Selena smirked. “Yep. He and Evelyn broke up in August. Something you would have known if you ever came crawling back to the gym.”
Rosie groaned. “I wanted to, but it was too hard seeing them together constantly.”
“Fair enough,” Selena said. “And for the record, I wouldn’t have asked him to join us if he was still with his ex. But when I talked to him, he seemed excited to grab a drink. I think he’s been having a hard time. I’m not sure if it’s related to his breakup or something else.”
For months, Rosie had wished he was still a part of her life. Even if her romantic feelings for him had been one-sided, she’d always enjoyed chatting with him during their workouts. Maybe now, she could rekindle their friendship.
“I’m glad he’s coming,” she said. “It’ll be nice to see him again.”
It was just one drink. What was the worst that could happen?
Two
Drew Richardson wonderedif he’d been stood up. Selena had told him they’d be meeting at Pepe’s Cantina around five thirty, and it was six now. The place was packed, but he’d snagged the last available high-top. A Latin pop song came on, and he bopped his head to the music, trying to stay upbeat. The Damsels were probably just running late.
When his phone buzzed, he pulled it out of his pocket.
Selena: Sorry to make you wait. Just leaving the hotel now.
Drew: Great! Grabbed us a table near the bar.
Knowing he wouldn’t be drinking alone, he signaled his server over and ordered a pitcher of the house margaritas, along with chips and salsa. Was it a little pathetic that he’d spent all day looking forward to tonight’s happy hour? Maybe so, but he’d been mired in a broody funk for the past two days. Having Selena show up on his training schedule had been a stroke of luck. When she’d extended tonight’s invitation, he’d accepted right away.
More than anything, he was eager to see Rosie again. He’d really missed her friendship. Back in February, after months of working out at Northlife three or four times a week and training with him on Thursdays, she’d just stopped coming. When he’d texted her to see if everything was okay, she’d claimed her life was too busy to squeeze in time for the gym. Though he knew how demanding her job was, he couldn’t help worrying that he’d driven her away.
Back when he’d first met her, a little over a year ago, he’d felt a powerful—and unexpected—wave of attraction every time they worked out together. Normally, he never hit on the women he trained. Above all, he wanted them to feel safe around him. But Rosie’s outgoing nature, combined with her candid sense of humor and enticing curves, had lit a fire in him. So much that he’d considered asking one of his coworkers to take over as her personal trainer, just so he’d be free to date her.
But before he made his move, Evelyn had walked into his life. Up until then, he’d kept his relationships casual. A lot of hookups. A few girlfriends, but none who’d ever captured his heart. Having spent years watching his parents’ marriage slowly disintegrate, he didn’t have much faith in romantic relationships. Until Evelyn had woven her spell over him. Little by little, she’d gained his trust, only to dump him for Jared, who just happened to be his direct supervisor.
It had been rough.
Drew didn’t want her back, but since they worked together, avoiding her was impossible. And two days ago, she’d invited him to her December wedding. Truly, the icing on the shit cake.
Ever since then, he’d been stewing over it, but he was tired of wallowing. He desperately wanted to get his groove back so that he could enjoy the holiday season. Maybe tonight could be the first step.
Selena breezed into Pepe’s with Charlie and Rosie trailing in her wake. She waved at Drew. “Hey there. Thanks for grabbing a table. This place is hopping.”
He grinned at them, unable to hide his glee at the sight of Rosie. She looked paler than he remembered but still as alluring as ever. Thick, black hair falling in waves to her shoulders, big dark eyes with crazy-long lashes, and full, kissable lips. Even clad in business attire, she was sexy as hell, wearing a pencil skirt that accentuated her shapely butt.
“Hey, Damsels,” he said. “Thanks for letting me crash your happy hour. I ordered us a pitcher of margaritas.”
“Good call,” Charlie said. “I’m dying for a drink. A bunch of conventioneers arrived yesterday, and holy cats, have they been demanding.”
“I hear you,” Drew said. “A few of them came to use the gym this morning, and they were pissed because we don’t have a lap pool.”
Rosie flashed him a shy smile. “Hi, Drew.”
“Hey, Rosie. Good to see you again.” He wasn’t going to ask why she hadn’t been back to the gym in months. All that mattered was that she’d shown up tonight.
Their server arrived and set down the pitcher and glasses, along with two baskets of tortilla chips and three bowls of Pepe’s famous salsa: Medium, Hot, and “Disco Inferno.” After pouring margaritas for all of them, Drew raised his glass. “A toast—to the Damsels.”
“Hell, yes,” Selena said. “We need it, given that our jobs are on the line.”
Drew kept his gaze focused on Rosie, whose smile had suddenly vanished. “Everything okay at the hotel?” he asked.
She sighed. “It’s not that bad, but we have a huge challenge ahead of us.”
“Don’t keep us in suspense any longer,” Charlie said. “Spill.”
