CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
SCARLETT
Levi’s early this time.
I know. Who would have thought he could ever be on time?
I trained him well.
He drops a kiss on my lips before putting his bag to the side and removing his shoes.
“Are you excited?” I ask him, a wide smile on my face, unable to contain my excitement.
It’s Levi’s last session today before it’s his first game back, and I can tell he’s just as nervous as he is excited. Still, I know he’s more than ready for it.
He chuckles, thumb stroking my jaw. “Yeah, Scar. I’m excited.”
I skip my way over to the machine. “Since I’m feeling nice today, which exercises would you like to do?”
He ponders for a moment before doing a gesture for offerings. “Alright, Carter. Let’s do it.”
He gets into position on the carriage, kneeling and facing toward the foot bar, hands in the straps.
“Elbows bent at a ninety-degree angle, palms facing up, arms tight into your side” I direct, to which he follows.
“Inhale to prepare. Exhale as you extend your arms out toward the mirror. Good. And slow on the release.” My hands are soft against his triceps as he releases, stopping in line with his sides.
“Good, Levi. Next one.” He works through his next few reps when I see it’s not heavy enough, so I add on an extra spring.
Levi narrows his eyes at me before pulling on the straps, gritting his teeth as he extends his arm. “You’ve got this, baby.”
He grunts on his next rep, and I check in. “How is your shoulder holding up?”
“Good.” He nods, going into another offering.
“Okay. A few more then we move into our hug-a-tree.”
Once he finishes, I cue him into the next exercise.
“Arms out wide, soft bend through your elbows.”
I lean in to adjust him slightly before directing him. “Inhale to prepare, exhale as you sweep your arms in until your fingertips are almost touching, and then slow on the release.
He’s tense as he moves into the exercise, and I brush my fingers across his shoulder blades, making him soften.
“Good, Levi. More. Push yourself.”
Levi continues, his skin coated in a light sheen of sweat by the time I let up.
“Last one. Let’s go into our salute. So, bring your hands out toward the mirror, angling slightly upwards. Holding your hands apart, but almost in a triangle shape.” I adjust him before continuing, “Inhale. And exhale, press your hands toward the mirror.”
Levi extends his arms toward the mirror, muscles flexing as he does.
I step back to admire him as he continues, and I keep him for a while for his shoulder to be nice and loose, ready for his game.
“Last one.” I state as he finishes off his final rep before collapsing, his chest heaving from exertion.
“How do you feel, baby?” I ask, running a hand through his damp hair.
He glances at me, giving me a tired smile as he leans into me, head resting against my stomach. “Really good, Scar. Thank you for everything. I don’t think I would be back on the ice this soon if it weren’t for you.”
My eyes well up with tears as I continue to stroke his hair. “It was all you, baby. It was all you.”