I glare at him as I inhale deeply, grounding myself.
I stand behind him, slightly off to the right, looking into his eyes through the mirror.
“Good. Now, we are starting with just single arm work to isolate your injured shoulder. Grab onto that little loop in front with your right hand, like I showed you before.” He hinges forward slightly through his hips to grab onto the strap before straightening back up into a high kneeling position.
“Staying nice and relaxed through your neck, keep those shoulders down, away from your ears, looking straight out to the mirror,” he adjusts accordingly. “Perfect, now, starting with your hand straight down beside your hips. Good. Inhale to prepare,” he breathes in, “And as you exhale sweep your arm behind you nice and slow. Focusing on engaging your upper back and shoulder.” He breathes out through his mouth as he sweeps his arm behind his torso. I move my hand to lightly guide him through the movement, my eyes following his arm. As our skin connects, I notice his breath hitch and his muscles tense slightly; my heart also skips a beat. I snatch my hand away as though it’s been set on fire.
“Good control. Remember, stay nice and slow. Switch on that core, use those abs of yours for something worthwhile.” He huffs out a surprised laugh.
Levi glances back, eyebrow arched and a hint of a smirk pulling at his mouth, “You trying to say my abs aren’t already worthwhile?”
“They seem to just be for show at this point, Carter.” I deadpan.
“I can’t wait to prove you wrong,” He remarks as he turns back to face the mirror, releasing from his current rep.
I step back slightly, “Beautiful, another rep now.”
As he moves into his next rep, he yanks at the strap, the carriage jerking. He snaps forward through his hips, immediately toppling straight into the back part of the well.
“Levi,” I sigh, “slow and controlled. What did I tell you?”
“I couldn’t have predicted that to happen, now, could I?” He shoots back, “Now, are you going to help me up, or what?”
“For fuck’s sake,” I mutter, rolling my eyes, as I reach in to help him up, “you didn’t bang your shoulder, did you?”
“No!” He barks, stomping over to put on his shoes and grab his gear.
“Levi, we’re not do–“
He cuts me off, “Yes, we are. I’ll see you in a couple of days, Quinn.”
I stare at him, my eyes following as he strides out of the room. His posture is defeated, and my heart sinks a little at the sight.
Shaking it off, I begin to clean the studio for closing.
I can already tell this is going to be a fun couple of months.
CHAPTER EIGHT
LEVI
I’m sitting on a bar stool in the middle of Last Call, a rustic bar down the street from my apartment, nursing a beer. I look around – dim lighting, the soft light pooling over the polished wood, half empty glasses scattered around leaving a musk of stale beer in the air. Conversations and laughter hum, sort of in the background. I mean, it must be in the background, after all, because these douchebags I call friends just won’t shut the hell up.
It’s the whole first line out tonight – my defensive partner, Cole Taylor; our goalie, Bennett Steele; and our forwards, Hudson Moore, Evan Calloway and Reid Ashford. It’s Ash’s rare night out with us, his baby girl at home with the nanny for tonight. I’d normally love to spend the night at a bar with them, but I’ve been in a sour mood ever since the reformer-gate incident with Scarlett yesterday. I’m just. So. Tired. Add in theboys giving me shit, it’s been a rough couple fucking days, I’ll tell you that much.
I take another drink of my beer. As I put my glass back down, Steele catches my eye, “How’d your first sessions go with your Pilates princess, big guy?” He teases.
I roll my eyes, “Dude, fuck off. I really don’t want to talk about any of that shit.” I snap back.
Steele holds up his hands, “Woah, just kidding man, but seriously, how did you go? How’d you get on?”
“Awful. It’s a waste of time. I don’t understand why Coach is so hellbent on this.”
This time, Ash pipes in, “Come on, man. Just give it a shot. Coach knows what he’s doing.”
“Absolutely not. I refuse. It’s a waste of time. I’m done talking about this.” I look away, waving my hand for the server to get me another beer.
“Yo, dude,” Steele nudges my shoulder. “Isn’t that your Pilates princess over there?”
