Getting hurt in the first game of the season wasn’t on this year’s bingo card. Knowing I’d likely sit out the rest of the season really took a toll on me. I’d been so angry lately that everyone was walking on eggshells around me, and I hated that. I spent most of my days cooped up in my bedroom, barely eating or sleeping. If I didn’t make a full recovery, I risked losing my contract. The possibility of losing my career was the main reason I invested so much in having Blessing as my physical therapist – she has healing hands.
“Hey, babe.” I heard Mariah say, interrupting my thoughts. She was standing at the gym’s door with her eyes fixed on Blessing. I gave her a small head nod, then turned my attention back to Blessing. She was packing up her equipment, preparing to leave.
“For future appointments, please refrain from wearing tight scrubs like that. You’re being paid a lot of money, so use that to invest in better scrubs. Maybe try going up a size or two.” Mariah said, still staring at Blessing. Blessing’s face scrunched up as she rolled her eyes.
“Enjoy the rest of your day, Saint. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She said, walking out of the gym with her equipment in tow. Once I heard the front door slam shut, I looked at Mariah with a scowl on my face.
“What the fuck is wrong with you? Nothing was wrong with what she had on. Don’t come in here starting shit with her. She’s the best shot I have at making a full recovery.”
“Oh, please, Saint. You could’ve hired a man. You know what the fuck you’re doing.”
“Mariah, please don’t push my buttons. Go home and come back when you’ve got a better attitude. And you will apologize to Blessing tomorrow.” I said, giving her a stern look. Without waiting for a response, I stood up, getting comfortable onmy crutches, and headed to the guest bedroom. The master bedroom was upstairs, but staying down here was easier.
Mariah entered the room and flopped down on the bed with a sigh. “I’m sorry, Moo. I just don’t want anybody trying to come between us. We’ve been going through a rough patch even before you got injured.”
“Have I given you a reason not to trust me, Mariah?” I asked.
“No, but I could see the way she was looking at you. I don’t trust her around you!” She shouted.
I sighed, taking a seat next to her. “She wasn’t doing anything but coming here to do her job. I doubt she’s even attracted to me. She’s one of the best physical therapists in sports medicine. When Rome got injured last season, she was the one who helped him get back on the field so quickly. So please, don’t ruin this for me. Just apologize tomorrow.”
Mariah was right, we were in a really tough place even before I got injured. We haven’t gotten along in so long, but we’ve been together for the past year. I didn’t invest all this time into a relationship just to give up when things got rough. While most women see dollar signs when they look at me, Mariah has her own bag. Her beauty bar is one of the most popular spots in Oasis Cove. She had some flighty tendencies, but it was nothing we couldn’t move past.
“I’m about to get started on lunch. Anything specific you want?” Mariah asked.
I tried not to laugh. Mariah knew damn well she couldn’t cook. She could barely boil a pot of water. “It’s fine, Ri, my mom cooked before she left. How about we order some snacks fromTargetand watch some movies?” I responded.
“I actually needed to go get a few things so I can go to the store myself. Text me what you want.” She climbed out of the bed and gave me a quick kiss on the lips before leaving the room.
Once she left, I made my way to the living room and propped my crutches up against the arm of the couch before slowly lying down. My body immediately relaxed against the soft surface. Shit felt like I was floating on clouds. Once I got comfortable, I pulled out my phone and opened Instagram.
“Shit,” I muttered, sinking my teeth into my lower lip. Blessing’s post appeared on my timeline—a mirror selfie of her wearing a long-sleeved black crop top and matching biker shorts. Her hair was in a ponytail, turned to the side to highlight her full, round ass. Her left thigh was covered in tattoos. I couldn’t resist double-tapping the photo. When I clicked her profile picture, her story started playing; she had posted a selfie from the front seat of her car. Her smooth brown skin looked natural, with no makeup, and her full lips shone with lip gloss. I tapped the heart icon to like it. I prayed I could get through these next few months without crossing a line with her.
A FEW DAYS LATER…
“Thank God it’s Friday,”I mumbled, stepping out of my car. The past few days seemed to drag on. Working with Saint wasn’t the issue; it was his overly attentive girlfriend. I’ve been working with him every day this week, and she’s been there each time, hovering over us during our sessions. It’s becoming uncomfortable. She kept commenting on my scrubs, even after I followed her advice and ordered a larger size. The size of my scrubs didn’t matter; my figure would always be visible. She also kept trying to micromanage me, telling me how I should do my job. I was tired of it and planned to talk to Saint after our session today.
“Good morning, Ms. Jackie!” I greeted Saint’s mother as I walked into the house.
“Good morning, pretty lady.” She responded, handing me my stainless-steel tumbler filled with my favorite coffee and a breakfast sandwich. I’d accidentally left my tumbler here on the first day, and ever since, she’d been filling it with coffee and saving me a plate of breakfast. I thanked her and took a seat at the island to eat. We spent the next few minutes chatting while we waited for Saint to get ready.
I was so engrossed in the conversation with Ms. Jackie that I didn’t notice Mariah and Saint enter the kitchen. “Have a good day, Saint. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Mariah said, before she placed a quick kiss on his lips and turned to leave. She didn’t bother to speak to Ms. Jackie or me.
“She has no manners, Moo. I know her parents raised her better than that.” Ms. Jackie said with a scoff.
Saint shook his head, taking a seat next to me at the island. The woodsy smell of his cologne immediately filled my nostrils. I fought back a moan. He smelled so fucking good, “Ma, I’ll have a conversation with her, I promise. She’s just cranky today. You ready to get started, Blessing?” He asked, turning towards me. His mom set his protein shake down in front of him before leaving the kitchen. I nodded and stood from my seat to throw my trash away, then headed into the gym.
“So, how do you feel after this first week of sessions? How are your pain levels?” I asked as we entered the gym. He was only a couple of weeks post-injury, and he was already moving better than most athletes with this injury.
“I’m not in as much pain as I was right after I got injured. I can bend my knee higher, and I’m standing for longer periods of time. You really do have healing hands.” He said as he slid down on a mat. We always start our sessions with quad flexes, heel slides, and leg raises.
“My parents didn’t name me Blessing for no reason.” I winked. “I’m really proud of you. Your mom told me that yourattitude has changed a lot. I’m glad you’re feeling better. Next week, we’re going to work on assisted leg holds with both knees. If you’re good with those, we’ll move on to single-leg holds. Sounds good?”
“Perfect.” He flashed me a smile. This man is so fine, and he knows it.
We spent the next few hours going through different exercises. By the end of our session, I was tired as hell, and I could tell he was too. Things went smoothly without the wicked witch of the west hovering over us.
“Great job today, Moo,” I stated, starting to gather my equipment, “I have a few things to run by you before I go.”