Right. She must not have been lying when she says no one calls her that. “Shayne.”
“Right.” She makes a face at that, which almost makes me smirk. I mean, come on, no need to be bitter. “She’s around here somewhere. I’m leaving, and I’m supposed to make sure the customers are gone, so…”
She makes a vague hand gesture in the direction toward the front door like she’s shooing me. I head that way, unsure how I can try to convince her to let me stay. I pass Trey’s office. The door is ajar and I can see him inside. Perfect. I pop my head in and smile. “Hey, Trey! Do you have a minute to chat before you close?”
He looks up from some papers on his desk, and I realize he’s scowling. But it’s wiped off his face and replaced with a friendly smile when he realizes it’s me. “Sebastian! Hey. Yeah, sure. Come in.”
I glance back at Sara, who looks annoyed. Trey glances over at her. “You can go, Sara. I’ll see Seb out later. I have to wait for Shayne anyway.”
She simply nods, gives me one last quick unimpressed stare and continues to the door.
I smile at Trey, but I know it looks weak. I’m not sure what the hell I’m going to say to him. I just wanted an excuse to stick around. “So how’s business?”
Trey shrugs. “The start is bound to be slow. It’s a brand-new business and, you know, there’s a gym almost every couple of blocks in this town so…we’re doing almost as well as I expected, so I’m not panicking or anything.”
That was not the answer I expected. It’s honest, but it makes me a little nervous for him. I’ve only met him that one time, but he seemed like a great guy, and Avery has mentioned him on and off for years and it’s always been positive. I want his business to succeed. He scratches his head and stands up. “I just have to figure out an advertising angle. I put money away for a fairly big campaign and asked Avery to do a celebrity endorsement–type deal, but he’s taking forever to get back to me.”
He glances past me, probably looking for Shayne. As much as I want to see Shay, that Avery comment has my attention. Avery had been talking about his college teammate Trey and his new gym for months. He was excited for him and happy for him, and I can’t believe he wouldn’t give the guy an endorsement. My shock must read on my face, because Trey shrugs. “He says he needs to check with his management.”
“You mean his dad?” Avery’s father is hockey’s version of a raging stage mom. Ever since Avery was a kid, he has managed every aspect of the Westwood “brand,” as Don Westwood calls it. Who the fuck calls their eight-year-old a brand? He did and still does. “His dad is a bit of a…”
Trey smirks. “Oh, I know.”
“He’s just stressed with the playoffs coming up. Let me talk to him.”
Trey blinks. “Really?”
“Yeah. Sure. No big deal, really.”
Trey looks relieved—and excited. I’m happy I could help him, but I also have a feeling this will get me more face-time with Shay. Speaking of…“So you’re waiting for Shayne?”
“Yeah. Her piece-of-shit car is still at the mechanic, so I said I’d drive her.” He glances up at the clock on the wall of his office. “But she’s taking forever, and I have a pregnant wife waiting at home for ice cream I’m supposed to pick up.”
“Let me give Shay…Shayne a lift home.”
He looks skeptical. “I’m not sure that’s a great idea. She expects me to do it.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine. We’re friends,” I reply, trying to make it sound as casual as possible, because as nice as I think Trey is, I’m pretty sure I can’t say,Yeah I’ve seen her naked a couple of times now.
“You don’t mind?” I can still see he’s not convinced it’s a good idea. “She lives in kind of a shitty area or else I’d just let her bus it. My parents offered to help her with a down payment on a better place, but she’s the most stubborn woman in the world.”
“Your parents?”
“Shayne is my sister,” Trey says with a look on his face that says he thinks I’m an idiot for not knowing that. But Avery never mentioned Trey’s family, and Shay never made that connection clear. Now I definitely can’t mention seeing her naked. Although I wonder if the skepticism on his features is because he already knows. Oh God.
I smile through the awkwardness. “Oh! Wow. Well, your sister is in good hands, I promise. I’ll get her home safely; just go take care of your pregnant wife. And congrats on the baby.”
“Thanks, man.” Trey squeezes my shoulder, obviously willing to give in to my idea. “Make sure she locks up. And if she’s pissed you’re her chauffeur, make it clear it was your decision, okay? I don’t wanna deal with her wrath.”
I follow him out into the lobby and wave as he walks through the front doors and out into the parking lot.
Chapter 19
Shayne
My last class of the night was a simple Bikram-based yoga class. It was full, and I managed to concentrate on teaching without getting distracted by thoughts of Sebastian. The class flew by, though, and after saying good-bye to everyone as they filtered out and doing a sweep of the other fitness rooms with Sara, I was left with nothing but my thoughts. I wondered what he was doing right now. I hadn’t heard from him since the groping and kissing outside Audrey’s bar, but that’s what I wanted. I wanted him—and our little…whatever it was—to be left in the past. Audrey, on the other hand, didn’t. She brought him up every time I saw her this week. “I think he’s good for you, Shaynie. He’s got you flustered and off balance and you’re different with him. You’re not so…uptight.”
“I am not uptight,” I had argued back.
