After a few more silent reps, she speaks again, “Alright, Carter. Time to integrate the core. We’re going to move into some dead bugs. Lift from the mat slightly, I’ll grab the band out from under you.”
Leaning up slightly, using my good hand to support me, I feel Scarlett angle herself in, removing the band before placing it back into my hands.
“So, anyway, what’s a dead bug?”
“That’s just what I’m going to show you. Patience, Carter.” She smirks before moving into explaining the exercise. “Now, wrap your hands in the band again,” I do as she says, “Legs up in tabletop, hands reach toward the sky.” I get into position.
She adjusts my legs slightly. “Perfect, just like that. From here, we extend the opposite arm and leg away from each other slowly.” I look at her, confusion marring my expression. I genuinely have no idea what the fuck that means.
She sighs lightly before moving to help lead me into the exercise. “Extend your left leg,” She assists with the motion, “Then, we extend the right arm at the same time.” She lightly grasps my arm pulling it back, so it moves toward being over my head. My shoulder is killing me, but I just need to keep going.
“Perfect, just like that. Then they return at the same time.” I move my left leg back to tabletop and my arm back in line with my shoulder.
“Now swap sides. Extend the right leg and left arm.” I do as she says. I fucking hate this already. This kind of coordination is not my strong suit, and it’s even harder for me when I’m trying to concentrate on my shoulder.
“Amazing, Levi. Really, really good. Keep this one going here, nice and slow. And remember, belly button to spine.”
I keep going as she cues me. Every now and then she pipes in, to say things like “Keep breathing.” Of course I’m breathing. I feel a slight pinch in my shoulder, and I scrunch my eyes, trying to keep pushing forward. I will be back on the ice, come October.
I’m practically sweating when she finally lets up. Fuck that was harder than I thought it’d be.
“Alright, Carter, you ready for your last exercise of the day?”
I sigh, definitely ready for the day to be over. “Yeah, let’s just get it over with.”
“Come up and kneel on the mat.” I struggle as I attempt to get all the way into a kneeling position.
“Do you need a hand?” Scarlett asks, reaching a hand toward me.
I jolt away. Fuck that. I don’t want to lose any more of my independence.
She snatches her hand back, watching as I only just manage to get myself into position. If I was sweating before, that’s nothing compared to now.
She’s silent for a second before she speaks, “Wrap both your hands around that band again,” And I do, “From here we go into some alternating rows. Reach both hands out in front. Perfect. We bend through one elbow, stretching that band back but keep the other hand reaching straight out in front to keep the tension. Feel the back of your shoulder start to work.” Oh yeah, I feel it alright. I’m going to be in so much pain after this.
“Good. Alternate to the other side now.” Her soothing voice calming my inner turmoil. I hate her having this kind of… power over me. I don’t even know her. Why am I having this reaction toward her?
After what feels like eternity, her voice echoes into the room again. “All done for today, Levi. Your damage isn’t as bad as I expected, you should make a quick recovery. Only a couple months. That is a good thing. Just stick with it. Next session, I’ll have you on the machine.”
Great. That torture device.
She holds a towel out to me, and I take it. It feels like it just came out of a freezer, and I immediately wipe my face and neck, trying to remove any trace of sweat.
She gives me a small smile. “Same time on Wednesday?”
I give her a slight nod, not willing to speak with all these thoughts going through my head, then she turns to strut back to the counter, her hips moving in such a hypnotizing way, her ass looking so peachy in those grey leggings.
I tip my head back, scrunching my eyes closed. Fuck this is going to be such a long few months.
CHAPTER SIX
LEVI
Spotting Gigi's caller ID on my phone, I know I have no choice but to pick it up – she’s relentless. Whether she interrupted me when I was gaming, or while I was trying to study, she never really gives me a break. Even when we were growing up, but still, it’s one of my sister's quirks that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
Throughout our childhood, we only really had each other. Our mom left when Gigi was just a baby. I think our dad honestly became too much for her to deal with. I don’t believe that she would have left if she felt that she had any other choice. And when she left, I was the one that took the brunt of his outbursts.
Sighing, I press the answer button before placing it on speakerphone, leaning back on the couch to get comfortable.
