Chapter 6: Unlikely Support

BROOKE

I sit in my office inputting the session notes, with Luna resting her head on my lap. I can’t help but wonder about Colin. He really opened up to me and shared everything about himself willingly. And then wanted to learn about me?

It feels like we went past the point of a client trying to be acquainted with their physical therapist. And he seemed sad when I was so down on football players. I shake my head, forcing myself back to reality.

This is Scholtz we’re talking about, I tell myself. The one in all the tabloids with that beautiful model clinging to him. The cocky football player who ruined John’s life, let’s not forget!

“There’s no doubt he’s as cocky as all the others, if not worse,” I say, looking at Luna. Yup, now I’m talking to a dog!

I finish my notes just as Luna lets out a loud bark. “Okay, okay. I’m ready, let’s go.” Luna runs to the door; I attach her leash to her collar and walk out of my office, avoiding eye contact with Colin on my way through the exercise room.

For once, Luna doesn’t take her time sniffing every blade of grass; she just does her business right away. I’m grateful she’s not throwing off my schedule too badly, even as I realize I was hoping for an excuse to hide from Colin a little longer.

Then as we’re heading back inside, Luna, like the disloyal naughty girl she is, bolts away from me again.

This time I’m smart enough to just let go of the leash rather than hurt my hand in a futile attempt to hold onto her; my palm still stings from the earlier leash burn.

Luna runs back to Colin, who is cooling down from his workout on the bike.

“Come on, Luna!” I command, but Luna just looks back at me and sits down next to Colin as he gets off the bike.

“She can stay.” Colin smiles down at her, petting her behind her ears.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah,” he says, smiling up at me as he rips the headphones from his ears.

“Okay then.” I unhook Luna’s leash from her collar and put it down in the corner of the exercise room. She sits at attention, watching Colin’s every move. “Last exercise for today. Hamstring curls.”

I pull out the yellow beginner’s resistance band, and Colin chuckles to himself. I look up at him. He’s probably thinking he’s stronger, and can use a higher-level resistance band right away.

“Cocky, are we?” I roll my eyes at him. “You start out slow and work your way up to blue or black, tough guy.”

Colin lies down on the exercise mat and places his headphones on the floor next to him. Luna creeps up next to his head, licking his ear curiously. He bats at her. “Not now, girl.”

He blows through the exercises with ease, and then sits up to smirk at me like he’s trying to prove a point.

I have to admit, I’m a little impressed. The first time using those muscles after surgery is hard, even for a big strong football player. I hold my hand out like he did for me, to help lift him from the floor.

“Thanks for today,” he says.

“No problem. Your foot seems to be getting better. Keep elevating and icing it a couple times a day, and don’t think you can start putting weight on it just because I said you’re getting better.” I point my finger at him firmly, and he laughs with his cocky smile.

“So, you still want me to show you some commands for Luna? Or have you shut me out too just because I’m a football player?” I can’t hold back a laugh as I smack his hard chest.

“You wiseass!” I roll my eyes at him. “All right, show me how to be the ‘alpha,’” I agree sarcastically, using air quotes around his term alpha. Colin’s eyes drop to the floor and look around.

“Where did my headphones go?” he asks. I look down, helping him in his search.

“I had them on the floor next to me.” He steps back and turns in a circle, dancing his eyes around looking for them. My eyes land on Luna. She’s sitting between us, avoiding my eyes when I look down at her.

“Ohh no.” I know what she did. “LUNA!” I shout. I look up at Colin with my eyes popping out in shock. “I’m so sorry. I think she ate your headphones.”

He just looks amused. “I take it she does this a lot?”

“Kinda,” I admit with a scrunched-up face.

“We need to bring her to the vet.” He grabs the leash from my hands and attaches it to Luna’s collar. I run to my office and grab my purse in a fluster before meeting back up with Colin. He’s waiting at the reception desk with Luna.

“Ready to schedule your next session, Mr. Scholtz?” Julie asks.

“Julie,” I interrupt, “can you reschedule my appointments for today? I need to take Luna to the vet.” I rub my face in frustration yet again. After today, I think my face just might fall off.

“Oh no, what happened?” Julie asks worriedly.

“Her dog ate my headphones!” Colin answers.

“Wha—!” Julie’s mouth opens wide in shock. “Brooke, what about Sydney?”

“Shit!” I tense up. I totally forgot today is Thursday. Every Thursday, the school lets all the kids out early for teacher faculty meetings and conferences. “Umm, I-I can try to call the sitter, I guess…”

I barely register Colin holding the door open for me as I rummage through my purse to find my car keys and bring my phone to my ear.

“Hi Christine, I’m sorry I’m calling on such short notice, but I have to take Luna to the vet and I need someone to pick up Syd at twelve—”

My anxiety builds as I listen to Christine apologize on the other end of the call. “Oh. That’s okay, thanks anyway. Yeah, bye.”

Only now do I realize that Colin has been waiting next to me at my car, holding Luna. Luna looks fine for now, running circles around Colin’s legs, but I have no idea how many metals and chemicals are in a pair of headphones.

I don’t want to put off the vet, in case something terrible happens as all that garbage starts to digest. But I can’t leave Sydney standing around waiting for me to pick her up, either. Mother of the year, right here.

“Who’s Sydney?” Colin asks. I’m hesitant to answer; I try to keep my personal life separate—and also, Colin has no idea I’m even a mother, let alone a single mother.

I don’t want to face his judgment. I already spilled the beans to him about all my failed relationships. But I can’t think of a way to lie, either.

“Umm, m-my daughter.”

“You have a daughter?” he asks, sounding surprised.

“Yeah, she’s seven.” I find myself holding my breath, waiting for the judgment.

“Well, why don’t I take Luna to the vet so you can pick up your daughter?” Colin says.

I’m slapped speechless by his offer. “What?”

“I don’t mind,” he says, looking down and smiling at Luna.

I shake my head, flustered. “I can't ask you to do that.”

“Colin chuckles. 'You didn’t. I offered.'

“I—I—”

“Just call the vet and tell them I’m bringing in Luna for you. You can meet me there once you pick up Sydney.” He reaches into his back pocket for his keys, already making up his mind for me.

“Colin!” I protest.

“Brooke!” he mimics me. He grabs my hand that’s holding my phone, and brings it up to my face. “You just need to tell me which vet you bring her to.”

Still flustered and shaking my head, I somehow try to focus.

“Umm, Kohl’s Animal Hospital in Ellisville,” I answer, finally looking up at him. His hazel eyes were shining with such kindness that I practically got lost in his gaze.

“Okay, I’ll meet you there. Come on, girl,” he commands Luna. Just like before, she obeys him easily, the way she’s never once listened to me. They walk away toward his car.

“Th-thank…you…” I manage to utter, but in a barely audible whisper. I stand there, outside my car looking like a mental case with my phone still in my hand, for another minute.

I’m just awestruck at his hospitality. Nobody’s ever offered to help me out like this before.

Finally, I unlock my phone and pull up the contact for the vet.

Bringing the phone back to my ear as I open the car door and hop in. “Yes, hi. This is Brooke Waters. I’m calling for my dog Luna.” I let the vet’s office know that the famous NFL star running back, Colin Scholtz, is bringing in my dog for surgery.