I swear I almost laugh at him, typical behavior from a narcissist. His work is always more important than anyone else’s and he makes sure she knows it. “Of course,” Lexi agrees, standing up. “I’m sorry about this.” She avoids looking at anyone. “I’ll try to get back as fast as I can.”
“Take your time,” Cheryl advises, as she walks out of the room.
I don’t even know what the fuck they talk about, the only thing that keeps repeating in my head is the scene that just played out. No one else batted an eye at what happened, but not many people can see the signs. They can be so subtle you don’t even know they are happening.
“We have the dance appointment next week,” Cheryl announces. She looks over at one of the golfers. “Darryl will send you a reminder since he’s the liaison.”
“About that,” Darryl starts, “I’m going to be deep in training.” He looks around the table. “If anyone else has extra free time to be the liaison, I’d owe you big if you took it on.”
“I’ll do it.” I don’t even know why I offer, it’s enough that I’m doing the auction. “Just tell me what to do.”
“Thanks, man,” Darryl says, “appreciate it.”
“No worries,” I reply, nodding at him and then turning around, trying to tell myself it’s for a good cause, while the other side of my brain is thinking it’ll be more time to spend with Lexi.
five
Lexi
“And give me eight,” Chelsea instructs as I hold myself up on my elbows with my hands together, pushing the machine out and into a plank, and then piking back up. “Seven,” she counts down the set, and by the time I get to one, my whole core is shaking. “And we’re done,” she says. “Let’s start the cooldown.”
“Finally,” I pant out and get off the reformer, grabbing my bottle of water before lying on my back and stretching out my legs. I close my eyes, following her instructions.
“And we are done,” she repeats. I open my eyes and take a deep inhale. “You killed it today.” I look over at her as she packs up her stuff. “I pushed you harder than I normally do and I thought you would give in.”
“No pain, no glory.” I roll to my side and get up, walking over to my shelf and grabbing the disinfecting spray. “Thank you so much for coming.”
“Of course.” She smiles at me. “I’m sorry it was so early, but I have to teach at six.”
“I’ll take whatever time you’ve got,” I tell her. “Let me know if you are available tonight also. I have a fundraiser coming up, and I need the help.”
She laughs at me. “The help for what?” She grabs her bag. “You’ve never been in this type of shape before.”
“We could maybe work on my arms,” I suggest to her, thinking of how Trent wanted me to cover them up a few weeks ago, “and my shoulders. The dress I bought is a one-shoulder gown, and I could use the help making these spaghetti arms look toned.”
She looks at me as we walk to the front door. “You are crazy.” She laughs. “I’ll look at my schedule and let you know. If not, I’ll see you again tomorrow at four thirty.”
“Amazing. I’m going to do another workout at eleven,” I tell her. “One of the taped ones you did for me.”
“You are going to have a better ass than I have,” she jokes, opening the front door. “You could probably teach a class if you wanted.”
I laugh politely as I hold the front door open, knowing Trent would never let me have a job, especially one as a fitness instructor. “Drive safe, Chelsea.” I watch her walk out and only start to close the door when I see her car driving away.
I wait an extra second, seeing headlights turn into the driveway. Then I hear a truck door closing before I see him walking around to the front of the house. His white shirt is open at the collar and his sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, with his suit jacket in his hand. “What the fuck are you doing up at this time?” He moves into the door.
“Chelsea could only come and teach me at four thirty,” I inform him. “Are you just getting home?”
“No.” He scoffs at me, kissing my cheek. “I got called in for an emergency surgery.” He walks into the house, not bothering to kick off his shoes at the front door. As he makes his way toward the kitchen, he tosses his jacket on one of the sitting chairs in the family room that no one ever uses, because it’s the most uncomfortable furniture in the house. No, that’s a lie. The sitting area behind the fireplace is the most uncomfortable.
“Are you going back to bed?” I ask him as he opens the fridge and grabs a bottle of his water.
“No, I have a tee time at six thirty. So I’m going to play a round and then head back to the hospital.” I nod at him. “What do you have planned for the day?”
“I have a final fitting for my gown this afternoon,” I tell him, smiling. “I love the dress.”
“You didn’t tell me you got a dress.” He puts the bottle of water down on the island. “You didn’t even show me a picture.”
“I’m pretty sure I did.” I try to remember if I did or not. “It’s a blush-pink color.”
