She didn’t know where that would lead them if and when he needed to start traveling again, but based on how well this conversation went, she knew they’d figure it out. He was thinking about her. About them and their needs both together and separate.
How had she gotten so lucky?
When they broke apart, Jacob grinned. “Now that I’m no longer chained, what do you say we go for a ride?”
“Jacob—” she warned.
“Nothing too strenuous. Just a walk.”
She sighed. “Fine. Just a walk. Then you’re coming right back and we’ll take it easy.”
“Woman, I’ve been taking it easy since I got out of the hospital. I’m ready to put my body back to work.” He pushed his way out of the car before she could even correct him. Healing was hard work. And now she had to accept that he was ready for it.
CHAPTER TWENTY
It wasa lot harder not to get his hopes up than he originally thought—especially after everyone kept telling him they thought he would make it.
Jacob needed a dose of reality. He needed someone to give it to him straight. Numbers. Probability. He wanted to know if he was putting forth all this effort, what chance he might have at not making it.
Maybe it was the unknown that was getting to him.
Hallie was right but he was never going to tell her that. He was hiding his fears from everyone. Inside, his body was in knots. While on the outside, he told everyone he was excited to get back to it.
“Again,” Dr. Drake told him. “I want to see three more reps exactly like that.”
Inwardly, Jacob groaned. His muscles were screaming. Who knew having his neck immobilized for so long would result in losing strength in muscles he didn’t even know he had?
Huffing and puffing, he completed the exercises. Sweat dripped down his brow and he didn’t even feel like he’d done much.
“Don’t look so put out,” his therapist said, clapping an encouraging hand to his back. “It’s only the first day. You have a few months before you need to even think about getting back in the saddle to practice. You’re doing great so far. One step at a time.”
Jacob scowled at the floor. He’d thought that getting free of the cast would make him feel closer to his end goal. But he wasn’t even close. Therapy. Then practice. Then maybe a couple competitions to get his mindset right.
At this rate, he’d be lucky if he could even stay in the saddle long enough to be scored.
“None of that,” Dr. Drake called from where he stood near the towels. “Half of your effort has to come from up here.” He tapped his temple with his finger. “You have to believe you can get there in order to push yourself to your limits.”
Jacob didn’t even have the strength to argue. The worst part was that Dr. Drake was probably right. And yet Jacob couldn’t get past the wall of doubt that continued to build with each exhausting exercise.
“You’re done for the day. Go easy at home. Ice that leg if needed. Good work.”
Hallie was waitingfor him outside when he emerged from the building. And one look at her was all he needed for the tension in his shoulders to release. There was something about thisgirl that just made him feel like he could handle whatever was thrown at him.
The day they’d talked about the expectations for their relationship had been difficult. He’d half-expected her to get offended and break up with him right then and there.
A tiny part of him wondered if that would have been for the best.
But then he reminded himself that intrusive thoughts wouldn’t get him anywhere. Dating was a new experience for him and no amount of insecurity would be his downfall. If they had to end things, it would be for a good reason.
He slumped into his seat. “You’re sight for sore eyes,” he murmured, leaning over to kiss her.
She accepted his offering, her hand slipping around the back of his neck to hold him in place. “I missed you.”
Chuckling, Jacob withdrew. “I was gone for an hour.”
“An hour too long.” Hallie grinned at him and started the car. “So now that you’re done for the day, what do you want to do? Should we go out and celebrate? We can get something delicious from that steak restaurant…”
He eyed her. “Is it bad that all I want to do is what we’ve been doing? Go home. Pick a movie. Take it easy.”
