Page 14 of Ryder: Shadows and Desires
Ryder sniffs and gives a curt nod, his upper lip protruding from his mouthguard. I grab the muscled arm, used to touching him by now, and move it around. The man reeks of sweat, and some part of my monkey brain nearly allows myself to enjoy it; Ryder’s smell is different from the rest of the gym.
His detached gaze glowers at the wall ahead. When I extend his arm to the side, he grimaces.
“Yeah, your ligaments are just angry. Focus on muscle support here and here,” I instruct, pointing to spots on his body where it all connects. “And that should help support your shoulder. The tear I saw in the MRIs didn’t look too severe, but for someone like you, you’ll notice it with how much you use your shoulder. We’ll work in a lot of gentle movements, too. Keep it flexible.”
He nods and doesn’t look at me, his face completely hardened. I have to admit, it’s pretty gnarly… He’s going to be one hell of a contender in this competition, and as I take him in, I see him through Jeremy’s eyes—an MMA paragon is on our team.
I back away, speaking a little louder when the guys cheer for something, Andrew glancing over at them. “We’ll also focus on more treatments for your shoulder over the next few weeks. Maybe some tens units or dry needling.”
Another grunt of approval, along with sharply slicing his gaze in my direction. An all consuming warmth ensnares me, raising the hairs on the back of my neck. Something about that panting, concentrated face unravels me, his powerful chest rising and falling.Don’t let him see, Stevens.
Holy shit, I actually feelflutteryin my stomach, completely caught off guard.
Why out of all the men here, does my body only react tothisone?
* * *
THE FOLLOWING MORNING, I’m cleaning some of the equipment with our signature orange microfiber towels. Jeremy was so excited when the first shipment came in, given that they match his logo. Or, I guess, it’smylogo now. It’s still hard to process that the gym completely belongs to me, and I could paint the place pink if I so desired.
I try to imagine Andrew’s face if I adopted fuchsia as our new theme, but the smile doesn’t reach my eyes. Any thought of change scares me, even as a joke, because it means Jeremy isn’t here to weigh in his opinion. I don’t even know how to process owning a gym without him.
I suppose with Ryder being here, I have to face this reality one way or another.
The hour is early as I contemplate my life, the sun having just breached the horizon and only a few of the guys are here. The door to the back is open because Andrew believes in getting as much fresh air into the lungs as possible before training.
I move to shut it, my light black cotton jacket not enough to combat the chilly morning air.
“How’s it going?” someone asks.
It sounds like Ryder.
I glance outside, trying to follow the sound.Is he talking to me?
When I spot him sitting on a tire with his back to the open door, it’s clear he’s on the phone.
Oh shit—this is probably a private call. I hesitate to step away when I hear, “Don’t put the kids—Hey lil’ Mollie. How’s your mom? Yeah, I’m good, just training. Punching things as usual... yeah, you still owe me an arm-wrestling match. You won last time, but I think your dad rigged it... ‘rigged it’ means, never mind... I’ll be in town in a week, but just for a few days. I’ll take you out for a day with Uncle Joey. How does that sound?”
He chuckles. “I don’t think your mom would like it if I took you dirt biking. You’re only six, kid... Yeah, I’ll ask her real nice, alright?... the boys said that? Well, boys are dumb, Mollie. I should know; I am one. You can totally kick their butt at dirt biking. In fact, now I mightreallyask your mom, all nice and everything, just so we can show them up. She used to like the one we had as kids... oh hey, Connor... yeah, yeah, I know I’m terrible at giving kids advice.
“I’m just a fucking uncle, man. I don’t know shit about kids. Are the boys really treating Mollie like that? Little shits. Need to teach her to kick their ass. Never too early to start... Look, all I am saying is any woman can learn a mean left hook and how to take a guy by surprise... well, obviously, dude. We wouldn’t teach Mollie a mean left hook until she’s older. Don’t need the kid punching me this early. If she got any of my genes with fighting, those little fists could be weapons.”
I’m so shocked to hear him speak like that—with so much joy and care—that my feet are cemented in place.
Someone enters the front of the gym, pulling me from my thoughts; it’s just Andrew, unzipping his fall coat and shouldering a canvas bag as he heads to his office. My heart races, and I quickly glance back outside, the morning rays beaming through the open door. I squint, my face blanching when I see that Ryder stands squarely to face me.
I’m ready for a lot of reactions, but I don’t expect him todrillhis eyes into me as the phone is to his ear… perhaps there’s even a trace of disappointment.
“Yeah, Connor, probably... Gym is good. Got some questionable people regarding privacy, but what can you do?” he grinds out, not blinking as we maintain eye contact. “Other than realize some people just have no sense of personal space? Yeah, go ahead, I’ll talk to you guys later.”
He hangs up, sliding the phone into his pocket, those pale blue eyes as frigid as the air.
“Look, I didn’t mean—”
“It’s too late. You’re standing there like you’re listening in.”
“Seriously, it was anaccident.”
Receiving one of his searing glares is terrifying, even when I know he won’t hurt me.
