In the Alpha’s Arms

Therapy

“Miss Dillard, punctual as always, please have a seat,” Susan motioned. She’d been Lita’s therapist for the last month, exactly one day after Lita moved into her apartment. But ever since the first visit, she always insisted that Lita call her Susan, to show that her office was a friendly space. But it wasn’t and Lita knew that, simply from the fact that Susan never called her Lita. It was always Miss Dillard.

“So, what’s new on my mother’s agenda?” Lita asked, dismissing any pleasantries at the door. She slumped onto the overpriced leather couch with a scowl.

“Your mother says hello, as always, and once again, I’m here to remind you she only wants what’s best for you. We’re here today to discuss the gym again. It’s important for you to take better care of yourself. Have you found a suitable location? I have a few suggestions that your mother has approved, if you’d like.”

“No thanks, Susan. I found one yesterday. Here’s the receipt,” Lita snipped, practically tossing the half-crumpled piece of paper into Susan’s hands. The woman cleared her throat and cleaned her glasses slowly before taking up the piece of receipt paper in her hands.

“Mmm, there’s no name here. It just says Athletic club on the line item. What’s it called? Where is it?”

“It’s pretty far, but I like the drive,” Lita smiled with an attitude, “Gives me lots of time to think. And I prefer to keep the name to myself. I was told I could select my gym, and I did. It shouldn’t matter where it is. Anyway, I figured the cost would satisfy mother, ensuring I’ve chosen a location suitable for a family of our caliber.” Lita hated to speak that way. It was elitist and implied others were lesser because they were not wealthy. But it was the language both Susan and Lita’s mother loved to hear. It validated that Lita was absorbing their training.

Susan nodded thoughtfully, “Yes, I suppose exclusive gyms don’t need to advertise on their receipts. The word of mouth is sufficient. Yes, I think she’ll be pleased with this.”

Susan tucked the paper into a file folder and grabbed her notepad, “Shall we get started?”

Lita nodded.

“How is your aggression today, on a scale of 1-10?”

Eleven, Lita thought. “Two,” Lita answered aloud.

“And your anger?”

Twelve, Lita growled in her own head. “One,” she sighed, tired of answering the same litany of questions every day.

pointed her nose down at this one,

Lita shrugged, knowing it was closer to five or six at

your sleep? Have you been

four or five hours of sleep, but after the gym

do wonders for your complexion and hair, which

it correctly. She wasn’t encouraging or affirmative. She constantly took little jabs, and sometimes it felt like Lita was listening to her mother in the flesh, with all the elitism and prejudice. But in the end, Lita would happily sit there every day until school started if it meant she could have some freedom. After that, she’d only have to go weekly to maintain her freedom as long as her grades stayed up. And if all of it meant she’d be able to go to a school on the other side of the country from her parents, she was willing to do anything. Joining the gym

you haven’t been eating again…” Susan made a clicking sound with her tongue and Lita cringed. It was probably

garden salad with avocado last night after the gym,” Lita assured, knowing full well she had only picked at it for an hour and then drank a bottle of Gatorade. But it was better if Susan didn’t

showed up, demanding they have dinner together. When she sat down to take the first bite, her appetite died, like

for your meal? It must be nice, living with such a handsome young man, and at a prime age for marriage, too.” Was she referring to Lita’s 18 years or Brian’s 23? Neither seemed prime

my mother already countless times, we do not live together. We are on a break

Dillard, sometimes we all need a little push here and there. And with proximity, it’s only a matter

clock, “As much as I enjoy our chats, looks

A week later

seem capable of pulling in enough oxygen to sustain her. She was so out of shape, it was sad. The two minutes she’d spent running a slow cool down felt like ages and Gymhead, Alex, was

embarrass herself completely. Maybe she’d be lucky enough to knock herself out so she wouldn’t have to hear Alex’s barking laugh again. Then she considered the marks that falling might leave behind and how Brian might react to them. She stumbled again, this time out of fear instead of exhaustion, grabbing

warm-up, a forty-five minute weightlifting regimen in which he claimed you don’t stop, you switch muscle groups, a fifteen-minute water break that ended with the protein bar Alex tossed her, and a back breaking series of exercises designed

Gymhead,” Lita managed between

could hardly tell the difference. It was as if her entire body were devoid of all its water at the end

some point, Lita expected to be placed with other women, the so-called ring bunnies, but it hadn’t happened yet. Instead, Alex spent the last week punishing her body. He probably remembered it differently, but the way her muscles tightened and ached, punishment was the only comparison.

Lita had improved like crazy, mostly because whenever she was about to pass out, Alex stuffed a protein bar in her face. She always left exhausted, which helped her sleep and over the last week, it even helped

to lead a real workout now,” Alex grumbled as he walked away. “Fifteen-minute, full body stretch

ignoring another of many rude nicknames he’d given her. “I want to stay and watch.” Her foot slipped as she tried to get his attention and she tumbled into him. Thankfully, he opened his arms to help brace her, but she found her face against his chest, only separated from his skin by a thin tank. His muscles were warm and as she pushed away to right herself, she missed it. Why did she miss something so simple as a hug? Even as

with gentle arms. He waited until she seemed steady before he let go. “You got two left feet or what? And why do you want to watch other people work out?” His eyes flicked to her wrists for a moment, but they were covered. It was as if