Page 23 of Damaged Souls


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She clenched her hands into fists and then placed them on her knees. Jase wasn’t happy with the interruption, even though Grant hadn’t said anything. His actions spoke so freaking loud. Aria was tempted to ask him what he was thinking, but instead, she kept her thoughts to herself and smiled at Jase to continue.

“Also, we know this journey can be intense, and if at any time you feel the need to—”

“You’re starving her,” Grant said.

Jase’s nostrils flared. “Grant, could you please save all of your questions for the end?”

“I would, but rather than you starving our client, and you know, giving her a reason to not live, why not come up with a better plan, like telling her she doesn’t need to be here?” Grant asked.

Aria looked from Jase to Grant. This was not what she expected.

“Grant, please leave,” Jase said.

“You did the same fucking thing to Maddie and now you’re doing it to Aria. Do you just have a fetish with starving women?”

“Stop!” Aria had heard enough. “I asked him to do this. I came here for help. He’s not forcing me. No one is forcing me.” She wasn’t going to point out the obvious, which was that her mother, to a point, was forcing her hand. “Now, if you can’t let Jase do as I’ve asked, then please leave.”

There was silence after her outburst, but one look at Jase and she knew he was grateful to her for shutting Grant up. She had to wonder if she did anything at all, or if he was sitting there thinking about something else to say to her. Either way, she took a deep breath and turned toward Jase, waiting.

He started to talk to her about his plan. For the next half-hour, he spoke of small goals, and then about her routine. She was to return to the gym every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Weekends she was to rest, as the last day would be an intense workout.

She was a little afraid as he continued to talk about what was going to happen on those days. After they were finished, Jase checked the time, and it would seem after Grant’s outburst, there was no chance of him taking her to the main gym and getting set up. With a glare at Grant, he brought the meeting to an end.

Shaking Jase’s hand, she made her way outside, surprised that Grant followed her.

She stopped several feet outside of the gym. “Don’t you have to work?” she asked.

“Jase told me to leave.” He shrugged. “I’m not going to argue with him.”

“Why are you working at the gym? Doesn’t your club own a gym?”

Another shrug.

She wanted to ask him about his leather jacket, but there was something within his demeanor that told her to steer clear of that conversation.

“You know, we can take a rain check on our date,” she said.

“You’re trying to get out of dating me?” he asked.

She rolled her eyes. “I’m not trying to get out of dating you. I’m just…” She wanted to give him space so he could work out whatever issues he was dealing with.

Grant stared at her.

“What happened?”

“I ran into a fist,” he answered.

She frowned. “That couldn’t have been fun.”

“You’d be surprised what I find fun.”

She chuckled. “Okay. Fine. If you’re … fine. Then I don’t see a reason why we can’t go on this date.”

He winked at her and then reached out, taking her hand. “Come on. I’m freezing my ass off.”

“Do you take advice?” Aria asked.

“No.”

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