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“Ahhhh...This is so cold!”
Hayden laughed. “Keep going.”
Every muscle in my body constricted from the shock. I was immediately frozen and my teeth chattered. There was no way I’d last five minutes, much less fifteen.
The water hit my stomach and rose to my chest, slipping over my boobs. My stomach clenched. Thank goodness I had on a black sports bra, otherwise Hayden would see my pointed nipples. I drew in an audible breath and tried to lean back, but I didn’t want to press my back to the cold ceramic. I was already cold enough and didn’t need to add to it.
I swallowed. “Okay—I’m in.”
“Now breathe.”
“How do you handle this?”
He shrugged. “I don’t really have a choice. When I have a hard workout, harder than normal, I’ll do cold water therapy. Some say it doesn’t work, some swear by it. I truly believe it helps with muscle soreness and inflammation. Today was brutal on all of us, I saw you limping. You’re going to be in bad shape. Maybe this will help you, only time will tell.”
My lips were chattering, my jaw vibrating against my will. The goose bumps became part of me. “Yeah, Coach was a dick today.”
“Which one?”
“Both.” I paused. “Hayden? How come you’re so nice to me?”
He tilted his head to the side. “What do you mean?”
“Well, for instance, you’re here, helping me. You’ve gone above and beyond. Why?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know...There’s just something about you that makes me want to be around you. Girls can be catty. I have Holly, and being here with no one to lean on and training this many hours a day is a lot to handle for one person.”
Hayden stunned me. Our eyes were locked while I soaked up the sincerity of his words. An appreciative smile curved my chattering lips. “Thanks,” I said softly. “Your friendship means a lot to me.” His smile faltered for a split moment and I felt bad. “So you swear this will help?”
“I’m not making any promises, but I have a good feeling it will.”
“Hayden, if I tell you something do you promise not to say anything?”
“Of course.”
Expelling a serious breath, I confessed. “Something is wrong with my calf. It’s been hurting for weeks and today, I was close to asking to take a break.”
“I noticed. Have you talked to the coaches about it?”
“No, because I can’t afford to take time off to rest and I know it’s what they’ll have me do.”
He tilted his head to the side. “Adrianna, you know you have to speak up now so whatever it is can be dealt with and doesn’t turn into something more.”
“But if I do, I’ll be told to rest it. I can’t do that, Hayden.”
“Not necessarily. Maybe you just need some muscle therapy, ice and heat application. I don’t know, but what I do know is that you have to say something. You’re only hurting yourself.”
He had a point. “Next time it hurts, I’ll see a doctor.”
After another three minutes, Hayden stood and held out an oversized white towel for me. “Drain the tub and step into me.”
Nodding, I tried to stand, but my body was crunched tight. It hurt to move and it didn’t help that it felt like there was a glacial breeze in my bathroom either. Gymnastics was not always sunshine and roses, I knew that. Pain was inevitable. Gathering the strength to stand up was one of those times when my passion and dedication was tested. I would rather be doing a million other things than dipping my body in subzero temperatures. I’d just have to cross my fingers that all of this would speed up my recovery and one day be worth it.
Glancing down to step over the ledge, my back was hunched over, afraid to take a step without assistance. My nipples were outlined through my sports bra and I had a feeling Hayden could see, but in this moment, I didn’t care. I was freezing and wanted to get warm as fast as possible.
I nearly plowed into his arms. “Hold me tight,” I begged.
Hayden wound the towel tightly around my body then ran his hands up and down my arms trying to warm me. “I’ve got you.” I dropped my head to his chest, searching for body warmth.
