“Cool.” I give him a nod. “I’m happy to hear you say that.”
Somewhere in my heart I know that I am, even though on the surface it’s just smoldering jealousy. Levi, being Levi, doesn’t mention the fact that the scowl on my face doesn’t match the sentiment behind my words. And Duncan, being Duncan, changes the subject.
“So that Zoey girl is a sweetheart,” Duncan says as Matt motions for us to walk over to the agility ladders he’s set up.
I smile and reach down a hand to help pull his lazy, out-of-shape ass up. “Yeah. She’s perfect.”
Levi’s normally impassive face lights up like a Christmas tree. “So things are working out?”
“They will, I’m hoping,” I say and stand at the end of the middle ladder while Levi and Duncan flank me on both sides. “She’s definitely just as interested as I am, but she’s got some personal stuff to deal with before we can…explore that interest.”
Matt reaches for the whistle around his neck. “Crossovers. Five sets.”
He blows the whistle and we get to it. I’ve been working out consistently almost all summer long. After the dick pic incident in Toronto, I came back here and had a lot of alone time, so I worked out during the day and spent most nights hanging out with Dixie. But I had still slept around a little bit, which is why another unsolicited hookup showed up at my place last night and woke me—and my neighbors—wanting sex. I turned her down and sent her home, but it made me realize Zoey can’t get my place listed fast enough.
I need to move. I probably would have waited a little longer, and maybe even taken some of my unwanted visitors up on their unrequested booty calls, but now there is Zoey. I need a break from my usual habits, and Zoey is the perfect place to focus my energy—sexual and otherwise. She needs someone, and I am enjoying being that someone, even if it is only sadly platonic right now. I realize I’d rather have platonic with Zoey than anything else with anyone else right now.
By the time we finish this drill, Duncan honestly looks like he might die. Levi isn’t too far behind, but he’s better at faking it. My leg muscles are on fire, and it feels like there’s not enough air in the world to fill my lungs. Matt seems to know our limits, even though it’s only our fourth session with him. “Okay, kids. We’re done for today. After you go for a slow mile-long jog for warm down.”
Duncan swears. Levi groans and I grunt, but Levi sets the tracker app on his watch and we all start down the running path behind the gym. The pace is slow and easy. I could go faster, but there’s no way Duncan can, so I don’t try.
“Keep my mind off the fact that I’m killing myself here, and tell me more about the Zoey situation,” Duncan begs through his huffing and puffing.
“She’s a Realtor. She’s going to sell my condo and find me a new place.”
“You’re selling your place?” Levi is shocked.
“You’re selling your home to get into a girl’s pants?” Duncan questions.
“No. It just worked out that I can sell my house and get in a girl’s pants,” I correct him. He tries to laugh, but it just makes him pant harder.
“So is the catch that you can’t get together with her while you’re working with her?” Levi wants to know as his app beeps and we turn around. “It would break a Realtor oath or something?”
“No. And even if that were true, I’d break the fucking oath and she would too,” I say, and I’m confident it’s a fact. I can feel our chemistry, like it’s an entity unto itself. It’s a living, breathing thing dancing between us when we’re together. It’s the same chemistry I felt when we were kids, but hadn’t felt again until now. And it came back stronger than ever.
“Then what?” Levi wants to know.
“She’s got to file her divorce papers,” I admit.
“Holy shit, she’s getting divorced for you?”
“Duncan, does Carla know how mentally deficient you are?” I ask and roll my eyes. “No. She was already separated for a while. The ex is just giving her a hard time on the settlement part.”
“That sucks,” Levi murmurs.
“It does, but she’s tough. She’ll get him to sign. And this idiot’s loss is my gain. Zoey and I can finally pick up where we left off,” I explain and grin. “I never thought that would happen, but it’s happening.”
“Is she going to be ready to jump into a serious relationship so quickly?” Duncan asks.
I laugh. “Relax, Cupid, I’m not asking her to marry me or anything.”
“You’re not?”
My feet slow even more at Levi’s confused tone. I glance over, and he looks as baffled as he sounds. “Of course I’m not.”
“Well, then…what are you doing?” he wants to know.
We’re about twenty feet from where Matt is picking up the ladders we used, so I slow to a walk. Duncan happily joins, but Levi, never one to set a bad example, turns and jogs backward, a little slower than before, so he can stare at me befuddled while he waits for my response.
