Likely, my mind had shielded me from the magnificence. That, or it knew that once I’d seen the front, I wouldn’t stop looking.
I had a weakness for men in knit shorts.
I mean, yes, gray sweatpants were really fucking hot on men. But they weren’t the bee’s knees. Knit shorts were. They were thinner. Showed off more dick surface area and were seriously the best thing since sliced bread.
“Hey, Coach!” Maria called again.
I gritted my teeth and tried another snatch, this time feeling like I might actually be getting it.
“Hey, Coach…” Maria called one more time.
That’s when I saw Taos’ head whip around, and a lethal glare come rolling over his face.
I bit my lip to hold in the snicker, but it didn’t help.
The laughter bubbled out, and Taos’ glare rolled to me.
His face softened at the smile on my lips, and he was just about to say something else when my phone rang.
My head whipped around way faster than Taos’ had when he’d been glaring at Maria, and I dropped the bar unceremoniously to the ground. It bounced wildly to the side and barely missed the person to my left.
I didn’t pay it much mind seeing as it was Maria. She would’ve deserved the beating.
I ran over to my phone as fast as my poor, sore body could manage, staring at the readout.
Mavis.
Mavis: can you come get Vlad? They called me into work, and I’ve already said no too many times.
Me: Sure. Now? Or can I finish my class first?
Mavis: Now? I’m so so sorry. I really am.
I grinned.
Me: I’ll be there in ten. Is he even up yet?
Mavis: No. He was allowing me to sleep in. They are assholes for calling me in on a good day.
I laughed and gathered my things, shoving them unceremoniously into my bag with no rhyme or reason. Nor order, apparently. I wouldn’t find those wrist wraps at all when I next needed them.
“Everything okay?”
The sound of Taos’ voice behind me had shivers dancing down my spine.
“Yep.” I smiled. “My sister just needs to go to work, and I have to go watch my nephew.”
Taos’ frown deepened as he helped me pick up and shoulder my bag.
I gave him a grateful smile and headed for the door.
He came with me, walking me to my car.
A profound sense of thankfulness rolled through me.
I hadn’t realized that even the walk to the car had stressed me out earlier until now, with him walking at my side.
Only when I was in my car and completely driving off did he go inside.
I didn’t stop watching him until I almost ran into a parked car.
CHAPTER 5
Life is short. Smile while you still have teeth.
-Taos to Madden
TAOS
I hadn’t expected to see her again that day.
In fact, I’d more than expected not to see her again for two days because that was when the next bootcamp was scheduled.
But there I was, walking through Target heading for the supplement aisle, when I heard her voice.
I couldn’t stop myself from walking toward it, either.
I found her on the aisle for dog food, struggling to get the fifty-five-pound bag into the cart while also not sending the cart sailing.
“Need help?”
At the sound of my voice, Fran slammed her hand down on her chest and nearly busted her ass as she backpedaled to get away from me.
I instantly felt horrible.
“Sorry if I scared you,” I apologized. “I heard you talking and came to see you.”
I probably shouldn’t have admitted that.
It might’ve made her uncomfortable.
Except, the grin she sent me upon seeing my face made me feel somewhat relieved that the desire to see her was definitely mutual.
“It’s no problem,” she admitted. “I’m just a jumpy person.”
I hated that for her.
Usually jumpy equaled hurt in some way to cause a person to be jumpy.
Which, in Fran’s case, was true.
She was definitely a jumpy person, as per what obviously happened this morning with her freeze up at the front door when she heard me tell them to go run.
“Do you need help?” I asked curiously, jerking my chin in the direction of the dog food.
She smiled. “I would love some help, actually. I have to pick up this bag and two more. As well as some cat food.”
I nodded. “For your dog?”
I helped her get the first bag into place before she answered.
“No, someone else’s. Remember, I told you that I run errands? I do the things people don’t have time for, or they aren’t willing, to do. This is an errand for a mechanic shop in town. I do this every other week. Pick it all up from his place of choice, run it over to him, and he pays me for it,” she explained.
I got the next two bags for her as well and then jerked my head toward the cat food. “Which bag?”
The baby in the cart chose that moment to throw the phone he was chewing on, and I lurched forward and caught it before it could hit the ground.