Page 9 of Scoring the Mountain Man

“Thanks,” I mutter as we pull away from the doctor’s office.

We pull into the grocery store parking lot and we both get out of the car. It takes me a few minutes longer than it does Wes, but he gives me the time I need to make it from the car to the grocery store.

I grab a cart and hold onto it as we make our way around the store stocking up on water, drinks, canned goods, and meats. I’m not sure how long it will be before I can make it back to town so I want to ensure I have everything I need to last me a little while.

When we are finished and I checkout, Wes helps me load everything into his car before we head back to the cabin, then he helps me unload it all into the kitchen.

“Thanks, man,” I tell him as he brings in the last of the bags.

“No problem. Are you good or do you need anything else?” he asks.

“I’m good. I’ll just put these away, then probably catch a game or two before I head to bed.”

“Then I’ll head back down and meet up with Aubrey for dinner before I head back to the city,” he tells me.

“Enjoy,” I say with a nod. “And thanks again for all the help today.”

“See ya later,” he calls out as he leaves.

I continue putting the groceries away, then go and change into my sweatpants so I can do my exercises for the second time today. I’ll do it a third time before I go to bed tonight.

The next morning my eyes open and my heart begins to pound as I realize Aubrey will be coming today. I haven’t seen her since she was here two weeks ago.

I make my way to the shower trying to calm my racing heart and thoughts at seeing her again.

“Get it together, Jaxon,” I tell myself. “She’s off limits.”

I get out of the shower and dry off, putting on a clean pair of sweatpants, since I don't know what today’s exercises will entail.

I walk to the kitchen and make some coffee and an omelet.

At ten o'clock, there is a knock on my door and I call out, “Come in.”

The door opens and I hear Aubrey call out, “Jaxon?”

“In here,” I say in a strained voice.

Her voice causes my pulse to race and I take a few deep breaths to calm myself down.

“Hey,” she says sweetly. “I hear the doctor has cleared you to move onto the next steps,” she says as she opens the living room curtains again.

“Yeah,” I grunt out.

“Have you been doing those exercises like I told you for the last two weeks?”

“Yeah.” Apparently that is the only word I know how to say around her.

“Excellent. For the next six weeks we are going to be working on strengthening your quadriceps and regaining flexibility,” she informs me and my eyes light up.

“Don’t get too excited. We still have to avoid high-impact and weight-bearing activities, but what I have planned should help you to get to those.”

I nod my head. Something is better than nothing, I keep telling myself internally.

“Do you have a stationary bike here?” she asks and I shake my head no.

“Okay, it’s fine. I’ll put it on the list of things to bring from the office,” she tells me, grabbing a chair from the dining room and bringing it into the living room.

I stare at her as she sets up what looks like a rotating obstacle course. In one area is the dining room chair. In another part of the living room she sets up a step platform that they use in aerobics. Then she pulls a resistance band from her bag and places it on the floor in another area.

---