The last question felt like a hand fisting in his gut. Technically, he didn’t have the right to care. He’d ended things with her. But he did care.
When he pulled his truck to the side of the road near the studio, he saw Jace climbing out of his car across the street, a half grin on his face.
What the hell was he smiling about?
“I’ve got a cap in my car if you want to pop it on and pull it over your face, then shout surprise after we step inside,” Jace said when he reached Lock.
Lock shoved his brother in the shoulder. “Glad you find my pain so entertaining.”
The smile dropped from Jace’s face as they moved toward the studio. “Seriously though, she really won’t hear you out?”
“No. Will barely let me speak.”
Jace’s brows slashed together. “That’s strange, isn’t it? I would have thought she’d been waiting two years to hear the full story of why you ended things, and at least get an apology.”
“Apparently not.”
They stepped inside to see three women on reformer machines and Callie with her back to them, talking to the woman on the end. She wore tight yoga pants and a sports bra. Her hair was pulled up, and fuck, he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Then she turned, and Lock had to remind himself to breathe. Because that smile…damn, it was beautiful.
But the second her gaze landed on him, the smile turned into a frown and she marched toward him.
She stopped less than a foot away, her sweet strawberry scent filling the air. “I have a class, Lock.”
“I know. I’m in the class.”
If possible, her frown deepened. “No, you’re not.”
“Yes, I am.”
“No. You’re not. Jace and a woman named Lola are the last two people. I have a list.”
Jace cleared his throat. “Callie, meet Lola.”
The fuck? Lola?
“Sorry, it must have been a typo, although I think the name kind of suits him.” Jace nudged Lock’s shoulder and muttered, “You’re welcome.” Then moved to a reformer.
Jesus.
Callie glared at him. “Lock—”
“It’s just a class, Callie.”
Her teeth visibly ground together before she blew out a breath. “Fine.Justthe class.” Then she swung away from him.
She was letting him stay. And it kind of felt like a small victory.
The sneaky jerk.He’dknownshe wouldn’t be able to kick him out in front of the class right when it was about to start. He’d probably have fought her on it, and there was no way she’d argue in front of clients.
But now, because ofhim, she’d fumbled every sequence, at one point not even remembering the exercise that was supposed to come next.
It was a mess. One big, fat, uncomfortable mess. She hadn’t been able to think with his eyes on her. And theyhadbeen on her. All. Freaking. Class.
She forced a smile. “Thank you so much for coming, everyone. I hope to see you in another class soon.”
She didn’t look at him. Not while she spoke. Not while she handed out wipes to clean the machines. There was a fraction of a second when he took the wipe that their hands touched, and she looked him in the eye…but that was a mistake. A huge, colossal mistake, because there’d been this catch in her throat that she felt completely incapable of stopping.
