Chapter 15 He Want to Try New Thing
Quinn's POV
"Ouch." I winced every time the mask made contact with my cheeks or lips.
However, no matter what, I still had to go to work even with a bruised face. To cover it up, I put on a second layer of mask. Thankfully the minimarket where I work allows me to wear it after I've given a reason I’m catching a cold.
But the problem now is, I have to work at the S-T Arena, where the Frost Maple ice hockey athletes practice. I absolutely couldn't claim to have a cold or I'd get kicked out because they'd be afraid I might spread it to them.
So when the coach and players approached me as I arrived, I blurted out an explanation before they could ask any questions.
"Sorry coach, I ate the wrong thing yesterday and my allergies flared up. So I have to use this mask. Is that okay?" I looked at them while fixing my hair that I purposefully tousled.
"Oh, Quinn!"
"You're Quinn? You look so different."
I smiled using my eyes. "You guys must be surprised. Sorry."
"No need to apologize like that. We can relate that everyone can also be allergic to food," the coach said later. That relieved me a little.
"Yes, we were surprised because we thought you were sick. But luckily it's just an allergy."
"Then, I'd better excuse myself. I'm gonna talk to Grayson about this. If I may know, where is Grayson?"
"I'm right here."
Oh there he is. I turned to see him. He seemed to be in a hurry.
"Sorry if I didn't make you comfortable today. I had to wear a mask-"
Bugh.
I gasped in surprise as Grayson dropped the equipment bag he had been carrying on his shoulder.
Grayson looked at me with a flat expression. "You have to take care of yourself. If you get sick, how are you going to take care of me? My games this week are coming up. There are two games in case you forgot."
I looked down deeply. Crap, Grayson was right again this time.
"I don't want things to be flipped over. You’re the one taking care of me, not the other way around. You understand your jobdesc, don't you?"
"I do." I replied under my breath. Honestly, Grayson's warning hurt more than the slap I received yesterday.
"Oh my gosh, Grayson! Don't you know Quinn is only human? She's sick too!"
"That's right. She's not a robot, Grayson."
"You should sympathize when your therapist suffers a misfortune. Instead of lashing out at her."
I couldn't believe the coach and some of the players were defending me. They even scolded Grayson when it was clearly my fault.
I felt bad for Grayson. So I tried to look him in the eye again. "I was wrong. I'll be more careful. You're right, I should have been better at protecting myself."
"Now that you realize. I want you to never do this again in the future." Grayson gave a long-winded advice. Which made me nod in approval to everything.
"Now follow me. I need you to stretch my stiff muscles," he ordered firmly.
Without asking again, I immediately followed behind Grayson. I also raised my hand in the air to form an okay sign so that the coach and the players would not have to worry anymore and would not have to scold Grayson.
I lifted one of Grayson's legs up because his muscles were quite tense in his lower body.
"Please stay in that position and hold it with your hands," I instructed.
Grayson complied. He bent one leg and straightened the other.
Right now there were only the two of us. The atmosphere is more relaxed than before. Maybe if I say it now, he won't get annoyed.
However, I must have the courage to say it. I have to keep my pride aside first. I must first convince him that I can be a therapist that he can rely on in the future.
And most importantly, I must be able to keep my word no matter what.
But what if he suddenly got the reflex to kick me when I said it? Ah, I'll have to step back then. At least as far as his legs can't reach my body. That way I'll be safe.
"Tsk. What's wrong?"
"Huh what's wrong?"
"You haven't eaten yet? Look at your hands, shaking."
I finally looked at my hands. That's right, it does tremor.
But not because I was starving, but because I was tense and flustered to prepare the right words to talk to him.
"Just say what you want to say. Or you'll just mess up the treatment session this time."
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Honestly hearing Grayson's cold, loud voice made my guts shrink. It was like a thunderbolt in bright daylight.
"If you don't-"
"I want you to give me next month's pay on this day," I said finally, in one breath.
"What the heck!"
Oh I had expected that kind of reaction from him. Well then, I had to be prepared in case I heard a rejection next.
"Where did the money I gave you the other day go? Isn't it still left for at the very least this week?"
I turned my face away to avoid his gaze. I also put his leg down slowly and took a step back. "I know it's a huge amount."
"That's why my reaction is like this. It is indeed a lot of money."
Why didn't he simply say those words of rejection though! I don't like being scolded like this. If he doesn't want to give it to me, he shouldn't have to humiliate me either.
How miserable to be poor, damn it.
"26,000 dollars gone in less than a week," he said again. He also laughed discordantly afterward.
If he knew what I spent the money on, he might be able to understand my situation. But if I told him, he would probably bring up again how pathetic my life was.
But... only Grayson knows about my condition. Only he knows my hardship. That would make things easier than asking others for mercy.
"Am I your walking wallet?"
That's why I kneeled down before he got even angrier. "I promise to do whatever you want. Even if you want us to have sex right now and every day, that's fine. I really need the money, Grayson."
Now I can tell my nerve of shame has been broken. I totally had no shame, Grayson was right.
If Grayson called me a slut... at this point I probably wouldn't deny it anymore.
"Hmmm are you? Look at me."
I looked up slowly only to find Grayson grinning sideways.
"I got a brilliant idea." He then grabbed my chin, making me stand up until now our faces were eye to eye. "Then this would be a good time. I want to try something new with you."