“You know he’s a good guy.” He bends and picks up the keys at my feet.
“He put you out of a job, Logan.” I shake my head, knowing Mason only ever tried to protect me when he did what he did. “I’m pissed at you.”
He just nods, as if he expected it. I hate that he has me backed into a corner, but I can hardly say no when he’s given me not only a job but potentially a studio.
It’s been so long since I danced.
“I’ll PT him,” I relent. “But surely you can see it’s a farce. He doesn’t need a PT.”
“Yeah and I asked you to PT him, I didn’t tell you how you should do it.” He winks. “I’m sure you can get inventive with it. He did put us out of a job after all.”
I tilt my head to the side. I think he is telling me to beast him, but I don’t voice it. The more I think on it, the more I think this could be fun.
“Anything you need for this place?—”
“I will pay for myself. Don’t push it,” I cut him off, knowing what was coming next.
“What do you think you’ll do with it?” he asks, looking around with a knowing smile.
“I have an idea,” I tell him, mentally calculating what needs doing and what it might cost. I don’t have much in the way of savings right now, but I have a little. Especially now that Mum isn’t in contact.
“It might not happen right away?—”
“Take your time. There’s no rush, no pressure,” he assures me.
“Thank you, Logan.” I take the keys from his outstretched hand, excitement buzzing in my gut.
“It’s like something out of a tacky romance movie.” Megan laughs into her wine glass as I conclude my week’s fuckery.
She isn’t far wrong. Mine and Mason’s entire relationship could be one big bad romance novel. “And Logan backed him on it. Apparently, I had six people request me for PT sessions, they clearly have no idea how terrible I’d be. Me with a bunch of girls in tutus fine—I can teach but put me one on one with a raging protein-filled muscle and I’d be screwed.”
“Raging protein-filled muscle.” Scarlet chuckles, her cheeks flushing. “That’s what she said.”
“You know what I mean!” I give her an elbow to the ribs as she snorts out a laugh.
“Personally, I think Logan is right. Maybe it’ll give you two the opportunity to clear the air once and for all,” she tells me, dropping her head to my shoulder.
I stare thoughtfully down at my coffee table. “I thought we already had.”
“The last time you saw him you got naked, actually.” Lucy cringes as she corrects me.
“Eww.” Scarlet lifts her head from my shoulder in disgust.
“Actually!The last time I saw him, I made a fool of myself in the middle of the gym and split my chin open. What if I’m just as terrible as that? I can’t train him.”
“I have every bit of faith in you. Stop worrying.” Lucy smiles. “This will be a good thing. Imagine if you can eventually be around each other and not want to kill one another. Or get naked,” she adds.
As much as I get what Lucy is saying, it feels impossible. Maybe—hopefully in time things won’t be as electric with Mase. Maybe one day I won’t feel the way I do about him. I don’t tell them about the room above the gym, mostly because I want to take my time, make sure it’s exactly what I want. It’s been a long time since I danced, well over a year, and I worry it won’t come to me like it used to.
“At least Mason is speaking to you,” Scarlet voices from beside me. “He’s been avoiding me.”
“He hasn’t phoned?” I ask, annoyed. I wish he would be better for her; I know the kind of man he can be and this isn’t it.
“No, but he did text last week. Asked if everything was okay. I mean, what does everything entail? The house? Me? Our parents’ graves? The entire estate I manage alone whilst studying medicine?”
“Someone should have a word.” Lucy peers over at me. “I could speak to Ell.”
“No!” Scarlet exclaims. “I don’t want him to be forced into it! If he cared, he would be there. I’m over it anyway.”
