Page 15 of If Everything Was Easy

“She’s really under your skin. Just ask her out and get it over with,” he urged. “I won’t tell.”

“Eight more weeks.” I sighed as I finished putting my things away and went back out into the lobby.

“The longest of your life!” Mav called out from behind me. I flipped him off behind my back as I smiled over at Ava.

“Come on back,” I called. She stood and walked with confidence toward me. Her limp had disappeared over two weeks ago, and I was confident she’d be able to run soon. “How’s everything going?” I stepped out of her way as she went to sit on the table.

“Slow.” She seemed dejected today.

“Slow as in you’ve hit a plateau or slow as in you need more to do?” I motioned for her to lie back.

“Slow as in I want to start training, and I can’t.” She frowned.

“I’m working on that for you.” I laughed lightly as I reached for her ankle. “Tell me when it hurts too much.” She nodded, and I began bending her leg at the knee and pushing it towards her chest. “You’ve been stretching more.” I smiled.

“I started back doing my yoga classes. I’ve gotten a lot of the flexibility back.” She grinned with pride. I was able to tuck her foot all the way against her buttocks without her flinching.

“This is good.” I released her ankle. “Any other secrets you’re keeping?” I leaned back and crossed my arms over my chest. I watched her gaze dart for a split second to my bicep before she shook her head and looked away.

“I have a few tricks up my sleeve.” She giggled. “Can I show you?”

“Sure.” I gave her more room, and she hopped down off the table.

“I watched a few YouTube videos on comebacks from broken femurs and I’ve been trying to add the exercises into the list you gave me.” She held onto the table for balance, lifted her good leg up, and proceeded to squat using only the bad one. I watched as the quad flexed. I could tell from her facial expression that it was hard for her to do this, but she completed five of them before she stopped. “I’ve been doing three sets of five a day. I can do this, too.” She stepped around me and grabbed the chair in the corner. She pulled it away from the wall, and took a seat. I watched as she stood using only her bad leg. She held the good one out in front of her. “I can sit that way, too.” Her lips pulled into a giant smile as she used the one leg to lower herself.

“I’m beginning to wonder if you even need me anymore,” I teased. Her smile dropped for a moment as uncertainty filled her expression.

“What?” She seemed worried.

“I’m teasing. You have to come as long as the doctor thinks you do. You can’t go back to the team until you get clearance, and you can’t get clearance until the doctor thinks you’ve had enough PT.” I saw the fear disappear and the confidence come back.

“I’m playing again. This spring, I’m playing.” She nodded.

“After seeing this, I don’t doubt it.” I opened the door. “Come out here. I have some other things we can work on.” I led her over to our equipment area. We have quite a few things that we share and are kept out where we can all reach them. “Stand over here. Hold these.” I handed her two twenty-pound dumb bells. “Feet shoulder width apart. Hold them up by your shoulders, and slowly squat.” I demonstrated, and then watched to makesure she had good form. “You can use canned goods at home or any other object that adds some weight. Just don’t go too heavy,” I warned.

After she completed two sets, I showed her a few others that she could work on before our next session. The determination and spunk she had were like no one else I’d worked with. She accepted each challenge with a smile, and whenever things got hard for her, she refused to give up. “I can do this,” she’d growl as she attempted the activity again.

“Good job.” I congratulated her when our time was up. I walked with her over to the door.

“Thanks.” She smiled at me. My body warmed at the small gesture. “I couldn’t do this without you.” She flung her arms around me in a hug. I went stiff.Hairy bald guy,I chanted in my head as my body reacted to her touch.

“It’s nothing. I’m glad you’re doing well.” I choked the words out. “I’ll see you next week.” I attempted to extract myself from her grip without making things weird.

“Bye.” She smiled as she turned and practically bounced out the door.

I watched her until she drove away. “You need to just ask her out and get this over with.” Mav clapped me on the shoulder. “I don’t know why you’re torturing yourself like this.”

“It’s against the rules,” I reminded him.

“Since when are you a rule follower?” He snickered. I turned and glared at him. I was always the one doing the right thing. He was the one to stretch things. “Tell me this. What did it feel like when she hugged you?” When I didn’t answer, he continued, “That’s what I thought.” He walked away, and I just stood there staringout the window into the parking lot. My head was flooded with fantasies of Ava and her athletic body rubbing against mine. I wondered how flexible she’d be in bed. Would she be gentle and loving, or more dominant? Would she let me take charge? How responsive would she be? I shook the thoughts away.You can’t have her, idiot. I turned, dejected, and strode with purpose toward the bathroom. “Atta boy!” Mav shouted from the front desk. I’m sure he was talking about this with Andy.

“Fuck you!” I growled as I slammed the door. I needed to take care of this and fast before I came in my pants like a fifteen-year-old. Ava Slone would be the end of me if I wasn’t careful.

Chapter 11

Carter

I’ve started a new workout routine in hopes of pushing Ava out of my thoughts. So far all I’ve gotten is more muscle mass. I’ve been at the gym every morning before work, punishing myself when I think about her. Maverick hasn’t been any help, fucker. He’s been turning on World Cup when I get home and forcing me to watch the one thing that makes me think about her. One day I left to go for a run, and when I came back he’d recorded it and was watching it again.

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