AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Specifically, the gym. And since I’m heading right there, it should be quiet since everyone will still be at work.
And at that thought, as I pull out of the school parking lot, an image of Ty pops into my head. One of him bent over, working on a car…
Oh. No. Stop that right now.
Damn… I have it bad. I hate this. So much.
“Fuck,” I mutter to myself as I reach down to crank the volume on my music. I’ll blast these thoughts from my head if I have to with an epic sing along. And as I belt out the lyrics to Everybody by the Backstreet Boys, my mind is clear of all images that could get me in some serious trouble. Thank you, boys.
I enter the empty gym, humming I Want It That Way, and head straight to the kitchen to make a pre-workout shake. I’ve been putting off strength and conditioning training for the past couple days, but today is the day… ugh.
“Just the man I was hoping to see.”
I look up to see Max enter the kitchen with a big smile.
“Hey.” I smile back at him. “What’s up?”
He pulls out his phone and taps away at something. “I just heard of a grappling tournament in a few weeks that is being organized by a BJJ gym in town. So far it looks like there will be some good competition, and I think you should go.” He flips his phone around, showing me the details. “Isolate some of these skills in competition with other opponents and see where you stand.”
I nod vigorously. “Oh, hell yeah.” I smile widely at him. “I’m in, absolutely.”
He chuckles. “Awesome, I’ll forward this to you. I think Noah and Seb are interested too.” He taps at his phone to send it to me. “When was your last grappling tournament?”
“Ugh.” I sigh. “Too long ago. But I feel like I’m in a good place for another one.”
Max nods and leans against the counter, crossing his arms. “Getting some good training in?”
I shake my drink and stare back at him, and he just chuckles.
“Well,” he says with a smile, “based on what I saw when you were rolling with Seb yesterday, I like the changes you’ve been making. So… as long as you and Ty don’t kill each other, keep it up.”
I just nod and take a drink.
“I know it’s hard,” he says, eyeing me. “But after training with him just a few times, you’ve made some great progress. So, get back to it. You have a competition to win.”
“Yeah, ok.” I sigh. “Will do.”
He pushes himself off the counter and knocks a fist to my shoulder as he walks by me, heading out of the kitchen.
While I down the rest of my pre-workout, I get a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach. One of both excitement and dread at the thought of getting back to training with Ty. How can you like and hate someone at the same time? Is there a word for that? I’ll find out.
But right now, I need to shake it off like Taylor Swift. Because it’s strength and conditioning time, and kettlebells and lunges are unfortunately calling my name.
And annoyingly, as I work through my circuits, I can’t help but eye the gym door every time it opens with a hopeful feeling. Which is fucked. He doesn’t want to see me, and I don’t want to see him. I. Don’t. Want. To. See. Him.
Except when he does enter the gym, my stomach flutters and I stare at him for a beat too long.
I set down my kettlebell and grab my water bottle, taking a drink as I observe him walk across the gym floor to the locker room. He keeps his head down and doesn’t initiate a greeting with anyone. And when they greet him, all he does is nod his head towards them.
Again… why am I lusting after this asshole?
When he gets close to me, I step towards him. “Hey.”
He looks up and stutters in his step with a confused expression. Like he’s surprised I’m talking to him.
I guess I am too, because I hesitate as I try figure out why I even stopped him. “Uh, Max has me entering a grappling tournament in a few weeks. Which means I need to get back into training…”
He just looks back at me, not saying anything. Wow, ok, the prick is going to make me say it.
