That made her laugh too, thankfully. “I hear you. If I really don’t wanna go out in the rain, I can work out at home or something.”
Exactly. She got it. “There you go. But it’s also about balance, you know? If I work out five days a week, and I look out the window on Sunday to see it pouring down, maybe I’ll say fuck it—and that’s fine. It’s when you find an excuse every day that it becomes a problem.”
“Agreed. You make a lot of sense most of the time.”
I liked her cheekiness a bit too much. It made me wanna stand here all day and keep talking to her.
“Most of the time,” I echoed with a laugh.
The sass faded, and she nudged me with her elbow as she shouldered her bag. “Thanks for today.”
“You got it. I’ll text you tonight. Rest up and enjoy that burger.”
“Oh my God, I will.” She beamed and looked both ways before crossing the street.
That night, I tried to find her on social media again—to no avail. Did she really only have accounts for her business? I didn’t even know if she ran them, and I couldn’t find a single personal photo.
I took a swig of my tea and leaned back against the headboard, as my thumb got a workout scrolling through her Instagram account. Models wearing her jewelry, announcements for new collections, more models, one or two professionally taken pictures of Natalie—flattering angles and black-and-white filters—models, models, models. A wide range of models, I should say. I paused at one black-and-white candid, taken at a photo shoot, of Natalie and a plus-size model. Laughter frozen in time, with blurry figures moving in the background.
Christ, she was beautiful. She had charisma and charm—and that fucking sass.
“Not everyone is interested in a pompous gym owner who shaves his chest.”
I felt my mood tank in an instant, and I tossed the phone next to me on the bed.
People didn’t fucking get it.
I threw a quick glare at the razor when I showered the following morning. At some point soon, I had to sit down and make a few decisions, because I was done with doubts. More and more lately, I felt like I was maintaining a façade I didn’t believe in anymore, despite what I told others. My brothers, mainly.Because they were blunt enough to give me shit about my life choices. Actually, my sisters too.
After getting out of the shower, I dried off semi-hurriedly before heading to my closet. The flannels taunted me. Today would’ve been the perfect occasion to wear one, but I’d catch shit for that too. Everybody would notice, because my family was fucking nosy.
I picked out a pair of nice light gray slacks and a dark blue button-down instead.
A watch too. The blue Hamilton my folks had given me when I turned forty last year…
You’re over forty. Deal with it.
I clenched my jaw. As I fastened the watch, I realized I had to step on it. It’d become my job to make sure Lias showed up for family functions, so that meant I was taking the mother of all detours.
While I finished getting ready, I sent messages to my clients. Saturdays were easy, because I didn’t ask much. Weekends were sacred to many, and I merely wanted to remind them that I was there if they needed anything, not point fingers or make them feel guilty for possibly indulging. Or overindulging, in some cases.
Then I grabbed my nephew’s gift and walked out the door.
Natalie responded when I got behind the wheel of my truck.
Good morning to you too. Today’s gonna suck. I know that already. Cramps have set in, and I’m a danger to mankind.
I smirked to myself and buckled in, and I couldn’t resist…
Mankind or humankind?
Her reply was instant.
I said what I said.
I laughed and shook my head. She was fucking funny. And she was typing again too.
Lias could wait thirty seconds extra. We were likely gonna be early to the party anyway.
