Page 101 of Waiting to Lose
MADI TIGHTENED THE laces on her tennis shoes as Kendra kicked into a punching bag. “Why in the hell are we here again, and why did you insist I wear these stupid little shorts while you get to wear sweats?” Kendra questioned.
“Animal” by Neon Trees blasted into the speakers of the private training room Madi reserved in the University gym. “I knew we’d be moving around and sweating, and I know how pissy you get when you’re overheated.” Madi stood and checked the time on her phone before stuffing it into her bag.
“I can’t believe you’re suddenly interested in exercise. Trying to tone your muscles or build them to handle lover boy better?”
“You’ll see,” Madi said, smiling.
Just as she said the words, Kendra’s eyes sprung to the door. Her hands went to her hips and she sighed. “We don’t need you here to watch us, voyeur.”
Madi turned and smiled as Rob strutted into the room, adjusting the tape on his wrists. “I’m not here to watch, Ms. Parker. I’m here to teach.”
Kendra glared at Madi. “Oh, fuck no. I’m not staying for this shit.” Kendra bent to pick up her bag and Madi saw Rob do a double take toward her ass before continuing to adjust his tape.
“That’s fine with me. I wasn’t told I was offering a class,” he replied.
“Ken, wait…” Madi reached for her and she paused, huffing in frustration.
“Rob is trained in mixed martial arts and this stuff called Jiu-J…” she glanced toward him.
“Jiu-Jitsu.”
“Yeah, that,” Madi said, turning back to face Kendra. “He said he could teach me how to take down a man three times my size. I thought it would be good to know. You know, in case Peter Markum ever tries anything again.”
Kendra’s eyes softened. “That’s not going to happen. You’ve got Jake and”—she pointed toward Rob—“itto protect you.”
“I don’t want to do this alone and I worry about you. It would make me feel better if I knew you knew how to protect yourself, too. So please, do this for me?”
Kendra sighed as she glared at Rob. “I would do it for you, but the karate kid over here already said he’s not interested in teaching me, so…”
Rob sighed as he maintained a firm, unwavering tone. “Ms. Parker, I would be more than happy to show you how to protect yourself.”
Kendra sighed. “Fine. Let’s get this over with. I have a date tonight.”
Madi watched as Rob closed his eyes briefly, turning to place his bag on the ground. He pulled on his pants and they snapped off, revealing firm, toned legs in shorts. He unzipped his jacket, revealing a Navy tank top over finely sculpted muscles. Madi’s eyes twisted to see if Kendra noticed.
Kendra let a small gasp leave her mouth before she coughed and cleared her throat, turning to get her water bottle.
“Are you alright, Ms. Parker?”
Kendra turned quickly. “Do you work for me? You’re not my butler and I have a first name. If you can’t form the word ‘Kendra,’ then feel free to call me ‘Your Highness.’ Just stop with the Ms. Parker shit, okay?”
“I’d be happy to refer to you by your given name when you refer to me by mine,” Rob stated.
Madi noticed a tattoo of a skull on his upper arm. “Can I see your tattoo?” she asked, pointing.
He glanced down at himself as if he’d forgotten he had them. “Sure,” he responded with a shrug.
Madi tugged on her arm. “Ken, come see this.”
Kendra rolled her eyes and made her way toward him. Rob stared at her as she approached before following Madi’s gaze to his shoulder. “Irresistible” by Fall Out Boy began to play overhead.
“I got the one near my shoulder first, six years ago,” he said, angling slightly.
As she got closer, she saw it was a skull with a sword going through it. Inscribed in a banner underneath, it read, “The only easy day was yesterday.”
“Is that it?” Kendra asked, unimpressed.
He huffed and turned, lifting his shirt from behind, revealing not only a finely sculpted back, but also a Navy trident on his right shoulder blade.
