Green eyes stayed on Else as she spoke. He didn't interrupt her or argue as she explained exactly why this had happened in the first place. He'd expected her to argue, or dig her heels in like Kalifornia would, but she didn't. Instead she owned her fuck up and explained why. Chester nodded as she spoke, as she held his eyes.
He leaned forward and took her hands in his. "I get it. I've done it too I'm sure." He'd also competed with broken bones before, but he hadn't really hidden it so it wasn't EXACTLY the same.
"Look, I take risks too. I get it. We're in the same industry and I don't expect or want you to be any different then I am when I compete. We push through the pain and the injuries because we're professionals. And maybe a little stupid." The first hint of a smile came back to his lips.
"But we have to hold each other accountable. If you'd been honest I wouldn't have forced you to do anything, Else. But I would have checked in more and strongly suggested picking one of the two to focus on." Chester was a dare devil too, but he was also practical when it came to picking battles, at least in this stage of his life.
"I'll fight your coach on your side, as long as you keep me in the loop." Green eyes were still on her blue ones as he spoke as serious as she'd ever seen him.
"Remember that time you talked me down from the panic attack at the X-Games last year? I scratched because you were the voice of reason holding me accountable. Because that's the kind of trust we have." His hand tightened on hers, squeezing it reassuringly.
"Please don't make me second guess this Else. You've always been upfront about everything. I don't want to worry about our communication the way I did with Kali." He paused then. They hadn't really talked in great detail about the specifics about the implosion of his relationship with his longtime ex-girlfriend. He was sure she figured most of it out, if not from him but from observation and insight from Leif and J.A.
"I know you aren't her. And our relationship is a whole lot more functional and healthy for both of us." While she obviously understood why he was mad, he felt it necessary to assure to her. His thumb was gently tracing light circles on the back of her hand as he spoke. "