“Is this your dominatrix, and does she always schedule early morning sessions to beat the crap out of you in the gym?”
“Yeah, it’s my favorite new workout program. Drew Hogan, meet Alicia Riley, my physical therapist.”
He stuck out his hand. “Hi, Alicia. Anyone who can make Garrett look like he’s about to cry is a new friend of mine.”
She shook her head. “Nice to meet you, Drew. Now get out of here so I can continue to torture him,” she teased. “Unless you’d like to be next.”
He shook his finger at Alicia but looked at Garrett. “I like her, Garrett. You should marry her. Or have at least a week’s worth of mind-numbing sex with her. Why don’t you two meet me for breakfast after your . . . uh . . . session?”
Garrett looked up at Alicia for confirmation.
“Sure,” she said. “We’ll be through here in another thirty, so about an hour?”
“Great. See you in the restaurant.”
Alicia laughed as Drew left the gym. “He’s kind of a force of nature, isn’t he?”
Garrett grabbed the towel and swiped it over his face. “You have no idea.”
They finished up their workout then went up to their rooms to shower.
Drew was waiting for them in the restaurant, along with Trevor and Gray.
“Where are the other guys?” Garrett asked as he held out a chair for Alicia. The waiter was right there to pour coffee for them.
“Lincoln, Hull, and Ted got up early to hit the golf course,” Gray said.
Alicia looked outside. The sun was out, but it couldn’t be more than forty degrees outside. “Die-hard golfers?” she asked.
“You’d have to be to play when it’s this cold,” Trevor said. “I won’t drag my clubs out until it hits at least seventy.”
“Wimp,” Gray said.
“I don’t see your ass out there making it a foursome,” Trevor shot back.
“I had some business to do this morning. Couldn’t make it.”
“You lie. You just didn’t want your balls to freeze in the cold.” Drew gave Gray a smug look. “You might need to use them on—who was that pit bunny I saw when you were giving those interviews?”
Gray lifted his chin but smiled. “No idea what you’re talking about.”
“Whatever. Whoever you’re currently having sex with, you don’t want your equipment to malfunction.”
Gray took a sip of coffee. “I have no pit bunny, despite what Drew thinks. I’m too busy working. Unlike Garrett here, who brings his work and play with him.”
Garrett rolled his eyes. “I already explained who Alicia is. Believe me, she’s all work. Not play.”
“It’s true,” Drew said. “She had him bound up and crying like a girl in the gym this morning. She definitely had him by the balls, but not in the fun way.”
Alicia slanted a smile at Drew, who winked at her.
“I wasn’t crying. I was rehabbing. And if Alicia had me by the balls, trust me, I’d know it. And it would be for fun.”
Alicia rolled her eyes. “Is it always like this with you guys?”
“Yes,” Gray said. “Ever since college. It’s like a sport.”
“And I win,” Garrett said. “Every time.”
“In your dreams, Scott,” Drew said. “How many times did you have to buy the beer?” Drew asked.
“Not very often. Because I won.”
Trevor leaned over to whisper in her ear. “I never had to buy the beer. I just let these clowns argue it out until they declare someone the loser. Then I reaped the benefits.”
“I heard that,” Garrett said.
Alicia laughed, then sat back and listened while they bickered back and forth. It was like being in college again, partying at the frat houses. Lots of one-upmanship, who won what argument, who was the best at this or that. But it was clear that Garrett was relaxed and enjoying himself. She was glad. He needed that release of tension. This weekend would be very good for his state of mind, which was so integral to his recovery.
“I don’t know what you morons have planned for the day, but I’m going to get Alicia out of here for a while. We’re going into the city so she can have some fun that doesn’t include soaking up all this testosterone.”
Alicia turned to him. “What?”
“You’d take her away from all of this?” Drew asked, pointing to himself.
“Yes. Especially you.”
“Have fun,” Gray said. “But be back for poker tonight.”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” He pushed back his chair and held hers out while she stood.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Treating you to a day of fun.”
She stopped in the hall. “Why?”
“Because this is boring for you.”
“No, it’s not. And even if it is, I’m not your girlfriend, Garrett. I’m not here to be entertained by you. I’m here to work on your therapy. If I’m bored, I can always go up to the room and work on my treatment plan notes or read or watch TV.”
“Oooh, sounds fun.”
“Stop that.”