“To focus on speed, agility, and injury prevention,” I recited as I approached the double glass doors. Seriously, I was like a walking encyclopedia of all things sports now.
As soon as I entered, I was hit with the smell of eucalyptus. I advanced, looking around for a bunch of giant football players. I spotted them through another glass door and hesitantlyapproached. Would they feel weird having a random woman show up at their session?
However, when Jaden spotted me from the bench he sat on, lifting what looked like more than my body weight in dumbbells, he sprang up with a huge smile and waved. I smiled because at least he seemed happy to see me.
I yanked the door to the gym open and was hit with the smell of ambition… with a generous helping of sweat. It was six in the morning, and these guys were already at it, tossing weights like they were nothing.
“Hey, Ava, you made it.” He was drenched in sweat but wore a huge smile. He had such golden retriever energy.
“Morning, Jaden. You guys get going early, I see.”
“Yeah. Let me introduce you to some of the guys.”
I followed him, my head on a swivel, taking in everything and everyone. There was state-of-the-art equipment everywhere. The gyms in LA sure were different from the simple ones back home. The grunts and murmurs of conversation stopped when we approached the group. The guys were all equally sweaty, muscular, and most were shirtless. I couldn’t help thinking about how jealous my co-worker, Melody, would be. She’d be in paradise in this room of fit, perspiring men.
“Guys, this is Ava Montgomery. She’s writing that feature about me for the…”
“Springfield Sentinel. In Massachusetts," I added.
“That’s a long way from home for an article,” someone said.
“I’m from Massachusetts,” Jaden said. “It had to be a paper from my home state, man. You guys are going to see Ava around for a while. So no dirty jokes.”
“Unless they’re funny,” I interjected. “In which case, go for it.”
A few of them laughed.
One gave a mock salute.
Another nodded and said, “I like you, ma’am.”
“God, please don’t call me ma’am.”
There was another hum of laughter.
“Why do you get a hot reporter, Cole?” One of the guys asked. “That’s not fair.”
My eyebrows shot up. Before I could utter a word in response, everyone’s gazes shifted to the door. I didn’t have to turn around to know who they were all looking at. I felt Lincoln before I saw him. Sure enough, when I glanced over my shoulder, there he was coming toward me. My traitorous eyes admired him in a black T-shirt that stretched across his chest. He was as fit as any current pro athlete.
He didn’t look happy to see him, and I didn’t blame him. I was a total bitch to him the other night.
“Ava,” he greeted. His voice held a sharp edge. “You’re early. Very early. You didn’t have to show up for a workout session.”
I gritted my teeth to bite back my heated retort. Was he going to be a thorn in my side every step of the way?
“Guys,” he greeted warmly.
I almost rolled my eyes at his making it clear I was the only one he wasn’t happy to see.
There was a chorus of‘sup, Lincandhey, man.
The ass then proceeded to ignore me as if I were a stain on the gym floor.
I turned to Jaden, who watched me and Lincoln with curiosity. “Don’t mind me. Go ahead and do your thing,” I said. “We’ll talk when you’re done.”
Jaden nodded. “Sure thing.”
I moved off to one side where there were floor-to-ceiling windows that gave a nice view of the parking lot. Lincoln and Jaden had a quick, hushed conversation. My eyes narrowed on them. Was Lincoln warning Jaden about me? What was his dealanyway? The way he behaved, you’d think all journalists were spawns of Satan.
