Ciarán gives him an encouraging smile. “That’s great, Gabe, and there will always be more events. If you see one you want to go to, we’ll go. Abbie is looking for any excuse to get out of herapartment these days. I honestly have no idea how she shares her space with two roommates that don’t know how to act like adults.” He shudders dramatically.
“She said the other day that she’s looking for a place in Willowrun. I think the commute is wearing her down, too,” Gabe replies, sounding bright at the idea of his friend being closer.
“I think there’s a studio apartment in my building that just became vacant. I can ask my landlord if he knows anything about it?” Aiden adds helpfully.
Gabe nods. “That would be great.”
“You three living in one town sounds like trouble. I’ll be forgotten as your new bestie,” I tease, pouting dramatically at Gabe with my best puppy eyes, which earns me a laugh I barely hear over Aiden’s scoffing.
Gabe pushes a container toward me, voice going shy. “I got you extra chicken. Thought you might want more…” He trails off, catching his bottom lip between his teeth. It’s darker now, pink and glistening, and my eyes stick there too long.
I lean closer and lower my voice so the others can’t hear. “Aren’t you a sweet boy for thinking of me.”
Color rushes over his face instantly, and his eyes widen, darting around the table. His fork slips against the edge of the container, and he ducks his head so fast his hair falls forward, hiding him. The tips of his ears are bright red.
I spear a bite of chicken like nothing happened, fighting a grin. Watching him light up under praise is its own reward. Fuck, he’s too cute.
Ciarán picks up a lemon bar, taking a delicate bite as he reads over the whiteboard schedule. “So, do all your classes have ridiculous names, or is that some weird gym bro branding I don’t get?”
“They’re not ridiculous,” I say defensively. “They’re clever.”
“Theyareridiculous. I had no part in those names,” Aiden says pointedly.
“You two really do have a lot in common today,” Gabe mumbles while staring at the table, shoulders shaking.
Ciarán and Aiden are wearing matching scowls. I love it when they get together.
“Tonight’s class is ‘Core-ruption,’” I announce, smirking.
Ciarán groans loudly, dragging a hand down his face. “That’s unforgivable.”
“Okay, okay. What about ‘Sweat & Regret’?”
Ciarán looks up, and closes his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Absolutely not.”
I pounce. “Ab-solutely not. Good one, C, you’re catching on.”
His head snaps back down, eyes wide. “That wasnota suggestion.”
But I’m riding the high. I lean my elbows on the table, schooling my features like I’m completely serious. “Plank you very much for your input.”
Ciarán’s jaw drops. He looks almost panicked. He whips his head toward Aiden and Gabe for backup. Aiden just shakes his head, resigned to his fate as my best friend.
But Gabe is laughing—real laughing, shoulders shaking, hands covering his face like he can’t believe I said something that ridiculous. His eyes crinkle at the corners, cheeks flushed, and the sound of it knocks the air right out of my lungs. I find myself staring, soaking it in. Every time he smiles like that, it feels like I’ve scored some impossible win. I wish he wouldn’t hide his face when he did it, though; it’s something small I’ve noticed. He always ducks his chin or covers his mouth when he laughs, like he thinks he needs to hide it.
When our eyes meet, it’s like a jolt straight to my heart. He doesn’t look away as quickly as he used to. That alone feels like progress. Like he’s letting me in more every day. I don’t need towonder if he wants me here—I can see it. He leans closer and clears his throat, shifting in his seat so I catch the brush of his sleeve against mine.
“Will you… help me again later?” he asks. There’s a vulnerability to it I wish wasn’t there, for his sake. I don’t ever want him to think he can’t talk to me about things. “With the online store. I think I figured out how I want to categorize things. I mean, if you’re not busy.” His fingers fidget with the corner of a napkin, twisting it tight.
The thought that he doesn’t already know I’d say yes to anything he asks tugs at my heart.
I give him a sure smile. “Gabe, I'm never too busy for you.”
The last client heads out with a wave, and the gym settles into quiet. I flick the deadbolt, grab a spray bottle, and start wiping down the benches.
A towel smacks against my shoulder. “You’ve been grinning like a lunatic since lunch,” Aiden says. “It’s disturbing. Stop it.”
“I have not.” I definitely have.
