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“Hi, Mom,” I answered. “Is everything okay?”
“Oh, yes,” my mother answered, her voice thin but sweet. “I’m sorry to bother you at work, I just wanted to check in on you.”
“You’re free to call me anytime,” I said. “Did you just get back from the clinic?”
Mom sighed. “Yes, I did. I’ll be going back next week for another round of chemo.” She sounded exhausted. “When do you think you can pop by and give this old lady a visit?”
“How does tonight sound? I’ll bring you some chow mein from that Chinese restaurant you like so much.”
“Really? Oh, you’d be making my day! You’re sure you’re not too busy?”
In truth, I was always busy, but Mom needed me right now. She was in a fragile state, and I feared she was getting weaker by the day. It was the second time she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer. Things were rougher this time around.
“I’m never too busy to see you, I just don’t want to interfere with your rest.”
“All I do is rest. I’d much rather spend what little time I have left with you.”
“Please don’t talk like that. The doctor said you’re making steady progress.”
Mom made a sound like she didn’t believe me.
“I’ll text you when I’m off work,” I said.
“I’m looking forward to it. I love you.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
5
Sam
“Harder.”
“I’mtrying.”
“Is this really all you’ve got?” Liam asked. He wasn’t even breaking a sweat.
I grunted, throwing yet another punch toward the boxing pad he held up. “How was that?”
“Two out of ten.”
I lowered my fists, licking my lips in frustration. “Two out of ten? Seriously? I’m giving it my all here.”
I was thankful that we were the only ones in the gym. Grand Paradise Security had an entire floor reserved for its employees’ use. There were all sorts of impressive machines, the weights maxed out on every single one.
Liam and I had been at it for about two hours now, going over the basics of punching and kicking in an open matted area. While I was overheating and working up a sweat, Liam was unaffected. He hadn’t even changed into workout clothes, opting instead to shrug off his suit jacket and roll up his sleeves to just below his elbows.
His arms were distracting as hell.
If Adam was a tank, then Liam was a mountain. It was hard to throw a proper punch at him when I was so turned-on by his monumental size. Everything about him was rock hard and sculpted and…intense. His long black hair was pulled back into a ponytail, his frown an almost permanent feature. He rarely spoke unless it was to give instruction. He was a tough nut to crack.
And that made me all the more interested.
“You need to punchthroughthe target, not at it.” He repositioned himself, raising the boxing pad. “Again.”
I punched again, this time imagining a spot past the target. My fists hit the pad with a satisfying thud. “How was that?” I asked, feeling very accomplished.
I caught the tiniest trace of a smirk ghost across his lips. “Three out of ten.”
