He shrugs, a grim expression on his face as he squeezes my shoulder. “I don’t know what other option you’ve got, mate.”
I scrub my hands over my face before pulling out my phone, and then I send Vinny a text with all the details I have.
My phone rings instantly.
“I’m out,” I tell him.
“You haven’t given me a lot to go on here, Mase. How much do you want to know?”
I look to the boys, all of them watching me with intense looks on their faces, and I know I shouldn’t ask for it, I know it’s wrong, but a mixture of relief and excitement settles in my gut as I say, “Everything.”
4
Nina
I groanas I push open the door to the gym, nausea crawling up my throat as my stomach turns from the sheer weight of it. And probably the wine I drank last night. I came home from lunch at Maggie and John’s with a bottle of wine and the other half of the banoffee pie I’d made. Rarely am I late for work, but today, I feel horrific.
Water bottle in hand, I start to weave through the throngs of people and equipment. I chose a shit time to come in today. The gym is packed with everyone rushing to get their workout done in their lunch hour. I catch Logan’s eye as I’m passing the treadmills, and he gestures for me to wait a minute while he finishes up with his client.
Oh, not today, please.
I trudge to the main desk, sinking into the chair as a layer of sweat forms on my hairline.
God, I feel awful.
Logan is Lucy’s cousin and has worked in the gym since I opened it. He shares the shifts with Henry, my only other employee. I’m lucky to have them both, and I know I can trust them to have free rein on the gym.
“Anderson, you’re looking rough today.” Logan rounds the desk and stands behind me, checking the computer in front of me.
“Well, thanks, asshole. That better not be why you stopped me.” I squint up at him, the fluorescent lights making my head spin.
“One of the reasons,” He winks. “Henry can’t work this afternoon. He didn’t say why, but it’s not like him. Do you have any classes?”
I consider lying. The only thing I want to do this afternoon is sleep. My hand lifts, my fingers running aimlessly over my collarbone.
“Don’t try lying to me, Anderson. I already checked your sheet. I have a date, and I’m not cancelling.” He gives me a lopsided grin that I can’t help but return.
Logan is a total gym freak, his arms the same size as my thighs—maybe. But under all that hardness, he is the softest son of a bitch I’ve ever met.
“How the hell didyouget a date?” I roll my eyes, teasing him.
Man, I do not want to cover the gym. I planned to leave right after my second class. Logan knows I won’t say no.
“Funny, I will be leaving at four.” He ruffles my hair then goes back to his client.
I make my way up the studio stairs, a calmness settling over me once I’m inside. A feeling I’ve not felt since I left on Friday.
This really is my sanctuary.
I give the floors a quick brush before setting out the mats for the girls’ warm-up. I’m just laying down the last one when I hear their giggles as they climb the stairs. Funnily enough, they never use the back door. Something about the muscle show downstairs that they can’t miss.
I smile as they come into view, brushing myself off and putting my game face on.
* * *
“Girls,that’s the best I’ve seen it! We are nearly there!” I say excitedly, and they all start to jump around, high-fiving one another. I make them stretch before they leave for the day, some of them staying on to work out downstairs.
With no more classes scheduled for the rest of the day, I start cleaning the studio mirrors. Logan is here for another hour, and I need to kill some time.
