We don't speak for the rest of the class—or at least, we don't speak about Dani. I doubt I'm capable of staying silent for a full hour.
Once we're done drilling, we spend twenty minutes doing live rolls and implementing the moves we learned during class. By the time we're done, I'm drenched in sweat and gasping for breath.
"I swear Coach's classes get harder after people fight," Max pants, bent over and bracing on his knees. I can only nod in agreement.
We take the time to stretch out and cool down. By the time we're ready to leave, I look around at the slowly emptying gym. "I have to get to class in a bit, want to grab some food with me before?"
Nodding as he grabs his gym bag, Max replies, "Alright, but I'm picking the place and I refuse to hear you talk about your disappearing Cinderella for the next hour." He quirks a judging eyebrow at my glare but after a moment it forces a grumbledfineout of me.
"Burgers it is. Let's go, I'm starving."
Twenty minutes later we're standing in line at our favorite burger bar, waiting for our orders to come out. I open my mouth to say something but at Max's knowing glare, it snaps shut again.
"I wasn't going to talk about her," I grumble. "I just wanted to ask if you've ever had to run from security guards."
"Yeah, which you're asking aboutbecauseof her. You're not sneaky."
I let out an exaggerated sigh. "Fine. Then I just won't talk at all."
"Hardly a punishment, dude." A pause. "But yes, I've had to run from security. That memory is the reason I never take Remy up on her offers of tequila shots. I tend to feel threatened by authority when I drink it."
Chuckling, I turn to scan the restaurant. My gaze bounces from staring impatiently at the kitchen, to the other patrons, and then to the entrance as the door opens.
And I suck in a startled breath at what I see.
"Dani," I breathe.
Max lets out a loud groan. "Dude,come on—"
"No, I mean… she's here." I jerk my chin at Dani entering the restaurant, my voice low and my eyes wide.
She looks just as hot as she did the last time I saw her. Skinny jeans and a tight tank top that shows off a sliver of her stomach, with a pair of well-worn Converse finishing off the look. Her black hair is down, same as last time, and the strands look so soft and shiny that my fingers start to twitch from the memory of wrapping them around my fist. Taking hold of them as I take her from behind, as I—
My train of thought is cut off when she turns and spots me.
And then a gorgeous smile spreads across her face, a delighted twinkle appearing in her eyes.
"Aiden," she greets me, walking immediately toward me. "Fancy running into you here."
"I was hoping I would eventually," I admit before I can stop myself. "But I thought it would be on campus. Temple's crazies aren't good enough for your pictures anymore?"
She lets out a chuckle, leaning against the table in front of us. "Those were just practice shots. I had some real work to do last week. Although therearesome interesting characters over there." With the way she's looking at me, I know she's including me in that category. And it's enough to drive a bolt of pleasure through my chest.
"That sounds like you missed me, Dani," I tell her with a grin.
She shoots me a grin of her own but doesn't respond.
"God, I can practically smell the sex between you two," Max comments. He gives me an almost apologetic look. "Now I understand why you won't shut up about it."
"Dude," I groan, dragging a hand down my face.
Dani only chuckles at the knowledge that she blew my mind. She gives Max a once-over, completely shameless about the fact that she's clearly checking out my best friend in front of me. Yet, there doesn't sound like there's any innuendo when she sticks her hand out and offers, "I'm Dani."
He shakes it with an appreciative look. "I'm Max. Nice to meet you."
She cocks her head and studies him in a completely different way. “You fight too, don’t you?"
Max and I share a look. "How does everyone always know? Are we wearing signs I don't know about?"