Third time had to be a charm.
But even after coming for the third and final time that night, I was still left feeling empty and wanting. Not necessarily two feelings I was unfamiliar with, but I’d sure as fuck never experienced this shit over a woman. Especially over a woman I couldn’t have.
Chapter 8
Changing Your Diet
Luke
“You’re late.”
I blinked and stared down at the five-foot-six woman standing in front of me with her hands firmly planted on her hips. A deep frown marring her face and eyes that… nah, I didn’t bother looking into her eyes. That shit would have me with half a boner throughout the remainder of this fucking workout.
She’d finally decided to take the dancing down to only twice a week. That morning we started my training in the gym.
I peered up at the clock overhead. “It’s seven-oh-three.” Our session started at seven in the morning.
“Which means, you’re three minutes late. Which means, you owe me an additional thirty minute session this afternoon.”
“How in the fuck does three minutes turn into thirty? And since when are we doing afternoon training?”
“Since today’s your first consult with the new nutritionist.”
I frowned but didn’t say anything.
She spun on those heels, reminding me of her moving across the hardwood at the dance studio.
Pull it together, McConnell.
“Let’s go, today’s a conditioning session and this afternoon is where we start taking what you’ve learned in our dance training to the mat. I’ve got some fun stuff planned. Plus, the nutritionist I’ve hired for you will be coming in at nine.”
I squinted. “You’re usually out of here by nine.”
“Not today.”
I didn’t ask questions even though I wanted to. I found the best way not to get attached to someone is to mind my business, and not ask questions. Nothing good ever happened from asking questions.
“What is this douche-canoe gonna tell me that I don’t already know? I know how to eat,” I said, pulling my T-shirt over my head and tossing it onto the duffel bag I’d dropped in the corner of the room.
Syd’s gaze trailed over the many tats that covered my chest before she blinked and peered up at me. The movement was so quick, I started to question whether or not it really even happened, but this hadn’t been the first day I’d caught that same reaction whenever I pulled my shirt off to begin a training session.
“You eat too much processed food and way too much meat.”
“Muscles need protein to rebuild. Ask any two-bit trainer off the street. Hell, you could throw a rock on the corner of any block in SoCal and hit one. They’d tell you how essential protein is.”
Syd rolled her eyes as she folded her arms. “Yeah, and I’d tell them to shove their advice up their ass. Trainers aren’t the same as nutritionists. Which is why I’ve hired one specifically for you. I’m your head trainer,” she responded, pressing her palm against her chest. “Rick will be your nutritionist. He’s got a Master’s in nutrition and dietetics, as well as a number of other continuing education credentials. He’s big on holistic and alternative medicine and treatments as well. You’ll like him.”
“Don’t hold your breath on that score.”
A faint smile crossed her lips. “I won’t. All right let’s go. Warm up time,” she called, clapping her hands signaling it was go time.
I endured a few rounds of jump roping, shadow boxing in the ring, and burpee drills to get my body warmed up before heading over to the weights section of the gym. Syd’s workout consisted of rounds of heavy ropes, squats, deadlifts, upper back conditioning, and core strengthening exercises. All of that was before we got down to grappling drills. Finally, we finished off with about twenty minutes of mobility work.
I felt good when all was said and done. While toweling off, I watched as Syd pulled out her phone, her thumbs typing furiously. The look on her face was serious as her brow wrinkled in concentration and she bit her bottom lip.
“What’re you typing?” I asked in spite of my earlier protestations about not asking questions.
“Notes from your workout. We need to work more on your flexibility and mobility. We’re definitely going to need to up your afternoon sessions to strictly focusing on grappling. We’ll probably have to go longer in the mornings and add on an extra thirty minutes in your evening workouts. You have almost twenty-four weeks until your fight with Rodriguez.”
