I just want him to come back and kiss me again.
ChapterFour
COLE
Aron’s pissed at me.
He’s not saying anything, but he’s flinging equipment around in a way that suggests he’d like to be aiming it in the direction of my head.
I stand there, waiting. He'll say something eventually. He’s the oldest and has the hottest temper; short, sharp bursts of anger, then everything’s fine again. When something’s wrong, you know it. Ivar’s different. You’ll never guess he’s mad at you until you wake up hogtied on the side of a freezing mountain.
“What. The. Actual. Fuck.” Aron moves a pile of workout mats with one hand and picks up another, staring at me. We’re the same height and he doesn’t scare me, but his eyes are blazing.
“Look, Aron…” I start.
“Don’t you look Aron me, bro. You were fucking kissing a fucking client. Are you fucking her too?” He clutches the mats to his wide chest.
“No. And that was the first time.” I sigh and reach out my hand for the mats.
He shoves them at me, but I’m expecting that so I push back a little.
“First time with her? Or have you already started sampling our client base?” He still looks like he wants to throw something at me.
“Oh give over, Aron. You know I don’t mess around with clients. Don’t you think I’d have made a bad reputation for myself before this if I had? Have a little faith.” I walk over to the boxes where the resistance bands are kept.
“Well, you’re sure as shit going to ruin our name in this town if you carry on like that. What were you thinking?” His voice is a little calmer now.
“I wasn’t thinking. I know I got it wrong, I just really like her. I haven’t felt like this before.” I don’t meet his eyes as I rummage around the box. I’m not sure what I’m looking for.
“There’s plenty of pretty girls in this town. Mess around all you like but not with your clients. We get one complaint of sexual harassment or something, and we’ll get shut down so fast it will make your head spin. And anyway, I don’t want to work with anyone - even my own brother - who is perving all over his clients.” Aron stacks the mats forcefully in a tall pile.
“I’m not sizing up my clients. And it won’t happen again. Like I said, it caught us both by surprise. Like when Ivar put that farting powder in your cornflakes in sixth grade.” I turn around and meet his eyes.
He’s trying to do his ‘I’m in charge’ face but I can see he’s trying not to crease up. “Low blow, Cole. Never mention the farting powder.”
I laugh. “I’ll never forget the look on the dog’s face when you couldn’t stop. It was pure horror. To be fair, those farts were pretty outrageous.”
He laughs and slaps my arm. “Poor Petra. She was caught in the crossfire. Seriously though, Cole. I’m watching you. Can you close up here while I turn the lights off in front?”
I nod, grab the keys from the hook on the wall and start locking the cabinets where we keep the more expensive equipment. Aron walks out to the front and I’m left alone.
Alyssa’s soft, pouty lips spring into my thoughts and my cock stiffens, imagining running my hands over her gorgeous curves. I may have told Aron that it won’t happen again but I don’t know if I can stop this now. It might be wrong, but I’ve never felt an attraction like this before, instant and powerful, like my whole body has finally found the perfect puzzle piece it fits with. And that piece is Alyssa.
I’ve never messed around with a client. That’s rule number one. But I threw it all out of the window once she was close to me.
I finish locking the cabinets, turn out the light in the back room, then close and lock the door. Aron’s big on security, even though in this little town I don’t think it’s as much of a problem as he imagines.
There’s a pile of stuff in a box which we’re taking to the town fair tomorrow. Ivar’s managed to wrangle us a stall, since he’s the king of PR, and all three of us are going to be selling gym memberships and merch. I’d much rather be in the gym, doing the job I love, but Ivar thinks we’ll get more takeup with us all together. He’s convinced Juni to hold the fort back here. They were at school together and she’s always held a candle for him, but he’s oblivious.
I’m up early the next day making breakfast for everyone. It’s my hobby outside work to make sure we all eat well. I’m sure Aron and Ivar would survive on protein shakes and takeout if left to their own devices, but they seem to like my cooking. I’ve made my own spice blend to sprinkle on our scrambled eggs which tastes delicious. For a second I think of texting the recipe to Alyssa, since she texted me the recipe for her lasagna after our first session, but then I remember my promise to Aron and put my cell down.
Once we’ve arrived at the town square Ivar disappears to get us some coffee while Aron and I set up our stall. Juni’s designed a brightly colored sign with our logo on it and we’ve brought helium balloons in our branding colors to decorate it.
An older lady with the highest beehive hairdo I’ve ever seen comes over and shakes my hand. “I like your stall. And your muscles are real impressive. But I have to admit I’m not really interested in using your gym, young man. But could I take a balloon for my granddaughter here?”
I can’t help smiling. At least she’s direct. “Sure.”
I hand her a silver star balloon and her three-year old granddaughter jumps up and down in delight. As they walk away I get the sense that someone’s watching me, so turn my head and lock gazes with Alyssa. She’s on a stall diagonally opposite ours, which is covered in wigs and blaring out pop music from a little speaker. A man with purple hair and glittery platform shoes stands next to her, dancing from side to side as he cradles a tiny dog wearing a blue tutu. I raise my hand and smile, then lose sight of her as the crowd gets thicker.
