“Let me guess: sweetie pie Kirk has yet to meet the new-and-improved Lois?”
“Nope. I get the feeling he’s avoiding me.” As we settle into our seats, she mutters under her breath. “Do you know whether he’s still seeing Juliet?”
“No idea. We can stop off at the bar, if you want.”
“Together?” She sounds so surprised, it’s borderline insulting.
“Oh, good point.” I roll my eyes at her. “We hang out on the couch like friends, we talk like friends, but you’re so right: going for beers would definitely be a step too far.”
I hit the gas.
“Why are you smiling like that?”
“Like what?” I glance at her out of the corner of my eye.
“I can’t put my finger on it. You’ve got this weird grin going on.”
“Just the Heartbreak effect, I guess.”
She shakes her head and turns up the radio, and as the car fillswith sound, I’m surprised to hear her singing along to the lyrics. If there’s one thing I like about this girl, it’s her taste in music.
She plays on her phone as I drive, pulling faces, sniffling, so focused on her screen she doesn’t notice when I pull into the main parking lot.
I turn the engine off and slip an arm around her backrest for a closer look at what she’s doing.
“Stalking your ex is not a good look,” I whisper in her ear.
She startles, dropping her phone and cussing at me under her breath as she fishes it off the floor.
She gets out and heads into the gym, shooting me dirty looks as she goes, and the urge to follow her into the building is too strong to resist. I’m in the mood to get under her skin.
“Now who’s the stalker?”
“Maybe I’m really interested in synchronized swimming,” I drawl.
“I knew I should’ve walked. Don’t you have anything better to do on a Saturday afternoon? Seriously?”
“I want to support you in living your best life, Heartbreak.”
“You could start by getting your own life,” she snaps. “Just any kind of life would do.”
Now we’re on a roll!
I take a step closer, bringing my face inches from hers. “Andyoucould start by getting your own place.”
She meets my gaze head-on. Doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t blink. It’s like she’s daring me to look away first. There’s a spark in her eyes I can’t tear myself away from. Before I can stop myself, I’m leaning even closer.
She tilts her head. “Is it me, or are you slightly cross-eyed?”
A burst of laughter escapes me. And as she turns back to the gym’s front desk, I catch the faintest trace of a smile tugging at her lips.
The receptionist straightens as we draw closer.
“I saw an ad for water aerobics classes,” Lois starts. “I was hopingto sign up. I figured if I came in today, I could maybe jump into a class right away.”
“Sorry, but registration opened at the start of summer. You’re too late, the only slots left are for senior citizens. And you’d need to bring a medical certificate, anyway. We can’t let anyone in the pool until those are cleared.”
“Karma,” I murmur.
