I pulled the bar to my chest and lifted it with ease three times before West let out a whistle.
“See? I told you. You always undersell yourself. You get hung up on your goal weight and you don’t even try to do more.”
I did two more sets, slower each time, before I managed to get the bar back on the rack and sit up.
“I just did more, didn’t I?” I grabbed my water bottle and took a large sip while I wiped the sheen off my forehead. I scanned the surrounding area.
West shot me a disapproving look. “Only because I’m here.”
“And you’re always here.”
“Whatever. You’re impossible, man.” He shook his head and leaned against the rack as we took a small break to let our muscles reset.
I hadn’t realized how much I’d needed this session to blow off some steam. Hazel had been staying at my place for two days now, and while I’d call the experience mostly positive, there was this low, unspoken tension hanging in the air. I wassurprisingly at ease around her, and she was clearly making an effort to be tidy, even though it didn’t come naturally to her. But still. Something felt…off. Just out of reach.
I kept telling myself it was her situation—the one I was supposed to be helping her fix. Maybe the guilt of not having any answers yet was settling in. Maybe I felt like I was failing her.
Deep down, I knew that wasn’t it.
The tension wasn’t constant. It only showed up when she was close, when we talked, when we made contact. Like the other day, when I was grabbing a bowl from the kitchen cabinet and she’d reached past me for a glass of water. She laid a hand on my waist, just to keep me from backing into her. But the way my entire body locked up at that single touch?
Yeah. Hard to pretend that didn’t mean something.
And it was also hard to pretend that my heart wasn’t racing a little as I scanned the gym for a face I’d only cyber-stalked up until this point. He had to be here. He wasalwayshere.
“How’s the new house guest?” West asked, reading my mind as per usual.
“She’s good,” I said, knowing full well that Ruby had probably already filled him in on all the details. I knew they talked a lot. In fact, I was positive everything had made it back to my entire family by now. That was their way. Gossip spread faster than a cough during flu season.
“Just good?”
I shrugged and took another sip of water. West was always the talker in our friendship. Which I supposed I was grateful for. If it weren’t for him, I’d likely have way more of a shell surrounding me.
“Seems like you’re fishing for something,” I said.
He frowned at me. “Yes, I’m fishing. For something fucking interesting. You have a single, attractive girl living in your guest room and you have nothing to say about it?”
“How did you know she’s attractive?”
He smirked. “I didn’t, but you just confirmed it.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. “She’s got a lot on her mind. We’re just cohabitating,” I said.
A slight lie. We’d had some solid conversations. While I might have expected us to retreat to our own corners of the house every evening, that hadn’t been the case. After we got back from the animal shelter last night, she’d lingered in the kitchen while I made dinner. She’d said she didn’t want any, but I made way too much on purpose, insisting she take some. Then we’d watched another movie—rather, we’d talked through another movie. For someone who liked my space so much, I was surprised to find that I also genuinely liked having Hazel around.
“And you haven’t made a move?” West asked.
I looked to the ceiling for patience. “She’s grieving. Her grandmother passed away a month ago, she had her cat stolen, and she has money problems. The last thing she wants is for me tomake a move.” I said the last words in a mocking tone. This line of questioning from West was something I’d expected. Ever since my divorce, he’d been hounding me to meet someone new. If they had it their way, West and my sisters would be managing my dating life, and I’d be going on blind dates five times a week to increase my odds.
But that wasn’t me.
“There’s no flirtatious vibe there? Absolutely nothing?” West asked.
I hesitated—just for a split second—but that was all it took.
“I knew it!” West clapped me on the shoulder, his brown eyes brightening with excitement. “You like her.”
I shoved his hand away. “Idolike her, just not in the way you’re thinking. She’s a nice girl. I want to help her. Maybe we could be friends. But she’s a mess, West.”
