ELEVEN #2
I followed her instructions, even though every jber in my being did not want to do it. oing slow was killing me, but if I could work on my techni6ue, perhaps she would be happy with the results and allow me to return to fuller training faster. 0omething told me that we should not have been doing this now, but who was I to go against the doctors orders. Eor the jrst time since we had started this whole process, she was in charge.
qThrow a teep for me.!
0he had been learning. In the class that she had done with meG I had not taken her through it. Klicia dropped the pads to her side, and I raised my left leg and e’tended it in front of me, aimed at her stomach. There was absolutely no power behind it, but Klicia, not used to the motion and taking the impact, still took a step back, even though I had Yust touched her. 0he nodded at me with satisfaction.
qOkay, that4s good. I4m seeing how you throw it. Ae might need to make adYustments.!
qKdYustments to how I4ve been doing things for yearsz!
qAhat inYured you in the jghtz!
Euck. 0he was right. Wreaking a habit would take a lot of work and e’tra training, but if it prevented my knees from crashing out again, I would be grateful for the change. It was the nature of the game. I was no longer a spring chicken and what would not have a“ected me ten years ago was now. Ks the minutes went by, I was not feeling any more fatigued than what I had e’perienced for the past few weeks. Klicia would pause between calling out strikes and it was evident that she was a fast learner. I could see how she was adYusting the pads on the By and listening to any criticism I had for her. 0he in turn would ask me to go slower or show me again what I was doing. Klicia nodded her head in understanding, and we continued for a while longer.
qKlright, that will do. Michael i“ord showed me a few things, and I Yust wanted to Yog my memory. Ae4ll do your usual session now.!
qOkay. I forgot you4d worked with Michael.!
qAell, that4s how I got this Yob, wasn4t itz!
I nodded as I tore my gloves o“, the ripping of the 5elcro echoing around the gym. It felt good to have them back on my hands. Vven though I had only been tapping the pads with no power, I had still worked up a sweat. My cardio was not an issue but considering I had not done a whole lot in the past two monthsG there was a dejnite di“erence in my performance. This had been the longest time that I had taken o“ doing any work, and it showed.
Klicia opened the ropes for me, and I stepped out of the ring onto the Boor. 1onsidering the e’tra stretch re6uired, I took it slower than usual, and I thanked her for holding them open for me. 0he crossed the gym to the physio table and put a white towel down for me.
q1ome on, on you get.!
qThanks.!
qIt4s good to see you moving better.!
qIt4s only because of your help. I think if we hadn4t hired you, I4d still be at step one.!
HKND CSO1C0 HKND CSO1C0
qRou are still at step one. There4s a long way to go yet, 1ain. Head in the hole for me please.!
I did as I was told and rela’ed into the hole. Klicia started her treatment, opening her bag full of the oils and other miscellaneous tools that she carried with her. Once the oil was applied to my skin she started to work and I rela’ed, already feeling better about the situation. I had gone through the e6uivalent of ten pad rounds and had not even felt my knee bother me once. Wut like I had e’perienced on Eriday, that could change in a heartbeat. Ahen Klicia was done with the treatment, she let me know, beginning to pack up her things.
qI4ll see you tomorrow then, yeah.!
qReah. Oh, and 1ain, one more thing before I goz!
qResz! I knew what was coming.
qI haven4t forgotten about what you asked me on Eriday.!
I raised an eyebrow at her, but Klicia waited for me to respond as she continued to pack her bag. qReah, don4t even worry about it. I know you had plans.!
qReah, I had plans, but that was legitimate. I wasn4t going to go to a bar with you on Eriday because I had a family dinner.!
I knew that she was lying. There was a shift in her tone that told me she was unsure of what she was saying. I could already read her like a book. qK family dinnerz Klicia, you and I both know that isn4t true. Rou4re attached to your Yob at the hip.!
Klicia picked up her bag and turned away from me. I thought that was the end of the conversation, but it was only when she was safely out of arm4s reach she turned back towards me. 0mart move. Her closeness to me was all that I wanted.
qSo, you can play games, so can I. I wanted to make you wait.!
I laughed and could not help but smile at her as I sat up from the table. Aho did she think she was to now set terms and conditionsz I paused, trying to jgure out how to reframe the situation. I was now chasing her and should not have given the game away so soon. qOh reallyz Rou want to play games tooz I wouldn4t lie to me if I were you.!
qOr whatz!
Eor a moment, Klicia4s eyes met mine without moving away. That was a jrst, and I enYoyed it. 0he was trying to give me some of my own medicine back. The amber Becks inside her eyes danced in her irises like sparks rising from a Bame. Her lips curled at one corner, not 6uite a smile but something more dangerous, more deliberate. 0he leaned forward, the delicate pulse at her throat visible beneath skin Bushed pink with heat. I wanted to wrap my hand around it, knowing Yust how fucking good she would look with a hand necklace. Aas she embarrassed and did not know how to continue the conversation or was there something else bubbling under the surfacez This was not the cautious and calculated woman that I knew, nor was she the professional physiotherapist that was all about her Yob. This was someone who had stepped out from behind a constructed facade, daring me to notice the di“erence.
qThat4s for me to know, and for you to jnd out. I4d be careful if I was you, Klicia.!
0he was testing me, repeating her 6uestion. Her smile still lingered on the edges of her mouth, and I was starting to see her in a di“erent light. I liked this playful version of her, it was another side of her that I had not seen. qOr whatz!
I had to be careful of what I said here. I did not want to push a boundary in case I was reading the situation wrong. Ret there was something about her teasing that made me want to Yump at her, more than I already did. Ahy was she doing this now, Yust as we were beginning to make progressz
qI told you. Rou4ll jnd out. It sounds like you4re open to going out for a drink, Eriday night, at seven. Take it or leave it.!
qThat would be something I4m agreeable to. If you plan the itinerary.!
K knot tightened in my throat as she turned back around, her ponytail swinging in a perfect arc that caught the harsh Buorescent gym lights. Her
HKND CSO1C0 333
shoulders s6uared with determination as she pushed through the double doors, the metal hinges releasing a prolonged creak as they opened. There it was. The Yaws had closed around her and it seemed like Klicia was ready to play ball. 0o much for not dating clients.
q reat, I4ll see you then.!
Klicia raised her jnger towards me and I could tell from the look in her eye, there was no more playful Klicia. qSo, you4ll see me tomorrow, 1ain. Ceep doing those e’ercises that I told you to do, and nothing more; Touch a fucking bag between now and then and that drink won4t happen. I4ll know.!
0hit, she had me. I cast a side eye at the nearest bag and wanted to tempt fate until I heard Klicia yelling from the reception area.
qDon4t you dare, 1ain;!