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“Doc Roberts cleared your schedule, and Cole has the guys training today. Plus, they’ll be joining us for dinner in town because it’s a tradition to watch the first preseason game at Zack’s.”
“Okay, sure.” She hesitated. “You know what? That sounds like fun. I could use a little girl time.”
“Great. Meet us downstairs in twenty.”
“Will do.” She closed the door and gave me a small smile. “I guess it’s girls’ day.” Her face slipped a little, and I could see her nerves were getting the best of her. “It’ll be okay,” she said to herself.
“Did Cole give you a phone?” I asked because all team members were given special phones to use that couldn’t be tracked by anyone else but those at the house. I wasn’t sure if that extended to her.
“Yes.” She pointed to her purse.
“May I?” I hated to touch a woman’s purse without permission. It was like going to a tarot card reader. I might not believe in it, but I sure as hell don’t fuck with it.
“Yeah.” She headed into the bathroom, and a moment later I heard the water running. I programed my number into her phone so she could call me. I grabbed my clothes and pulled on my pants. As she walked by a few seconds later, I snagged her arm and tugged her to me.
“You have my number now. If you need me, call.” I tucked her hair behind her ear.
“Thank you,” she tried to smile again, “for last night too.”
“Of course.” I leaned down and kissed her lips. “I guess I’ll see you in town tonight.”
“Yeah.” She stepped back as I gathered my things, and I gave her one last glance as I left her room.
“Hey, there.” Mark was suddenly in front of me with a shit eating grin. “Looks like someone had a fun night.”
“Ah, fuck,” I muttered, as he chuckled down the hallway.
“I hope you enjoyed your night because today is gonna be a bitch in this mud.”
He wasn’t lying.
We spent the morning in the lake, mid-day in the mud, and then the afternoon on the cliff. The storm that had left in the morning had returned with a vengeance.
The six of us stood bent at the waist, butts against the side of a rock wall, under a waterfall as we held a thirty-pound log across our shoulders. Our arms were linked as we fought against the power of the water that poured on top of us. It was definitely a test of strength, will, and determination. Daniel stood under an umbrella with a stopwatch, while Dell, a Dusk teammate, stood watch in case we needed a medic.
“Fucking leg cramp.” John cursed and shifted to get a better footing.
When your muscles were pushed past their limit, it forced you to dig deep and wrestle with the mental demons that tried to take you down. I knew why Cole chose that drill. He knew we were dealing with a lot of shit, and he had to know our heads would be sharp for the next mission. Though therapy worked wonders, we needed mental endurance as well as physical.
“And up!” Daniel yelled, and we lifted the log over our heads in a power struggle with the water. “And drop!” In unison, we dropped the log and rushed out of the waterfall.
My head dropped back, and I let the rain pelt my face, then walked in a circle on rubber legs.
“Forty-six minutes,” Daniel called out with a grin. “Grab your shit. We’re finished for the day.”
Cole tossed me a protein pouch, and I sucked back the gel. I needed it. I kept moving even as I swallowed so my body didn’t lock up.
“I think I saw Jesus at one point.” Mark leaned back and groaned as he wiped the rain from his eyes. “Fuck you, Cole.” Cole chuckled and beamed at me, as I joined him in a laugh.
“Great time.” Dell smacked Mike on the shoulder. Mike rubbed his fingers together to try to get some feeling back in his hands.
“Yeah, not bad, boys.” Mike gave up and put a hand above his eyes to shield them from the relentless rain as he looked up at Cole.
“Are we meeting everyone in town?”
“We are.” Cole grabbed his pack. “Let’s get cleaned up, boys, so we can head to town.”
We walked down the path, and Mike came up next to me as we got to the clearing.
