Thrown by a Curve by Jaci Burton Read Free Book Online Page A

at coming back up.
    He pulled his head away from the water and scrubbed his hand over his face, turned off the shower, and grabbed a towel. After the steam cleared in the bathroom, he took a look in the mirror.
    Maybe Alicia was right. God, he hated to admit that, but maybe it was time to take this therapy thing more seriously.
    Or at least think about taking it more seriously. He still wasn’t convinced any of this was doing any good. But maybe he should give it more time—give her more time—to make it all work.
    He threw on clean clothes, combed his hair, and came out of his room. Alicia was staring out the back door into his backyard.
    She turned when she heard him come out.
    “Okay, let’s get this therapy thing going.”
    She walked over to grab her coat. “About damn time.”
    He smiled as he pulled his jacket off the back of the chair. Yeah, he still liked her sass.
    He followed her to the treatment facility and got out of his car.
    “Wait,” she said as he headed to the door.
    “What?”
    “You didn’t eat.”
    “No. Didn’t have time.”
    “You need to fuel up first.”
    He leaned against his car. “What? And ruin your carefully crafted time line?”
    “Funny. Come on.”
    They walked across the street to Denny’s. Alicia ordered a cup of coffee and some juice while Garrett ordered the full breakfast.
    “Nothing to eat for you?” he asked.
    “I already ate breakfast. I was on time and waiting for you at the facility two hours ago.”
    “Okay, I get it. I was an asshole,” he said as he downed a glass of juice.
    She didn’t answer, so obviously, she agreed with him. Then she went quiet. She’d brought her notebook, so he contented himself with playing a game on his phone.
    “You get that this is all for your benefit, right?”
    He waited to answer her while the waitress delivered his food. “Part of me does. The other part of me just wanted to sleep in this morning.”
    “That other part of you needed a wake-up call.”
    He dug into his eggs. “Yeah, well, that part of me doesn’t like you very much.” He swallowed. “Sorry.”
    “I don’t need you to like me, Garrett. I just need you to follow the plan.”
    “And just what is the plan for today? More of the same?”
    She smiled. “No. I have something fun in mind for today’s therapy.”
    Fun, huh? Nothing about therapy was fun.
    After he finished eating, they headed back to the facility. Alicia stopped at her car. “Get in.”
    “We’re not going to train in there?”
    “Not today.”
    He climbed into her car and put on his seat belt. “So, where are we going?”
    She pulled out of the parking lot, keeping her gaze straight ahead. “Not far.”
    He had a chance to watch her as she drove. Carefully. With both hands on the wheel, and never once taking her attention off the road.
    He also noticed she didn’t have her uniform on today, something he hadn’t paid much attention to when she’d shown up at his house.
    “No team uniform today?”
    “Nope.” She pulled off the highway and pulled into what at first looked like a gym.
    Then he realized it wasn’t a gym at all.
    “Seriously?” he asked as she parked. “A rock climbing facility?”
    She finally turned to him. “It’ll be great therapy. Plus, tons of fun.”
    Nothing that had “therapy” in it was ever fun. But he got out and slid into step next to her.
    “Ever rock climbed before?” she asked as they headed inside.
    He didn’t know what he expected, but tons of walls with different-sized colorful rocks wasn’t it. “Uh, no. You?”
    She grabbed a clipboard from the front desk. “As a matter of fact, I have. It’s a tremendous form of exercise for your entire body, especially for your shoulders.”
    “Hey, Alicia.”
    Garrett looked over as a muscular guy came to the desk. Alicia smiled at him.
    “Hi, Dave.”
    “I have everything set up for you and Garrett. Hi, I’m Dave.”
    “Nice to meet you, Dave.” Garrett shook his hand.
    “I’m a big