Brett set his plate on the counter. “I’m not feeling hungry quite yet.”
Penny took one bite of the piece of pizza in her hand then set it back in the box and closed it. She washed her hands and dried them on the towel next to the sink. “Sure. Let’s go.”
Brett followed Penny down the driveway like he’d done three times a week since they set up her equipment. When she opened the door, he saw boxes at the back and half her props gone from the mats.
“You’re not seeing patients this week?” he asked.
“Only my favourite one.” She smiled at him, and the knot in his chest cinched. She led him through some stretches, then moved into single leg squats. Brett positioned himself beside the parallel bars for support. He flexed his right leg, feeling the muscles tighten and release. Two weeks ago he’d barely been able to do four of these, and now they felt like nothing.
“Good. Now, try some lateral step-ups,” Penny suggested, pointing to a low bench. Brett complied, stepping sideways onto the bench, his knee bending and stretching under his weight. This felt like hockey, and even the hint of being able to return to the ice lit a fire in him. It sat in stark contrast to the dark void that had kept him company since Penny announced she’d made all the money she needed for her parents’ anniversary.
As they moved to hamstring curls with resistance bands, Brett's muscles tired, and his motions became more mechanical. Penny corrected his form, and the reaction his body had to her touch felt like a betrayal.
“You’re quiet today.”
Brett grunted. “I’m focused.”
Penny gave him a look that said,I don’t buy it. “You’re always focused and we still talk.”
“Maybe I don’t feel like talking right now.” He hadn’t meant for it to come out snippy, but it did, and Penny’s smile faded.
“Did I do something to—”
“You didn’t do anything.” Brett pushed against the band, sweat beading on his neck and forehead. That was the problem, wasn’t it? She wasn’t doing anything to stop this. She’d made a decision before they got together, but didn’t their relationship change the variables?
“Okay.” Penny pursed her lips and let his comments go. She took him into calf raises and balance exercises on a wobble board next. After forty-five minutes, he was slick with sweat and breathing hard. Penny motioned for him to take a seat on the table. She took out some Icy Hot and slipped his ankle between her thighs so she could massage his calf and hamstring.
“You don’t need to do that.”
Penny looked up, hurt evident in her eyes. “It helps the muscles relax.”
“You don’t do it for everyone.”
“Becauseeveryoneisn’t . . .” She trailed off, dropping her eyes.
“Everyone isn’t what?” Brett wanted to hear her say it. To label their relationship and give him a damn clue as to where she saw this going.
“Isn’t you.”
Brett hissed air through his teeth. “That’s not good enough.”
“What isn’t?” Penny’s fingers dug into his muscle, and Brett winced. He muttered something and leaned back to prop himself up with his elbows on the table. Penny worked in silence a few moments, then said, “I think you should try getting back on the ice. Nothing crazy. Just a simple skate around the rink. We can add that to your weekly routine.”
We.There wasn’t going to be any “we” after this week. She’d given him a printout of the exercises she’d planned for the next two months, never explicitly stating that he’d be doing them on his own, but he understood.
“If you keep this up, I can’t promise you’ll be ready to practice in October, but it could happen.” She smoothed her forefinger and thumb through the soft tissue on either side of his kneecap.
“I won’t have you to push me.”
Penny scoffed. “You’ve never needed me to push you. And you’re recovering so well, I don’t think you’ll need anything from me to get there.”
The simmering heat in Brett’s chest boiled over. “That’s bullshit.”
Penny’s hands froze. “Excuse me?”
Brett swallowed hard. “That’s bullshit. That I don’t need anything from you.” His pulse ramped up making everything in his body tingle.
Penny stepped back, releasing his leg. “Brett—”
