“Nice to meet you. Is today your first time here?”
I nodded. “I’m technically not even a member yet. I have a one-month guest pass.”
He looked at his watch. “I’m just covering the desk for someone for a few minutes while she grabs coffee. If you want, I can show you around when she gets back. It’ll give me a chance to pitch you for a complimentary personal-training session.”
“I’m more of a Peloton-and-treadmill person than weight training.”
He shrugged. “Your call. But I can still show you around.”
“That would be great. Thanks.”
“Let me have your guest pass, and I’ll get you set up in the computer while we wait.”
I took out the pass from Jagger and handed it over.
Troy looked down at the paper. “You’re a guest of Mr. Langston, huh?”
I nodded. “I work at Apex.”
“Well, if you’re half as dedicated as he is to showing up here every morning, you’re going to do great.”
I perked up. “Is he…here now?”
Troy shook his head. “You just missed him. Out the door by five fifteen every morning. I could set my watch to it.”
Disappointment set in. “Oh.”
“I’ll just need your license to put your information in the computer. We’ll give you a temporary ID card so you can swipe in like everyone else.”
I handed over my California license, and Troy got busy typing. Meanwhile, I looked around, checking out the gym. It was busy for so early in the morning, but there were still enough machines that I wouldn’t have to wait. As I finished surveying the rowing machines near thedoor, it opened and a familiar face walked in.Jack Gallo.Instinctively, I turned away, hoping to avoid him seeing me. But this hadn’t been my lucky month.
“Sutton?”
I did my best to feign surprise. “Oh, hey, Jack. How are you?”
He smiled. “Better now. Are you a member here?”
“I have a one-month guest pass, so I thought I’d check it out.”
“Awesome. I come here five days a week.” He paused. “Hey, I looked for you Friday night before I left, but you just disappeared. I didn’t have your number, or I would’ve checked in with you.”
“I…wasn’t feeling so well.” Was that ever the truth, and I wasn’t about to share more.
“Sorry about my buddies and their dumb shot game.”
“It wasn’t their fault. I should’ve known better. I’m sort of a lightweight.”
A woman walked behind the counter holding the biggest coffee Starbucks sold. “Thanks, Troy,” she said.
“Good timing.” He pointed to me. “Josie, this is Sutton. She has a one-month guest pass. I set her up in the computer. Maybe you can print out her ID card while I show her around? I don’t know how to do that.”
“Sure, no problem.” She tucked her purse into a drawer.
“I can show Sutton around,” Jack piped up. “We work together.”
I suddenly became interested in personal training. “Actually, Troy was going to tell me about personal-training sessions while he gave me a tour of the gym.”
“Oh. Okay.” Jack shrugged. “I’ll see you later then.”
