Chapter 4: The Offer

The gymnasium buzzed with the usual chaos the next day. The grunts, thuds, and Caleb’s sharp commands filled the noise. Tyler moved through drills mechanically, but he wasn’t into it. His eyes lingered over Elena’s figure standing near the water station.

“Reed, focus!” Caleb snapped at Tyler. “Your sprawl’s sloppy. You want to lose again?”

Tyler gritted his teeth and followed the stance. Caleb’s drills were rigid and sloppy, not him. They felt like chains on his instincts. He needed freedom to experiment and let his unorthodox moves breathe.

The practice ended, and Caleb returned to his office. The rest filed out, but Tyler lingered in the gym. He was stealing glances at Elena as she was sorting some papers in the corner.

Elena noticed his lingering gaze. She had thought over Caleb’s plea to help him with Tyler. While she could understand Caleb’s desperation, she was not going to risk her marriage over a weak moment. Yet, she wanted to help Caleb reach Tyler. She also had a plan in mind. Caleb won’t like it, but it was still better than what he had asked.

Elena walked up to Tyler slowly. She eyed him down like measuring him. “Tyler,” she called firmly. “You looked off out there. Like you’re holding back.”

He avoided her gaze. “Just tired, I guess. Caleb’s drills don’t exactly ... inspire me.”

She tilted her head. A small smile played on her lips. “I noticed. You’ve got those wild moves, the ones Caleb doesn’t get. But they’re stiff. You need to loosen up and let your body flow.”

Tyler raised an eyebrow. “What, like yoga or something?”

“Exactly.” Her smile widened. It was warm and yet professional. “I can help you with stretches and flexibility. We can work on your core and the balance. It’ll give you the edge to pull off those unorthodox moves of yours. What do you say?”

He hesitated. The thought of one-on-one time with Elena sent a jolt through him. “You mean, like a private session?”

She nodded, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Every day after practice. You are short on time, and we need some quick results. I used to be a yoga trainer, Tyler. I know how to unlock a body’s potential. You want to beat guys like Jake? You need to move like no one else can.”

Tyler’s mind raced. It was a practical offer. His body still ached from Jake’s takedown. More flexibility could’ve saved him. Elena’s undivided attention was an added bonus. “Alright,” he said finally. “I’m in.”

“Good.” She stepped closer. “We will start from tomorrow, but this stays between us. Caleb won’t like me fiddling with his training regime. Got it?”

Tyler nodded. This was a chance to experiment and grow. “Deal,” he said. He met her eyes without any hesitation for the first time.

Tyler kept his head down and played along with Caleb’s training the next evening. He was waiting for the training to end in anticipation of his first session with Elena. He was not sure how Elena planned to keep the session secret, but he was about to find out.

The training ended on time, and the team started to clear out. Tyler took his time to pack his things while waiting for everyone to leave. His doubts were answered when Caleb also left after nodding at him.

Elena called him inside a small training room off the main gym. The space was small but enough for two people. There were two yoga mats spread across the floor. A soft yellow light in the room, and a faint scent of sandalwood hung in the air.

Elena stood on one of the yoga mats. She was barefoot, and her hair was pulled into a loose bun.

“Ready to work?” she asked. She wore a black sports bra and leggings.

Tyler nodded. He removed his shoes and stepped on the yoga mat. He felt out of place in his wrestling singlet.

“Let’s start with basic stretches to open your hips and core,” she said. Her movements were fluid and controlled as she knelt on a mat. “Your moves rely on explosive power, but you’re too tense. We’ll loosen you up so you can flow into those crazy spins and counters you love.”

Tyler struggled to follow even the basic stretches. The deep lunges, hip openers, and twists seemed almost inhuman to him.

Elena was patient and guided him through every movement. Her hands were firm but gentle. She helped in adjusting his posture with confident yet professional touches. Whether it was his shoulder or thigh, there was no hesitation in her approach.

Tyler had no time to dwell on the intimacy as each movement pushed him harder. The simple stretches were pushing his endurance to the limits. Her voice was calm and focused, but she pushed him hard.

“Focus on your breathing, Tyler. Your body moves along with your breathing. Let the tension go.”

Elena’s expertise surprised Tyler. She knew the body’s mechanics better than most coaches he’d met. The first session was all about getting the movements right. Tyler was sweating buckets by the end of an hour. He had never imagined a yoga session to drain him worse than a full sparring match.

“It’s only the first day, Tyler. You will get better with practice.” Elena assured him.

They wrapped up the grueling session, and she let Tyler leave for the day.

Elena slipped out of the small training room. Her mind replaying Tyler’s awkward lunges and the spark of potential she’d seen in him. The gymnasium was quiet now. She found Caleb waiting for her near the hallway. His jaw was tight as he stood leaning against the wall.

“You’re still here,” she said casually. She brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she studied his expression.

Caleb looked at her with his furrowed brow. “Saw Tyler leave. Looked like he’d been through hell. What’s this yoga nonsense you’re pulling, El?”

Elena raised an eyebrow. She walked up to him with her arms crossed. “Nonsense? It’s flexibility training, Cal. His unorthodox moves need range. You know that.”