure to my throat, he leans in and I break his hold again.
My elbow lands into his chest but not hard enough to cause him to stumble backwards.
“Try again.” He gives me no moment to breathe before restarting.
I’m out of breath again, pissed off, and my body is tired of the repetitiveness.
I have no time to think. I just swing like I’ve been doing and I hit harder this time, feeling it in my bones, but he still doesn’t move.
He puts his hands around my throat again and in one quick fluid movement I break his hold, step through, and my elbow catches the side of his face.
He stumbles backwards and I’m able to step through without losing my balance.
If I wanted to run, I easily could have. I did it.
I watch his head move back to face me and there is a tiny drop of blood bubbling up on his lip.
“Oh shit. I’m so sorry!” I rush to him and lean on my tip toes to try and see it better.
I have one hand on his shoulder and the other is barely resting on his cheek, but I’m paralyzed by him not breaking eye contact as his tongue grazes his bottom lip and licks the blood away.
I don’t even think he means for his hand to find my waist. “I made you bleed.” The words ghost over my own lips.
“You have a tendency to make men willing to bleed for you, Mia Cassidy.” He takes my hands in his and pulls them away from his body.
I watch his chest rise and fall as his breath stutters out.
“Don’t think. Just feel.” Those words are like a shot through my chest. “Let your emotions give you strength instead of doubt. Passion will help you put your whole body into it.” He lets go of my hands before reaching down and grabbing his bag he left on the ground earlier.
“Next time, hit harder. If anyone ever puts you in that position. You hit them with everything you have.” I can’t read the emotions on his face but I know that they probably match the bonfire of emotions in my own body right now.
I watch him walk away and the air becomes easier to access when I take a deep breath. “What the fuck was that?” I nearly jump out of my skin at the sound of AJ’s voice beside me.
I spin around and see AJ with a look on her face that is demanding for me to spill all of my secrets.
“I fucked Oliver!” The words escape me before I’m able to stop them.
“Don’t be mad. Not that you have a reason to be mad.
It was months ago actually. And it just kind of happened.
I’m sorry. I love you.” I quickly glance around to see if anyone overheard my outburst. Eli and Maxwell are over in the weight corner, each in their own world with their headphones on and weights in hand.
Oliver is in the locker room, thank fuck.
Rory is in the corner working with Eddie.
Thankfully it is just us on this side of the gym.
A rare smile spreads across her entire face, “Rory owes me a new workout set.” She doesn’t look upset at all actually. She doesn’t even look surprised. Wait.
“You fucking bet on me sleeping with your best friend?” The audacity.
“I absolutely did. And it’s Monday. So, you are buying our tacos and margaritas as payback for hiding it from me for months.”
“You’re not mad?” I know she still doesn't have feelings for Oliver. It’s obvious that she is in love with Rory, but she is still figuring that part out for herself.
I just had this overwhelming fear of upsetting her because I didn’t want to lose her as a friend over something stupid.
And sleeping with Oliver was stupid. I have such a great set up here and giving in to him could ruin that.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen him even go on a date.
A one night stand with him has kept me tied up this long, I can’t imagine what something more serious would do to me.
“I’m pissed that you two idiots think that we are oblivious to whatever the fuck is going on between you. But no. I’m not mad that you and Oliver did whatever you did.” I feel lighter with her finally knowing.
I smile back up at her, “I got the move.” I don’t know how Oliver managed to get me to figure it out.
But I’m thankful for that too. The failure from when I was training with AJ was starting to make me feel like I was drowning.
Oliver didn’t let me sit in that though.
It was like he took all the ability to focus on what I wasn’t getting and make my mind react in the moment instead of overthinking.
He held the chaos in my head captive and showed me what I was actually capable of.
“How did it feel?” AJ’s voice is full of quiet pride.
“Empowering.”