Maya eyed him skeptically. “You’re the one who uses his own free will to come here even when I don’t demand it. Me? I’m just here to make you look great on the ’gram.”
Finn raised an eyebrow.
“Don’t give me that eyebrow,” Maya said. “You know it’s on fire—the whole place is watching you two, and you have them all in the palm of your hand. The two of you are pure chaos and I’m here for it!”
“Chaos?”
“Sam is busy looking all gorgeous and like a snow angel, and you—” she gestured dramatically at his form on the bench “—are the definition of ‘I forgot how to sit down after leg day’. Everyone loves it, and everyone loves you two—together.”
Finn chuckled, but Sam’s voice played back in his head. He said: “We’re just focusing on training now, Maya. We have to.”
“I know you have to.” Maya sighed. “But it doesn’t change the fact that you guys have so muchunresolved tensionthat if I threw a match, I could start a fire. Ohhhh, could that make a good hashtag? Firestarter. I could add the music too … The Prodigy.”
Finn scoffed. “Please, we’re just—” He picked fluff from his shorts.
“Just what? Playing hard to get? Like I haven’t seen this rom-com before.” Maya flopped down onto a balance ball, almost falling over as it bounced her back up. “Another illegal monstrosity!” Glancing at Finn, she righted herself. “And just for the record, I’m team ‘just get it together already’. You guys are meant for each other.” She pressed her fingers together in a hashtag sign and gave him a dazzling smile. “#FinnAndSamForever.”
“I swear you think in hashtags.” Finn snorted. “Maya, it’s just not that simple.”
Maya looked at him for a long moment. “Hmmmm what is going on here?”
“Nothing, Mai, nothing.” Finn sighed.
“And that sounds like a problem,” she said softly.
“No, it’s not a problem.” Finn pursed his lips. He had the urge to tell her how he really felt about Sam, and the hot tub, and the shower—but what good would that do? She couldn’t do anything about it, and it wouldn’t be fair to land her in an awkward position either, especially as she was Sam’s best friend. No, better to keep his mouth shut. That way no one got hurt.
“So, where is our girl?” Maya scrolled through her phone.
“Here,” Sam called. Finn looked up—his breath blew out in one huge stream. Sam was in the doorway, looking stunning, her skin glowing. She looked a little more refreshed than before. His heart pounded.
“I was about to go through my ideas for content with Finn here.” Maya tried to get off the balance ball. She slidonto the floor, her arms flailing as she went. “Oooof! Don’t mind me—just testing gravity.”
Sam giggled and ran over to help Maya up. “You okay?”
Maya nodded and dramatically rubbed her backside. “Peachy!”
Sam laughed. “So, what’s the plan?”
Maya waved her phone. “Oh yeah, we’re aiming for Olympic-level greatness with our posts. He’s not much help though.” She nodded at Finn. “Me, however, I am an absolute genius.”
“Spill it, genius,” Finn deadpanned. He swallowed, nervous about what Maya was going to say. She stuck her tongue out at him and put her hands on her hips.
“You guys are brilliant for photos, honestly. It’s not even like work, taking pics of you together, so I’ve been mostly concentrating on hashtags and captions. #FrostyButFabulous for example although #MeltingPoint has really taken off—like through the roof taken off. Also, what do you think of this for a caption:When your training is on fire but you’re still cute enough to post about it. I’m not sure. Sounds a little preachy maybe? Like you’re not supposed to look sweaty or whatever it is that happens to you people when you exercise.”
Sam chuckled. “I like it, but I get what you mean. Maybe we should actually just work out. Just a bit. Finn already looks the part. That way it gives strength and honesty to the caption?”
Maya tapped her phone thoughtfully. “That’s brilliant! All right, here’s the shot. Sam, stand here. Do that thing you do—what do you call it—your routine or whatever. Withthe weights.” She danced around taking shots as Sam began her arm workout. “Unreal! Now—be fierce! Be flawless and sweaty! Grrrr! That’s it!”
Sam stood with her feet hip-width apart, a dumbbell held steady at shoulder height. Stray strands of hair stuck to her face, and she looked powerful and in control. Her leggings hugged every flexed muscle as she braced for the next rep. Her expression was fierce—focused. Just like that, she was totally in the zone. Finn watched, completely forgetting to breathe. She was so good at this. A flush crept up her neck as her eyes locked on his, but she didn’t look away. Just squared her shoulders and adjusted her grip like the damn pro that she was. Maya’s voice cut through the moment like a whip. She waved a manicured hand at him.
“Earth to Finn! Hello!” She pointed to behind Sam. “Get in the frame! Act amazed at how amazing she is!” She flashed a mischievous grin. He shuffled into his place behind Sam, his face a mix of mild horror and amusement. “And you know, just put your hand on her waist, no—the other side. I want people to think you’re a team—in the gym and outside it—smolder! Yes! Come on, Finn—work it! Flex that bicep—just enough to make it look natural. Perfect! Oh, I can see it now: #TeamWorkMakesTheDreamWork.”
Finn gently placed his other hand on Sam’s hip. She flinched slightly and he swallowed.
Then Sam ever so slightly tilted her hips backwards toward him as Maya took photo after photo. He groaned and glanced down. Her ass looked so good in those leggings, and she felt ripe under his touch.
“That’s it! Ooooh, it’s giving ‘supportive but slightlypossessive boyfriend’ vibes.” Maya ran around them taking shot after shot. “I can see it now #SheLiftsHeLusts.” Quickly he removed his hand and stood back. Surely Maya had enough photos by now.
