In the Alpha’s Arms

Chapter 4

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.

a day?” Susan pointed her nose down at this one, trying to scrutinize

always,” Lita shrugged, knowing it was closer to

your sleep? Have

many. I’ve been getting about four or five hours of sleep, but after the gym yesterday,

wonders for your complexion and hair, which

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

her tongue and Lita cringed. It was

ate an entire 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 know that

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

living with such a handsome young man, and at a prime age for marriage, too.” Was she referring to Lita’s

not live together. We are on a break until May. We live in the same building. That’s all. It was her

all need a little push here and there. And with proximity,

much as I enjoy our chats, looks like time

A week later

a swell of air. Or rather, the lack of air. Her lungs didn’t 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 no help in that department, smiling like an infuriating idiot as she suffocated from the inside. She pushed harder

probably hit the moving band of the treadmill and embarrass herself completely. Maybe she’d

you don’t stop,” he teased, but beneath that he seemed impressed, if not a bit concerned. Lita stumbled once more before he pressed the button to force stop the machine. After a twenty-minute cardio 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

up. Gymhead,” Lita managed between strangled breaths,

hoodie. With how much sweat had already soaked in, she could hardly tell the difference. It was as if her entire body

body. He probably remembered it differently, but the way her muscles tightened and ached, punishment was the

sleep and over the last week, it even helped her gain a small appetite as long as she could avoid

have to lead a real workout now,” Alex grumbled

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 messy and uncomfortable as that one had been. She didn’t really miss the hug.

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 he was constantly checking for those bruises she’d accidentally shown. Lita shifted

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