Chapter 23
KYRA
What I wouldn’t give to see the sunshine.
I swear this has been the gloomiest winter in Michigan history.
Slinging my gym bag over my shoulder, I head towards the house.
The moment I slide the door closed behind me and turn around, I run into a solid chest. A rock-hard, sculpted chest that smells of crisp apples and a hint of whiskey spice.
Fuck, how have I never paid attention to how delicious he smells? Slowly raising my gaze, I meet the blue eyes that have haunted my dreams. If I am not having nightmares from the kidnapping, I am dreaming of this chiseled god before me.
“Hey, Sunflower,” Cal smirks down at me. “You off with Nyx?” He points towards the bag slung over my shoulder. There isn’t much in it, but I take some hand wraps, my water bottle, and gym shoes with me. It’s the middle of winter, so I don’t dare wear my gym shoes to the gym through the slush.
“Ya, we are meeting Alyra for some self-defense classes.” Nyx is going, just for the workout.
As a police officer and Army vet, she doesn't need lessons, but it’s a good stress relief, and she doesn’t want to leave me by myself.
Also, the lack of a car forces me rely on everyone else to get me places.
“Well, tomorrow night…” his words fade off as he looks like he is too shy to say something.
“What about tomorrow night?” I try to meet his eyes, but he is looking everywhere but at me.
“Canitakeyouonadate?” All of the words blend together into one long word, and I am not sure I heard him right.
“I’m sorry, can you repeat that?” I giggle.
“Can I take you on a date?” Cal finally slows enough for me to understand them.
“Cal…you know how I feel?” I rest a hand on his chest, hoping to soften the blow.
“One date isn’t marriage, Sunflower. Let me take you out once. No requirements, you don’t have to claim me. We can just hang out.” He looks like someone kicked his puppy.
How am I supposed to say no to that face?
“One night, Cal. One.” I hold my pointer finger up between us.
“Deal.” Before I can even think about what I have agreed to, he places a quick kiss on my forehead and sprints for the stairs. Almost taking Nyx out on the way.
“Whoa, slow down, speed racer,” Nyx calls back to him, but he’s gone.
“I agreed to a date tomorrow, and now he’s off to do whatever it is he is doing.” Nyx gives me an evil smirk before she slides her feet into her boots and opens the door.
“Let’s go, babe!” She calls towards me.
“Oof.” The air is knocked out of me for the millionth time since we started grappling.
“You have to use your body weight, Ky,” Nyx calls over from her chair, while she sips on her water.
“Tell me something I don’t know, Nixie.” I laugh up at her from my back in the middle of the mat. My breaths come out raggedly as they slowly return.
I am going to be black and blue tomorrow, and if I’m not, I’m definitely going to be feeling it. Alyra is trying to teach me how to throw someone over my shoulder who comes up behind me. Let’s just say it’s not going well. My ungraceful self should be wrapped in bubble wrap, not taught to fight.
“Well, at least I know you can throw a punch.” Aly leans down over my face with a smirk.
“Oh, hush. I haven’t been wrestling since I was in middle school.” I climb to my feet at the speed of molasses.
“The perks of being a little sister with three brothers.” Alyra takes the moment of me climbing to my feet to fix the hot pink messy bun on top of her head. “Okay, let’s try again.”
Aly slaps me on the shoulders and heads to the side of the mat again. Rolling my eyes with a huff, I turn my back to her and ready myself to be slammed down again.
But this time, when she charges me, I managed to use her own momentum to fling her body up and over. Body slamming her for once.
“FUCK YES!” Nyx comes running from the side of the mat and swings me up in a massive hug.
“Jesus, Nyx. You’re going to break my ribs. Put me down.”
The minute my feet hit the mat again, Aly is there offering me a slap on the back. She is not much for affection, so this is pretty epic coming from her.
“It wasn’t perfect, but you did get me, I’ll give you that.” She is still rubbing at her lower back.
“Well, duh, it wasn’t perfect, it's the first one I have actually done.” I laugh at her.
“We will lay off the sparring for the night, go hit the treadmill.” She points over towards the line of treadmills that are facing the windows.
“Fine,” I grumble before grabbing my water bottle and walking over.
“Running intervals,” Aly calls out. “Forty-five seconds on, one minute off.”
I roll my eyes and bend forward to stretch out my hamstrings. Everything hurts, but I do my best to loosen up before starting my cardio. As if fighting Aly isn’t enough cardio.
“Come on, Sunshine.” Nyx climbs up on the machine next to me and starts a light jog.
Putting my earbuds in, I turn on my favorite workout playlist. It is all music that makes me feel like I am the main character in a fantasy novel. Setting the treadmill up for a quick warm-up.
Before I know it, Aly is stopping the treadmill, and I am definitely more on the sweaty side than glistening. Gross.
“Great job, Ky. You can be done for the night.” Aly swings her bag over her shoulder and heads out the door.
I am thankful for these lessons, but damn am I sore. We have been meeting three times a week, and it’s helping to take this extra weight off. I can’t believe how much better I feel and how great my clothes fit again. Maybe I can do this.