Page 30 of Fighting the Darkness

“I guess it’ll be your job to fatten me up.”

“Damn straight.” With one last grin, Cook carries me up to my room and into the bathroom where Mom has the bath ready for me. I toss out a thank you to Cook before allowing my mom to help me undress and step into the tub.

“Thanks, Mom,” I tell her as she turns to go.

She gives me a small smile. “You’re welcome, baby. You’ll let me know if you need anything?”

“I’ll text.” I hold up my phone so she can see I have it.

She nods. “Make sure you stay in here for twenty to thirty minutes to give it time to work.”

I agree as I sink further into the water. The heat feels amazing on my sore muscles, already soothing the aches and pains. I still can’t believe how much it hurts, but I’ll take the physical pain over emotional pain any day of the week.

Settling my head against the pillow, I sigh and do my best to relax when my stomach lets out a loud growl. I snicker, dropping my hand to my stomach. I haven’t felt hungry much lately, so it’s nice to know that my body can still let me know when we need food.

I’m trying to figure out what to have Cook make for me when I get an idea. Picking up my phone, I pull up my messages.

ME: I went to No Holds Barred today, and feel like dying. I’m in the tub soaking now, but how does dinner sound?

VICKI:I can get behind it. What time and where?

We make plans, and I allow myself to fully relax. Not only am I looking forward to seeing Vicki again, but I feel like I’m finally taking back my life.

“Thank you, Freyr,” I whisper to the room, a ghost of a smile on my lips.

An hour and a half later, I’m walking into some restaurant I’ve never heard of. I stop at the hostess stand, eyes scanning to see if I can find Vicki when her voice screeches through the air. “Hey, bitch! Over here!”

Laughing at the appalled look on the hostess’s face, I just point to Vicki before heading toward her. “I’m not sure the back of the restaurant heard you,” I joke.

She just laughs. “Oh, they definitely did. I’ve always been told I have a strong set of lungs.”

The two of us dissolve into giggles and something relaxes in my chest. It’s just so easy to be around her. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who I just instantly clicked with, immediately feeling this comfortable. I wonder if it’s because Freyr loved her. Does some part of me recognize her as his?

Once we’ve settled down, the server comes out to take our drink orders, and I haven’t even looked at the menu. I order a water for now, letting him know if I want anything else I’ll order it with dinner.

“So you went to No Holds Barred? How’d that go?”

I shrug. “Better than it could’ve. Soren and Griffin agreed to train me.”

“Both of them?” Vicki’s eyes are wide.

“Ummm... yeah? Why?”

She shakes her head. “Griffin doesn’t take on new clients anymore. He likes to focus on the gym overall, except for the fighters he’s been training for years. And Soren? He only works with the best of the best.”

“Well, I’m definitely not the best of the best. In fact, he kicked my ass today with the little workout he put me through. I’m fairly certain I’ll be cursing his name every day for as long as we’re working together.”

“I believe that. I’ve heard he’s a bit of a hardass.”

“I’d believe it. He was a dick to me at first. No, that’s not right. He was a bigger dick to me at first, but he kept being a dick.”

Vicki laughs. “That sounds like Soren.”

“At least he’s nice to look at. Both of them are, which is weird. I’m not usually attracted to older guys.”

Vicki’s eyes go wide as she leans in. “I’m not sure they swing that way, but don’t quote me on it. I just know I walked in on Griffin railing Soren from behind in the locker room after a fight one night. It was kind of hot, but I didn’t want to be a voyeur, so I didn’t stick around.”

A strange sense of disappointment settles in my stomach, confusing me. It’s not like I planned on sleeping with my trainers anyway. So what if they’re gay? That doesn’t make them any less attractive, and honestly? Good for them. I didn’t pick up on anything between them earlier today, but I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for it in the future.

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