Ryan joined us and gave his boy a smooch on the cheek. “You be good for Uncle Ethan, you hear? Daddy’s gonna go get stronger than he already is.”
I gave him a look. “Do I look like a babysitter?”
“Nah, you look like an uncle.” He clapped me on the shoulder before abandoning my ass and heading for the changing rooms.
Dipshit.
What if I’d had private sessions?
“Where’s your membership card?” I called after him.
He hollered over his shoulder. “It’s okay—I know the owner!”
I suppressed a sigh and faced my nephew. “Can I interest you in an energy drink or two? Maybe four.”
He giggled and nodded furiously, having no clue what I was talking about.
Just as well. I was serving him a sugar-free juice box anyway. Even though I would love to see the results of a Ryan Quinn Jr. on caffeine.
“Where’re your brother and sister?” I asked.
“Home and Nana and Pop-Pop!”
Got it. JJ was presumably with our folks, while Abby was back home in San Francisco. She had school. These toddler wackadoos did not.
“All right, let’s go find a distraction for you before you find a reason to blow your nose on my T-shirt,” I said. “Have you met Uncle Gray’s auntie?”
He shook his head, then shrugged. “I dunno. I know many people.”
I laughed and walked him over to Natalie’s treadmill. She’d slowed down to a stop, so I wasn’t worried about interrupting her. Much.
She smiled curiously when she saw us coming over, so that was a good sign. And I figured showing up with a child helped.
“Ryder, this is Natalie,” I told him. “She’s Uncle Gray’s family.”
“Hi!” Ryder waved.
“Hi, sugar. It’s good to meet you.” Yeah, she definitely liked kids. She rounded the treadmill and joined my side way faster with Ryder here. “I take it your daddy’s Ryan?”
“My daddy’s my daddy.” He nodded.
I grinned.
Natalie laughed softly and patted her towel across her neck. “You’re adorable, aren’t you?”
Ryder smiled bashfully and tugged at his shirt. “Yeah…”
I chuckled. “You’re lucky. She’s never called me adorable. Or sugar.”
“Aww, you poor thing.” Natalie shook her head in amusement at me. “I didn’t know it was appropriate to call your PT adorable.”
I shrugged and helped Ryder down to the floor. He got bored quickly, and now, he evidently wanted to step on the treadmill. He was an observant little thing who’d noticed a couple other members walking on their treadmills.
“I’m okay with inappropriate too,” I said, pushing the start button. “Get ready, Ryder.” I grasped his hand as the display counted down from three, and I was quick to change the pace from three to one.
“It’s a move!” he gasped. “It’s a move!”
I grinned. “Yeah, it’s moving, buddy.”
