R U S S O 18+

R U S S O 41

R U S S O 41

Winter workouts.

To be described in one word:

Shitty.

Mateo loathed winter workouts. That was his biggest enemy. The only thing that could kick his ass.

There was getting up at 6 a.m. to do workouts outside in the freezing cold weather of December. They did drills. Assault bikes. Lifting. Running up the Stairs.

If anyone messed up during the mat drills, the entire group had to redo them again. No breaks in between; diving straight into another workout.

It was hell.

Coaches yelled to build their players mentally, keeping them in check and making them play as a team. But on the bright side, a winter break was coming up.

That meant a tiny break for Mateo, and he could hardly wait to take advantage of it.

"Here," Anastasia greeted Mateo at his front door on his way in, offering him a hot tea to warm him up. "It's glazed lemon loaf."

"You're so sweet," he said, lazily bringing her in and kissing her forehead.

Muffling into his chest, "How bad was it?"

"I could barely feel my legs," Mateo muttered.

"Want me to draw you a bath?" Mateo shook his head in response, which she felt. After being freed, Anastasia announces, "Well, I'll be on my way to class then," and he groans.

"Mierda," he mumbled. shit.

"Don't worry about it," she said, not wanting him to do anything but sit down and relax.

"No, I'll take you," Mateo insists.

"Mateo," she grabs the front of his shoulders. "Relax. I'm fine. You're tired. I can get there on my own. But if you're really tired, you should let me drive your car."

"And hit another curb?" Mateo asks.

"We said we wouldn't bring that up again," she whines.

He takes a sip of the tea and says, "C'mon, I'll take you," heading to the door.

"Mateo, seriously. You should lay down for a little bit," not grasping how his body wasn't shutting down.

But athletes were trained in a certain way that made them appear fine even though they were aching. Some limped around, but it didn't show the real pain they faced.

That's why this small winter break was important.

A slight relaxation from the intensity, even though students were going to party the week away. A few were going to do something in a cabin, go back home to visit their family, or sleep in the dorms and prepare for next semester.

Anastasia and Mateo might be a thing, but seeing their family was important. Christmas with the family was a must, and trying to create this joint thing was a bit too soon.

Mateo can't go that many days without seeing his lady, so he will be getting her alone for quality time.

"Later, babe," Anastasia said, leaning over the center console to kiss his cheek.

He dropped her off, even after she insisted she was fine.

"You're sure you're not going to be cold?" Mateo asks for the second time, catching that she left the house wearing a short skirt.

"Yeah," her perfume floating around under his nose. "The tights are going to help me out," barely, and she knew that. "Got the cute leg warmers, the Uggs, and a puffer on. I'm warm."