Cole was quiet—for once—focusing on the workout. They were going about the same speed.
Chase and Josh were moving quickly. Maybe not as quickly as Hunter, but they were getting deeper in their squats, technically doing more work since they’d have to travel farther to stand again. Fuck that.
Chase didn’t always take part in the workouts, usually sticking to the yoga portions at the beginning and end of each session, but today he was in the thick of it.
Tobias surveyed the whole scene with intensity, focused on everyone’s movements and making sure everyone was using proper form so they wouldn’t get hurt.
“One minute,” he shouted. “Every rep counts. Finish strong.”
A new sense of urgency spurred them all to somehow work harder, and they dug deep to increase their final score.
At the end of the day, their numbers would be on a leaderboard with the rest of the gym members’, so they could see them and hate themselves, or see where they stood. Same thing.
Riley rarely saw the top of the leaderboard, so he tended to ignore it unless he was looking at his own previous weights or times.
Tobias counted down the last five seconds, and everyone collapsed where they stood, winded from the workout.
“Okay, Chase will lead us in our yoga cooldown,” Tobias said.
“Yup, in a minute,” Chase said, pausing between words for deep breaths, his limbs spread out on the ground around him. “Be right there, boss.”
From his spot, lying on his back and staring at the industrial ceiling, Riley startled at an odd sound. It was one he’d never heard before.
His head snapped to Tobias, and he noticed everyone else was staring too.
“Tobes,” Cole said carefully, like he was trying not to spook the man. “Did you just… laugh?”
The man looked at Cole, then at the rest of the group, and settled on Chase.
Were his cheeks turning pink? Holy shit.
“You’re hearing things, Durbin,” he snapped, and turned to the computer at the front of the room, preparing the screen for each of them to enter their scores.
Josh and Riley exchanged awestruck glances, but their gazes snapped in Chase’s direction as he shifted, flustered, but ready to work.
“Right, um, everyone on your stomachs,” Chase instructed, continuing to steal glances at Tobias’ tense back. “Deep breath, and rise onto your hands for upward dog.”
The stretch was wonderful, and Riley was so thankful for Chase and his yoga teachings. Since he started working at Gym Rat, Riley had been less sore followingworkouts. Chase was a great addition to the gym, and he was wondering if Tobias was getting used to his new hire.
There was some kind of interest there, or maybe tension.
As they slid into downward dog, Riley peeked over at Josh, who was already looking at him.
“You think they’re fucking yet?” he whispered, and Riley fell out of his pose, making Josh giggle.
“What makes you think they’re fucking?” Riley whispered, thankful that Josh wasactuallywhispering. Sometimes, he whispered louder than he talked and got them in trouble.
“I’m not sure if they’re fucking, but I can tell they both want to,” he said.
Josh had an incredible ability to read people’s feelings. That made him wonder what he saw when he looked at Riley. What did Josh know that he didn’t?
It took all of his effort to focus on the rest of the yoga cooldown, knowing he’d thank himself for it the next day.
The tank Riley was wearing was soaked through so he ripped it off once he was standing, leaving him to admire the sweat-print left behind on the floor. When he lifted his gaze to Josh, his bestie was looking at his naked torso, and Riley couldn’t pull his eyes away.
In the next moment, Josh unconsciously licked his lips, and Riley decided he needed to turn away so hedidn’t chub up in front of everyone. He’d never hear the end of it.
Instead, he made a beeline for Tobias at the front of the room.
