She’d expect me to be ecstatic. Indeed, I was.
I was also freaked out and frightened.
This wasn’t over. Colin had been right. There was more to come.
I’d already showered, so I went to Jade’s bedroom. I knocked quietly and then entered. The whoosh of the shower wafted toward me. She was busy, so I went back to the kitchen and drank a glass of water.
I needed to take the edge off, expend some energy. Bryce was at work for his first day at his new job, so I couldn’t bother him.
The gym. I was already dressed in leggings and a tank. I hurriedly put on my cross-trainers and set out.
I didn’t have a session booked with Dominic this morning, but maybe he’d be available. If not, I’d do my own workout. Maybe try some of the circuits Ruby had put together for me. I drove the half hour into Snow Creek, parked, and walked inside the fitness center.
Dominic wasn’t in the trainers’ office, so I took off for an elliptical machine. That thing always kicked my ass, and what I needed this morning was a good ass kicking. Something to punch the tension out of my body.
I grabbed an extra towel and my water bottle and started to set up a program on the machine.
“Hey, stranger.”
I turned, dropping the towel with my locker key pinned on it on the floor next to the machine. Dominic James stood beside me.
“I didn’t know you were here,” I said.
“Yeah. I’m not on duty. I had an early morning baseball practice.”
“You play?”
“Not anymore. I help coach the high school kids.”
“Oh? That’s cool.”
“I love the game. I was all state in high school and had a scholarship for college, but I couldn’t finish because of an injury. I’d love a real coaching job, but for now I make more doing training part-time. The school job pays a little.”
“That’s good.” I wasn’t sure what else to say. I hardly knew the guy.
“I think so. Sure, I’d have loved a chance at the majors, but it is what it is.”
“True enough.” If only he knew.
“You just starting? Or can I interest you in a breakfast smoothie?”
I cleared my throat. A breakfast smoothie sounded great, but I was off the market now that Bryce and I had declared our love for each other. “I have to pass.”
He reached toward me. “Let me twist your arm a little.”
I jerked away from him. “I know we had a deal for my training. Lunches and stuff. But I feel I should tell you. I’m in a relationship now.”
“In two days?”
“Well…yeah. I didn’t think it could happen, but it did.” I couldn’t help smiling.
“I can’t say I’m not disappointed,” he said, “but we can still be friends. And I can still buy you a smoothie, right?”
I laughed. “I’ll take the smoothie, but I’ll buy my own. After my workout, okay?”
“Perfect. Meet me down by the spa. An hour?”
I nodded. “Sounds good.”