I nodded. “At this point, I’ve actually reached the create-your-account page.”
Was that relief I saw? No way. Couldn’t be. Wishful thinking, more like.
“Anyway, I…I don’t wanna keep you from your dinner.” I gestured vaguely at his takeout bag. I knew that sushi place. They had amazing food.
He glanced at his bag too. “Right, yeah, I’ll head on up.” He cleared his throat and locked eyes with me again. “You might not wanna stand out here much longer. It looks like you’re soaked through.”
Oh, I was getting there…
Actually, I should stay here all night, because I clearly needed a cold shower.
CHAPTER 9
Ethan Quinn
“Okay, I’m out, boss,” Laurie said. “Shyla and Ted just left.”
“All right, drive safe.” I took a swig of my coffee and logged in to my own account.
“By the way—” She faced me and pointed toward the shop section where we had workout clothes, water bottles, and shoes. “The delivery you were expecting today didn’t come, so I called them, and now they’re saying after the weekend.”
I waved it off. “No worries. It’s no emergency.” Tonight, I cared more about the area on the opposite side of the aisle—the boxing ring.
Let’s see, let’s see. The gym was emptying out for the night, and I knew the drill. Once I activated the digital access system at ten PM, we’d have a dozen members come and go throughout the night. Some who worked late and stopped by around midnight, some who started their morning at three AM with a workout, and people like my baby sister, who sometimes came atrandom hours to take out built-up frustrations on punching bags or treadmills.
I had an hour before Darius got here, so I spent the next half hour lifting weights, trying my best not to think about Natalie, and then when I failed at that, I headed down to my office to delete emails and have a protein shake.
She’d looked happier today, hadn’t she? I wasn’t imagining things. Even though she’d said her work trip had been exhausting, she’d come home with a newfound source of energy, and it was a damn good look on her.
She’d told me a little bit about her idea for the studio too. Her marketing team was apparently on board with her opening a small, exclusive shop where customers could meet the designer herself—and shop for jewelry that would only be available in small quantities and only in Camassia. Something about building up hype. But mostly, it was personal to Natalie. Something that was only for her.
I was trying something similar with my own brand.
I hadn’t quite found my footing yet, but I’d gotten off to a good start with my new Tuesday task on Instagram. It was my goal to attract a broader demographic with posts about chores and shit to do around the house that were actually good exercise. Granted, I had posted my announcement with a video of me treating my folks’ patio for the winter, and I wasn’t brand-new. Women liked watching men do housework.
I hadn’t even taken off my shirt, and it was still one of my most popular posts this year.
My changes weren’t meant to be for only me, but they were an attempt to shake the façades I’d erected over the last decade. This was going to be 100% Ethan Quinn. Shit I believed in, without the frills.
I was in the middle of restructuring my diet too.
After changing into a new tee, I left my office and walked upstairs again. My next workout was about to arrive to beat the shit out of me. Well, he was going to try. As strong and agile as Darius was for his age, he wasn’t the special operator he’d once been—which I knew pissed him off.
Considering he was gearing up for another risky work assignment, I had a feeling I’d go home with some budding bruises later.
Ten o’clock was here, so I activated the access system, locking the doors to everyone who didn’t have a membership card. Or code. Darius loved that part. He’d gotten into countless bitch fights with our doors.
My phone dinged with a message on the counter, so I glanced at the screen and immediately picked it up when I saw Natalie’s name. She’d texted.
This is going to sound super stalkery, but I just saw that you’re still working. Can I come down?
Absofuckinglutely, she could. I texted her back.
Come on down, stalker.
That was another thing. She’d been seeking me out more since Jayden’s birthday party, and I was done avoiding her. Not that I’d succeeded a whole lot, but I’d given it a week. I’d tried to honor her wishes to keep everything professional. Except, she was the one pushing for conversation, and there was only so much I could do before I got sucked in.
While I waited for her, I took the opportunity to check in with Darius.
