“It’s not fucking happening,” I told Syd as soon as the door shut behind Rick once he left. “And get the hell out of my chair,” I barked, feeling irritated.
Instead of rising, Syd uncrossed and then recrossed her legs in the opposite direction. My eyes were glued to the movement, appreciating the high-waisted, plum colored pants she wore. Why the hell she dressed as if she were going to a day at the office for our morning sessions was always on the tip of my tongue to ask, but again, my no questions rule stopped me. Honestly, it’d started off as a no questions rule, but had somehow worked its way down to ask as few questions as possible.
“Why are you so resistant to even considering changing your diet?”
“Because I’m a man who likes food. And I don’t trust this new age bullshit all these vegans are spouting.”
“It’s not new age. Did you even hear what Rick said?”
“I tried not to.”
She sucked her teeth and the muscles in my stomach clenched.
That fucking mouth.
“A plant-based diet isn’t new. According to Rick, research is showing Greek gladiators literally survived on this type of diet.”
I snorted. “You want me to believe gladiators survived eating rabbit food?” I shook my head in disgust.
“It’s not rabbit food. How about we watch that documentary Rick mentioned.”
“What documentary?”
“You know what, I’m going to ignore that question.” She stood, smoothing out the wrinkles in her pants, brushing herself off. “You and me have a date with that documentary tonight.” She waved her finger between the two of us as if I didn’t already know who she meant by you and me.
“The hell we do.”
“Yup, right after your evening workout. It’s on Netflix. So, here’s the plan, we’ll do your two-hour session here. Then I’ll stop by that popular vegan place across the street to pick up dinner and bring it over to your place so we can watch the documentary together.”
“Wait, what the hell?”
“Yeah, it’ll be perfect.” As soon as those words fell from her lips, her phone buzzed.
“Forget that plan, I’m not doing it.” I waited as she held up a finger to answer her phone.
“Tanisha? What’s up?”
I seriously waited there like a jackhole as she stood in my office, taking calls from who the fuck knows, silently wondering what the hell I’d gotten myself into by agreeing to let her train me.
“Yeah, I’m on my way now. We’ll work it out when I get in. All right, bye.”
“Syd, I’m not going vegan.”
“I gotta go, Luke. I’ll see you tonight. Be ready to practice those grappling skills.”
She skirted past me and I was left standing there, speechless again. My eyes had an uncanny way of—in spite of my pissed off mood and confusion as to how the hell I’d let this woman bum-rush me again—falling to her ass as she sashayed out of the gym, waving at a few of the instructors and students who’d entered for their morning workout sessions. I shook my head, wondering what the fuck I was going to do now.
Syd
“Damn,” I commented as I stepped out of my car with the bag of food in one hand and my handbag in the other. I knew Luke’s home would be pretty sizeable by the address and neighborhood he’d told me earlier. Which was like pulling teeth to get out of him.
Truth be told, the home was relatively smaller than the other homes in this neighborhood, looking as if it fell a little under four thousand square feet. But the modern style build with granite colored brick and dark wood siding, complete with a plethora of windows, gave the home an appeal the other homes on the block didn’t have. In the distance, the sound of the waves crashing was an even larger draw. I stood there for a moment sizing up his house, until I heard the front door open.
“Are you gonna’ stand there staring at shit or bring your ass inside? I’m hungry as hell after that workout you put me through,” he grumbled.
Shaking my head, I made my way up the brick lined walkway to his front door.
“The food better not be terrible either. Otherwise, I’m going out and getting a porterhouse.”
