Page 73 of What About Us

Shaking my head, I walk over to the lat pulldown bar and adjust the weight before sitting on the bench.

“I didn’t plan for you to see them. But I also didn’t want to put my contacts in until after my shower.” I pull the bar down, watching my form in the mirror. “I hate working out.”

“You don’t look like you hate it.”

“I mean, I could scowl every second I’m doing it.” I ease the bar back up and then remember that I’m supposed to be putting my patient through his paces right now, so I lead him to the treadmill. “You can do twenty, if you want.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

He steps up and gets the belt moving.

While he’s doing that, I decide to climb on the one next to him and walk while he runs.

“How is the knee today?”

“Feels normal.”

“No twinges? No achiness?”

“Nope, it feels like nothing ever happened.”

I lift an eyebrow, and he smiles at me.

“Yes, I know, it did happen, and I need to be careful.”

“Good.”

The Backstreet Boys are playing through the speakers, and Xander shakes his head.

“What’s up with this music?”

“It’s happy. And pretty easy to move to. But it’s your house, so we can change it to whatever you want.”

“It’s okay,” he says.

“Great because I think Britney Spears is up next.”

“Just kill me, Red.”

“It’s a good one, I promise.”

When “I’m a Slave 4 U” comes on, I sing along and make Xander laugh. And when he’s finished with his jog, we hop off the treadmills and do some stretching.

Once we’ve cooled down and we’re stretched out, I take him to the wall.

“Let me guess.”

He assumes the position, and I smile at him.

“It’s good for the quads and for the joint.”

This time, I grab a thirty-pound weight and set it on his lap.

“This is too light.”

“I can’t move around the fifty pound one.”

He sets the plate aside, snags me by the wrist, and tugs me into his lap.