Page 20 of Shattered Rhythm

Liv

It’s Thursday, and I’m at Tanner Fitness after class. I didn’t come in yesterday because we were going over choreography in class and then I met up with my partners afterwards to practice some more. I think we have it down now to present it to the class next Monday, but I still went through the choreography multiple times today to make sure I don’t forget anything.

It’s been a while since I last made an appearance in the weight section, and I don’t want Jaxon to get an ulcer, so I head to my locker to change my shoes and freshen up a bit. As I walk into the weightlifting room, I see River helping some elderly women with an ergometer. They all look at him fondly, and I hear one of them call hima nice young gentleman. I chuckle as I sit down on the leg press machine and start my reps.

“You should see their faces when they come in the next day and see little ole tattooed and pierced me,” Ryder says, and I nearly jump out of my skin when he appears next to me out of nowhere.

“God, you scared me,” I say on an exhale.

“Sorry.” He smiles, crouching down to my level and reaching for a lock of hair that fell out of my ponytail and into my face. He tucks it behind my ear, and my heart skips a beat.

“It looks like they love him,” I say, trying to get back on topic.

“Oh, for sure. River has always been and always will be the perfect son-in-law material,” Ryder says.

“And what are you then?” I ask. He leans forward into my space and looks into my eyes.

“Oh, I’m the black sheep, the one your daddy warned you about,” he whispers, and my eyes go wide. He chuckles and stands up straight again. “Don’t worry, Liv, I don’t bite. I’m more the type who licks,” he says with a wink before walking away.

* * *

I try to get through the workout routine Jaxon made for me, I do, but I can’t concentrate. My head is spinning with thoughts about Ryder and River in the bedroom. Are they as different in bed as their personalities are? Is River the sweet loving type and Ryder the rough one? Do they share women between them? I am so fucking horny, and I really need to get home and treat myself to some self-care.

Before I can leave the weight section, Kevin intercepts me.

“Hey, pretty girl, are you going to tell me your name already? Or do I have to guess?” he asks me.

“I’m Liv,” I reply, trying to get around him.

“What a pretty name for a pretty girl,” he comments.

I thank him and continue walking out.Well, that got rid of my horniness problem quickly.

I hear Chris laughing when I make my way to the locker room. Without even looking her way, I flip her off in frustration. Since I’m too sweaty to go out into public, I decide to take a quick shower.

As I walk by the reception desk in fresh clothes, I find Jaxon is talking to Chris. He sees me walking by and scowls at me.

“What?” I ask, frowning.

“Come here, Liv,” he says. I hesitate and look at Chris, who’s trying to hide a smile.

“Why?” I ask, and Jaxon steps around the desk.

“I said come here.”

Because I have no fucking self-control, I step in front of him. He wraps my still wet ponytail around his fist and tugs lightly, so I look up into his eyes.

“Did you stick to the routine we made?” he asks.

I gulp. “Yes?” His eyes narrow a bit. “I tried to,” I say hesitantly.

He tugs at my ponytail again before he lets go of it. “No, you just did part of it and halfheartedly. Next time you work out, come get me and we’ll do it together.”

That’s…so not what I expected.

“That’s a kind offer, thank you, but it’s not a problem. I know you have a lot to do. I’ll just try to do better.”

“Liv,” he says, his voice low, “do as I say…please.” He says the last word on a breath, and that gets me.

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