“Text me your address and I’ll pick you up around three if that works.”
“All right.”
“Why don’t we call it quits for today? I’d hate for your legs to be tired for our date.”
She giggled, her brows drawing back. “Oh yeah?”
“Oh gods.” I ran my hands through my fur. “Sorry—I didn’t mean it like that.” But if I did—what would her response be? I’d fantasized about her so much and I wondered if she’d done the same about me. The way she looked at me made me think she had.
“I’m just teasing you,” she said, slowing the treadmill to a stop. “Thank you for today.”
“You did a great job.”
“It’s because I had a great teacher.”
Tegan hopped off the treadmill and grabbed her bag and water bottle. We walked back to the front desk and she tugged her phone out of the tight pocket of her leggings. A second later my phone chimed in my pocket.
“That’s my address,” she said. “It’s back in the woods, so call me if you have any trouble finding it. The GPS can be kind of spotty.”
“Will do.”
“I’ll see you this weekend.”
“See you then.”
“Bye.” She gave me a coy wave before she turned and walked out the door.
If I wasn’t standing in the middle of the gym—my gym—I would have fist-pumped and jumped in the air. It was finally happening. After dancing around Tegan for over a week, we were finally going out on a date.
I headed down the hall to my office, humming to myself. It felt like I was walking on air.
“Shit, dude! Who the fuck was that?” Fallon’s familiar squawk echoed out from my office.
Dammit.
Nosy fucking bird.
“Fallon!” I growled. “What did I tell you about watching the cameras?”
He walked out to greet me, his talons held up in front of his body submissively. “I didn’t mean anything by it! I just saw you working out with a hot girl and got curious, that’s all.”
I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself down.
“Is that the girl from the wedding?” He made the best kissy noises that his beak would allow and batted his beady little bird eyes at me.
I was going to kill him.
Without warning, I pounced and pinned Fallon against the wall, my muzzle just inches away from his face. “That hot girl is Tegan, and if I ever catch you spying on us again, I’ll chop off your wings and throw them in the air fryer for a snack. Got it, you smug fucker?”
He swallowed hard, blinking a few times. “Got it, boss.”
I took a few deep breaths and rubbed my shoulders, forcing myself to relax. I knew Fallon didn’t mean anything by it, but spying on your best friend/boss and his lady friend on camera was not cool. Fucking voyeur.
“How long were you watching us?” I asked, even though I wasn’t sure I wanted the answer.
“Just the cooldown. I swear on my life, dude.” He shrank back from me submissively. I’d never physically fought Fallon—or anyone, for that matter—but I knew I could be intimidating.
My ears tucked back against my head and my tail swayed lightly, my body attempting to apologize for my lack of restraint. “Sorry, man. I just lost my cool for a second.”
