The next day, I anticipate seeing her. She’s dressed in black and laughing at something Cory is saying when I walk in.
“There he is,” Cory says. “Big man. Get over here.”
Cecily smiles, watching me.
“You’d better take good care of this one,” Cory says. “She’s a good one. The best.”
“Yes, sir,” I say, trying to understand what’s going on here. I don’t ask questions, though. I go with the flow.
“Knew this was bound to happen. Happy for you, Cecily.”
We walk to the weights quietly, and I can see the humor in her eyes. Then she pulls out her phone and types something. My phone buzzes.
Cecily: So sorry about that. He keeps asking me out, so I told him we’re dating.
I laugh, putting my arm around her shoulders. “Don’t apologize. I would’ve done that from the beginning. Guy’s a creep.”
She shrugs me off and says, “Lower body. Easy peasy stuff today.”
I watch her hip thrust, squat, lunge, and wonder what it would be like if she were mine. Every time Cory walks past us, the guy has a newfound respect for me. And it occurs to me that I suddenly have his respect, which means Cecily is completely out of my league.
Cory leaves the gym, and then Marina walks in.
Immediately, Cecily pulls Marina aside. I can barely hear them through my racing heart while I squat, but I’m pretty sure she’s telling Marina that she still has a shot with me and something about Cory.
When Marina disappears to the treadmills, I say, “Hey, are you trying to hook me up with Marina?”
“What?” she smiles. “No.”
“Then what did you tell her?”
Cecily shrugs.
I put out my hand. “What did you tell her, Ce?”
“That first day you came into the gym, she was drooling over you, so I told her to shoot her shot. I told her to ask you out.”
I scoff. “Why would you say that?”
“Okay. You completely brushed me off that day, and I was encouraging her to go after what she wants.”
I lick my lips because I can’t argue with that. “Okay.”
She winks at me.
“So, I was thinking about how you asked me what you should wear to the party?” I say, reminding her of that quick conversation.
She nods, giving me her full attention.
“Dress modestly, please,” I force myself to say through my teeth. Scott is fucking obsessing over her, and I don’t want to mention it.
“Okay,” she nods. “I was hoping I could wear a skirt.”
I imagine her long legs in a skirt. Jesus Christ. “A skirt?”
“I won’t.” She teases me with a smile. “I’ll wear jeans and a tee. Oh, I have a very cute shirt with the Seattle skyline.”
I smirk. “You’re joking. We’re playing them Friday, so the party will be on Saturday after we get home.”
