Page 7 of The One Who Got Away
Josh crossed his arms over his chest. “How long were you sick?”
I swallowed hard. “How can you tell?”
“Looks like you lost some muscle and dropped weight fast.”
I looked around but we were relatively secluded. “That’s why I’m here. I need strength training.”
“I keep it one hundred. I just need to know what level of sick. Are you doing chemo or anything?”
“Oh, no. Nothing that bad. I got tangled in a swarm of jellyfish then tossed around in a riptide.” I lifted my joggers to show off the colorful scars along my calf.
He whistled. “Holy shit.”
“Yeah.” I straightened and nervously cracked my knuckles with my thumb. “Three weeks in the hospital and I dropped twenty pounds.”
He didn’t need to know just how close to death I’d been.
No one did.
Least of all my family. A few more months and I’d be able to smooth over any questions about my scars. Luckily, Sully was big on long pants for the worksite, so I could hide it a little longer.
Even if I was sweating my ass off this week.
“Okay, good to know. Any adverse effects from the stings?”
I shrugged. “I have to baby it a little, but it’s mostly healed up. I got lucky there was no lasting nerve damage.”
Nope, that had just been my lungs full of ocean water and a cracked head.
“Okay, so you’re just looking to put weight back on emphasis on the muscle?”
I nodded. “I’m healthy and used to doing a lot of heavy work, I just want to get back what I lost.”
“Got it. I can put you on a high protein diet. How much do you want to bulk up?”
“I’m not looking for bodybuilder weight.” I laughed. “Endurance mostly.”
“Can do. I’m about to kick your ass, Murdock.”
I grinned. “Bring it on.”
By the end of the hour, I was practically shaking.
I was flat on the mat staring up at the network of ducts and steel girders above. The medicine ball still on my chest because I was too tired to push it off.
“If you’re up for some yoga, that’s a good idea for strength training too.”
“Yoga?” I panted.
“Yeah. It’s surprisingly difficult. My sister is into it and dragged me to a few classes. Hardest workout I’ve ever done. Not exactly a bad view either, just don’t be a creep in the classes.”
I turned my head to look at Josh. “I’m no creep.”
He was crouched next to me. “I know. It’s hard not to notice, that’s all I’m saying.” He stood up and held out a hand to me. “C’mon. Gotta stretch before you lock up.”
I let him help me off the mat and I winced at the sweat I left behind. “Can’t say I didn’t work hard.”
Josh laughed. “It was a good start.”
