“But if we go to that one place that has the fast-food gyros, they have that Mediterranean feta slaw,” Caleb was saying when he stopped dead in the lobby of the therapist’s office, almost tipping over. The pair of middle-aged people sitting there waiting made him stagger back against Hawk.
“Babe, are you okay?” Hawk caught him, holding him up, which was good because honest to God he could have dropped dead seeing his mom and dad sitting there in the uncomfortable doctor’s office chairs.
“What are you doing here?” He stared at them, unable to believe they were actually there.
His mom gave him a smug little smile and stood. “We’ve been waiting for you, of course.”
“How on earth did you know I had physio today, Mom?” There’s no way anyone in Lucas’s office had told her. Even if the folks there were willing to do a HIPAA violation, Lucas would never let somebody leak that. He worked with Olympic athletes.
“We went to your condo, and the nice lady in the office said we could call your coach.”
“Mom, I don’t have a coach anymore.” If his ex-coach had told his mom what was going on in his life, he was gonna kick the man’s ass, especially once his foot got healed up.
“Well, he certainly still seems to be worried about you. I told him we just wanted to help.”
He clamped down with his teeth, knowing that his jaw was ticking like a time bomb, but his parents could be incrediblypersuasive and charming. It just wasn’t true, not any of it.
“I don’t need you to help. I’m just fine. I’m sorry you came all this way, but I have to go to therapy.”
“We can wait, sweetie. We want to take you out to dinner.”
He looked at his dad, but his father wouldn’t even meet his eyes. There was not going to be any help there.
Hawk had stiffened up behind him, hands on his arms, supporting him still, and finally Hawk cleared his throat.
“Why don’t you go on in and meet with Lucas, baby, and I’ll talk to your folks about dinner, okay?”
He searched Hawk’s gaze to see what the best course of action would be, and all he got back was a steady stare and a nod. Hawk was going to go to bat for him because he knew how Caleb felt about his parents.
“Thanks, yeah. Let me do that. I don’t want to be late.” He rounded his shoulder to keep it away from his mom when she would have reached out to grab him and went to the receptionist, Angel, who gave him a bright smile and said, “Come on. I’ll take you right back.”
Thank God. That was very kind of her because he knew he probably could have sat and waited for another ten to twenty minutes, waiting on Lucas to finish up with whatever client he was in there with, but he could start warming up on the recumbent stair stepper using one leg to push the plate.
Lucas stood in the workout area, finishing up with what looked to be a football player maybe. The guy was enormous, and he had that bulk that spoke to a defensive back. Caleb didn’t recognize him, but then he wasn’t up on everybody who played football in the area, so it made sense.
Lucas raised an eyebrow at him. “Hey, man, why don’t you start warming up and let me finish up here with Tyrell, okay?”
“Sure, sorry.” He set his jaw and his mouth in a tight lineand set aside his crutches so he could get on the bike. He was getting better at just hopping around on one foot. It was kind of awesome how muscle memory started to take over and make things easier.
Watching Lucas manipulate Tyrell’s right arm and shoulder, Caleb had a moment where he could see himself doing something like this. Maybe not as in-depth as what Lucas did, but working with guys who needed basic physio during the recovery, like maybe a trainer or somebody. He could totally do that. He would look into it, see what Hawk thought.
Once Tyrell was off to the hot tub and out of earshot, Lucas came over to stand next to his machine. “You okay? You’re looking a little green around the gills.”
“My parents are out there. They got your information from coach and somehow found out I had an appointment today.”
Lucas’s eyebrows flew up. “Oh shit,” he said. “Do I need to go kick them out?”
“No, Hawk’s doing that I think. He’s out there slogging through it for me.”
Lucas’s face cleared, and he smiled. “Now that’s a good man. You should keep him.”
“I think I will.” He really did actually. He wasn’t sure how this was all going to play out, but he was serious, at least about trying to make something with Hawk. Hell, he’d been pining after the man for eight years.
“Well, let’s get to work, and then if they’re still out there when you’re ready to leave, I’ll call security.”
“Sounds good, man. I’m ready to be able to put some weight on my foot.”
“I bet, but it looks like you’re doing all right with the crutches. Is the knee scooter not working out so great?”