He gets into position on the carriage, kneeling and facing toward the foot bar, hands in the straps.
“Elbows bent at a ninety-degree angle, palms facing up, arms tight into your side” I direct, to which he follows.
“Inhale to prepare. Exhale as you extend your arms out toward the mirror. Good. And slow on the release.” My hands are soft against his triceps as he releases, stopping in line with his sides.
“Good, Levi. Next one.” He works through his next few reps when I see it’s not heavy enough, so I add on an extra spring.
Levi narrows his eyes at me before pulling on the straps, gritting his teeth as he extends his arm. “You’ve got this, baby.”
He grunts on his next rep, and I check in. “How is your shoulder holding up?”
“Good.” He nods, going into another offering.
“Okay. A few more then we move into our hug-a-tree.”
Once he finishes, I cue him into the next exercise.
“Arms out wide, soft bend through your elbows.”
I lean in to adjust him slightly before directing him. “Inhale to prepare, exhale as you sweep your arms in until your fingertips are almost touching, and then slow on the release.
He’s tense as he moves into the exercise, and I brush my fingers across his shoulder blades, making him soften.
“Good, Levi. More. Push yourself.”
Levi continues, his skin coated in a light sheen of sweat by the time I let up.
“Last one. Let’s go into our salute. So, bring your hands out toward the mirror, angling slightly upwards. Holding your hands apart, but almost in a triangle shape.” I adjust him before continuing, “Inhale. And exhale, press your hands toward the mirror.”
Levi extends his arms toward the mirror, muscles flexing as he does.
I step back to admire him as he continues, and I keep him for a while for his shoulder to be nice and loose, ready for his game.
“Last one.” I state as he finishes off his final rep before collapsing, his chest heaving from exertion.
“How do you feel, baby?” I ask, running a hand through his damp hair.
He glances at me, giving me a tired smile as he leans into me, head resting against my stomach. “Really good, Scar. Thank you for everything. I don’t think I would be back on the ice this soon if it weren’t for you.”
My eyes well up with tears as I continue to stroke his hair. “It was all you, baby. It was all you.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
LEVI
Isigh, breathing in the cold arena air. It’s loud in here. Louder than I remember, but God, it feels so good to be back at last. Every nerve is alive, every muscle itching to move.
I skate slowly around the ice, eyes darting around, looking for Scarlett in the stands. Ineedher here.
I spot her as she makes her way down the stairs with Gigi and I skid to a stop in my skates, a small grin making its way onto my face. My eyes narrow as I spot her in a jersey. It better bemyjersey.
Once they get to their seats, I tap on the glass gaining their attention. Pointing my stick at Scarlett, I signal for her to turn around.
She smirks at me, standing and turning around, flipping her hair to reveal Carter sprawled across her back. Possessiveness flares through me at the sight. I wink at her before skating back to my team, trying to focus on warming up.
We’re playing Toronto tonight - the team we lost to in the playoffs, and we’ve got something to prove.
Lining up in our positions, and the puck drops.
