“Okay, come on then. You can help me cook as we discuss our game plan. Since, you know… I’m not all that good.” A subtle smile pulls at his lips, and I take that as a small win.
Digging through the pantry – and the mountains of food – I manage to find the pasta tucked right in the back. Pulling it out, along with a few spices, I place them on the bench before finding a pot, filling it with water, and placing it on the stove to boil. I then hand the chicken to Levi for him to prepare it.
Once the food’s on, I turn to Levi to find him already studying me.
I smack my hands down onto the counter to really get his attention before saying, “So, do you have any preference? Would you rather train in the morning to get it out of the way? Or would you prefer to train in the evening?”
Keeping his mouth pinched together, he just shrugs.
Ah, so this is how it’s going to be. I see.
Obviously, he’s not going to speak, so I decide to keep going until he gives me something. “What kind of things did you want to get up to while we’re here?” Another shrug. I roll my eyes as I continue, “The boat? The spa? Watching TV? Dude, give me something to work with.” Like, really, what crawled up his ass and died in the last forty-five minutes since I’ve seen him.
I turn around to start prepping the vegetables when I hear him say, “Late morning class.”
I whip back around. Thank God, something to work with.
“Okay, great. Let’s say every day at eleven?” I ask. Expecting no response from him at this point, I continue, “We’ll make a routine and get into a rhythm here. The more sessions we have, the better chances of you being good for the beginning of the season, yeah? Let me help get you there.”
I notice him resign slightly, before nodding.
“Okay, great.” I speak softly before I continue to prep some vegetables, handing some to Levi to help before we chuck them in a steamer to cook.
Once the food is all finished, I make a plate for Levi, sliding it across the counter to where he is still sitting before making my own plate and sitting a couple of stools down from him. And clinging onto the tiny shred of hope I have left at making this work, I decide not to push him further, and begin eating. We can work out the heavy details after he’s eaten his carbs. I really hope we can turn over a new leaf and make this work.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
LEVI
It’s late morning now; so, the light has shifted into a brighter glow, glittering off the water through the wide glass doors. The smell of freshly ground coffee beans lingers in the air, mingling with the faint sweetness of pine from the open windows.
There’s no excuse for being late to meet Scarlett now that we’re living in the same space. I start across the hall to the Pilates room with five minutes to spare, taking note that the door is slightly ajar with soft music drifting through the air.
Huh, I guess she beat me to it.
Pushing the door open a little further, there she is. In front of the open windows, barefoot on the reformer, she’s sporting a tight sports bra and a pair of shorts so tiny that they honestly shouldn’t even be considered as such. Her hair loose and fallingslightly in front of her face, a slight sheen of sweat coating her skin, almost encasing her in this glow.
Holy shit.
The sultry melody plays softly through the speakers – ‘Kiss It Better’ by Rihanna.
I halt in the doorway, staying unseen for the moment so I can really study her and watch how she moves: Slow. Controlled. Precise.
In a four-point kneeling position on the box, she has a single foot in the strap, sweeping her leg all the way back. Fuck, that ass is going to be the death of me. And… are those abs?
The straps pull taut, her body lengthening with each rep and controlled exhale. I hadn’t expected her to be here, let alone start without me. There’s some kind of… honesty in it, I guess. She’s unguarded – unusual for Scarlett. Not the professional calm she’s worn during our past sessions together, but something more instinctive. She’s in her own rhythm, her own world. She looks so natural here, like this really is what she’s meant to be doing.
Moving in slightly further, I lean against the door frame, crossing my arms and one leg over the other. Watching her is beginning to ground me, I’m less anxious than I was before. Seeing her like this makes me almost believe that this is going to work.
When she finally breaks out of her trance and notices me, her mouth pulls up in a slight smile, her chest heaving from the exertion.
“You’re late, Levi,” she says, her voice light, her eyebrows lifting slightly.
I glance toward the clock. “I’d say I’m right on time, little Quinn,” I remark, walking further into the room. “I just can’t wait to get started.”
At that, she lets out a light laugh, coming off the machine, tucking her hair behind her ears. The lake glimmers behind her, almost sparkling off her skin, making her glow.
Shit, what is happening to me? I can’t be attracted to the enemy.
