Page 65 of The Marriage Rebound

I flicked at the card in my hand. “They done turned strippin’ into exercise.”

“Girl, you know how much cardio and core we do.”

“You right. I just never considered, but thanks. Imma talk to Courtney, but I’ll let you know.”

After we parted ways, I sat in my car for a little bit, taking in the luxury, the expense.

I ran my hands over the leather-wrapped steering wheel with a heating function. I had to have all the options. Another battle she let me win.

Brunch with Tanisha and Denise was what I needed, but for different reasons than what I had originally thought. Denise’s attitude irked me as of late, but it gave me a new understanding and appreciation of my wife. The whole shoe being on the other foot.

I grabbed my purse from the passenger seat and dug out my phone. I started to text Courtney to ask if she was home, but remembered she was popping by Tina’s place to check on it, then to the arena for the team workout Dijah had implemented for the off-season. I smiled to myself as a thought entered my mind.

Chapter 23

Courtney

I’m going to feel this in the morning,” Shannon groaned, placing her hands on her lower back and stretching.

“Who you telling,” I agreed.

When Doc said she’d put together a team workout during the off-season after learning we didn’t have anything official, I was looking forward to something structured. Not playing overseas like normal, and being injured, I was worried about getting too lax, but after today, I was convinced Doc had a hidden sadistic side she didn’t show during the regular season. And she’d recruited our strength and conditioning coach Marni over to the dark side.

“Are y’all still whining?” she said as she walked out of her office, grinning like she hadn’t just tried to kill us.

“Nah, Doc. Next time you and Shae fighting, don’t take it out on us,” Renee said.

“Hey, don’t put that on me,” Shae said. “Her mean ass had nothing to do with me. I was good last night. Great even,” she added with a wink.

We all collectively pretended to gag at her implication. She walked over and planted a big kiss on Doc while flipping us off. A couple of us threw towels at her back.

“My eyes,” Shannon yelled, and everyone cracked up.

“Haters, the lot of you,” Shae said. Doc whispered something in her ear that made her grin wide.

After getting cleaned up and collecting our stuff, we headed out. It was nice to be with the team and I did appreciate Doc putting together the workout. I usually wasn’t here, but it gave a sense of normalcy that I’d been missing since my accident.

“Lunch?” Renee asked.

“Hell yeah, I think I sweated off like twenty pounds thanks to Doc’s torture,” Shannon said.

“Sasha?”

I was about to add to the lunch conversation when the sound of my wife’s name got my attention. I had to have misheard. But when I looked around, sure enough my eyes eventually landed on her. My beautiful wife was leaning against my car, holding a large bouquet of roses. It was a chilly day, but seeing her warmed me from the inside out.

My steps slowed as the team greeted her then shot me side glances and sly grins before heading off to their cars. “What are you doing here, Sash?”

She thrust the flowers toward me. “These are for you.”

Slowly, I reached out to take the bouquet from her, confusion settling on my face. “You got me roses?” A slow grin took over. “I don’t think anyone has ever bought me flowers.” I lifted the two dozen long-stem red roses to my nose and took a long sniff.

I’d given her flowers before and had bought them for previous girlfriends, but the gesture had never been returned. I never put much thought into it, but getting this unexpected surprise, to be thought of, it made me feel seen, heard. It made me feel appreciated. “Thank you.” I slipped my free hand around her waist, pulling her in for a soft kiss. “But why?”

She played with the zipper on my jacket. “I just . . . I know, I mean I’m startin’ to understand how I’ve been.” She blew out a breath and looked up at me. “I’m sorry. I love you, and don’t wanna be a battle.”

Sincere apologies weren’t Sasha’s strong suit. Admitting she was wrong . . . not really her thing. And I’d been okay with that part of her for so long.

Until I wasn’t.