“Can I get you anything? A coffee? A tea?”
“No, thanks.” He mutters, his voice still sleepy. So hot.
“Okay, I’ll let you be then. Are you good for that stretch in a couple of hours?”
Another small nod.
We lapse back into a comfortable silence, looking out over the lake in front.
…
I have a couple of mats and bands set out on the deck when Levi comes strolling out, dressed in what seems to be his signature outfit of a white tee and black shorts, running his hands through his messy curls.
His eyes meet mine, and I gesture for him to come closer.
He stays silent as he walks toward me. He comes down to sit on the mat when I pat it, and we twist to face out toward the lake.
Sensing that he just wants to get this over and done with, I waste no time on starting. “Let’s start with our shoulder rolls, Carter. Sit up nice and tall. As we inhale, lift your shoulders up towards your ear. Then exhale, we roll them down and back.”
We’re nice and controlled, quiet as we slowly stretch out our necks and shoulders until I see Levi’s posture noticeably relax.
Keeping my voice soft to make sure Levi stays in a calm mindset, I speak, “Let’s move into a mermaid stretch.”
He nods, watching as I move myself into position, facing the side now, my legs tucked beside me on the mat, and out of the corner of my eye, I watch him mimic me.
“Left hand stays down on the mat. Inhale as you reach your right arm up towards the sky. Exhale as you lean toward the left, feel the stretch through your right shoulder and ribcage.”
We move in sync, stretching through our side though I keep an eye on Levi, watching for any winces or flinches that he might try to play off. We move through a few more stretches, our arm circles, chest expansion, and cat cow before we move into our final stretch.
“Good, Levi. Really nice.” I keep a soothing tone, “A few more, then we’ll finish off with child's pose.”
He’s still silent as we continue to move through the final reps before going into our final stretch.
Noticing that he won’t be greeting me with much of a response this morning, I keep cueing. “Moving into child’s pose now. Facing back toward the lake. We sit back on our heels, hands reaching out in front on the mat, bringing that chest nice and low to stretch through our shoulders. Hold out here for now.”
I hear a deep exhale as he stretches, his head drooping slightly, posture fully relaxing into the movement. I watch as he decompresses, knowing he needed this rest. This chance to breathe.
My voice is barely above a whisper as I coach him out of the movement, watching as he sits back up, his posture still slightly hunched. He looks exhausted, so I decide that today's not the time to push him.
“Go ice your shoulder.” I nod to the house, watching as he slowly climbs to his feet making his way inside. I sigh as I watchhim, wishing there was a way to coach him to help him heal faster, though, I know we have to just wait it out.
Patience is key.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
SCARLETT
Isit out on the railing of the wooden deck, a beer in hand watching a shirtless Levi Carter manning the grill.
How did I get here? Though, I’m certainly not complaining.
The tongs look awkward in his hand, his dominant arm strapped to limit his movement and strain. With Levi being… Well, Levi. All precautions are necessary.
The coals hiss as he flips a piece of chicken, a stubborn piece of chicken at that, and I feel my face scrunch up.
“It looks like it's sticking,” I point out from my perch on the rail.
“It’s fine.” His words coming out clipped, jaw clenched tight, eyes narrowed on the piece of chicken.
