The answer was a hard yes.
I finished my shower and toweled off, grabbing my phone from where it sat on the bathroom vanity to check for any messages.
I had a text.
From Atlas.
He was texting me now?
My hands shook as I unlocked my phone.
Atlas:Hey! Great job today. I’m so proud of your dedication to getting stronger. Glad the idea of a 4 AM workout didn’t put you off
I snorted and held my phone up to my chest like a giggly schoolgirl.
A wink.
HE WINKED AT ME VIA TEXT.
I stared at my phone for a few moments, my fingers lingering over the keyboard, pondering my response.
Tegan:Hey! Thank you! I had a really great teacher
Shit.Was that too much?!
Flirting was hard. Just be yourself, Teg.
Oh hey, Atlas. Thanks for rubbing your wolfman dick against my ass today. I definitely don’t have ulterior motives for hauling my ass out of bed at four a.m. to throw around weights.
No, no. Don’t say that.
Atlas:Nah, you’re a natural. Remember, four AM tomorrow.
He finished that one with a really cute blushing smiley face.
It was the same face I’d seen him make at me before but, ya know, the wolf version.
Tegan:I didn’t forget. Setting my alarm right now.
I hit send and waited.
Atlas:Good. See you in the morning
Holy shit.
I stared at the heart emoji for a beat.
Did he mean hearts for me? Or did he mean hearts for the gym?
I needed an outside opinion.
I scrolled through my contacts and dialed Declan’s number. Luckily, he answered on the second ring.
“Dude, we have a serious emergency,” I said through the line.
“Oh my gods. Has there been a development?” Dec screeched. “I’m all ears, baby. Spill that tea.” He was always down for drama and gossip. I couldn’t ask for a better life coach or friend.
“He texted me, Dec,” I said, pacing back and forth from the bathroom to my bedroom. “I’m freaking out.”
