Ian
“Wow, you’ve bulked up.”
Ryan gets in my face as I’m trying to bench press. He helps me set down the weights and I sit up on the bench.
“Pass me that towel.”
“Don’t pretend you need to wipe away your sweat.”
“Don’t piss me off.”
Ryan throws the towel at me and I could wring his neck.
“Do you always have to be such an arse?”
“I don’t know, do you have to always be so highly strung?”
He’s right. I am highly strung, agitated and completely out of my mind.
Riley in my bed, in my arms, on top of me, close to me…
I grab the water bottle and pour it directly over my head to cool off my instincts.
I don’t need anyone.
“We’re a bit off today.”
Ryan keeps prodding me as usual, and in normal circumstances I’d ignore him – but today, just about the slightest thing could set me off.
“What are you doing here?” I say standing up and throwing down the towel.
“Coach called me.”
I look at him, waiting for him to continue.
“I don’t know anything else.”
“I think he’s in the office.”
“I’m going to go and see what he wants. Will you wait for me? I don’t think I’ll be long.”
“I’ve finished here. I’ll get showered and wait for you in the car park.”
He nods and walks off through the gym, stopping to say hello to some of the guys.
I go in the changing rooms, take off my sweat-soaked clothes and hop under the shower, hoping to wash away the thoughts of her and what I’d be willing to do to hold her close to me just one more time.
* * *
Ryan comes towards me,his face like thunder. He grabs his helmet gruffly and gets on my bike.
“How’d you get here?” I ask him, starting the engine.
“I took a cab.”
“Don’t you think it might be worth looking into a more practical idea like a short-term rental or having yours brought over?”
“I still don’t know how long I’m going to be around.”
