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I glanced at his nephew. The address on the job application was an apartment in the same public housing complex where Rachel and I had lived with our mother until she died. That area of town was bad then, but it was worse now.
“The job requires staying on the premises overnight,” I said to Kyle. “Do you think you could stay with him?”
I had an alarm system at Footit’s, one I’d had installed right after the fire. Bob and Kyle would be safer living here than in that drug-riddled complex. I hadn’t been able to do anything to help Collin and Miranda’s son in the past, but I could do something now.
“Don’t say no. You’d be doing me a favor.”
“I could do that.” Kyle’s voice deepened. I think he knew what I was doing.
“I couldn’t pay you to stay with him. But you’re welcome to stay rent-free, if you can get out of your lease at your apartment.”
“I can,” Kyle said.
“Then it’s done.” I released Bob’s hand and offered mine to Kyle, and he clasped it and shook it.
As the past connected to the present, I felt like a broken circle was complete again. Another wave of emotion crashed over me, but I stood strong beneath the deluge. I’d had years of practice standing strong despite my emotions.
“Let’s show you to your room.” I stood, relying on practiced efficiency. “Then I’ll start training Bob.”
Addy
The next morning, I got up with Rachel, and we talked a bit about nonconsequential things over coffee.
For some reason, I didn’t feel like I should share about Bob or Kyle. Maybe because I felt like she was barely holding up under her grief, and I wanted to shield her from dealing with anything else that might upset her. Or maybe it was because Bob and Kyle represented a part of the past that was more mine than hers.
Either way, I left for the gym to sort it all out. I couldn’t journal my thoughts privately with Rachel sharing the bedroom. I needed time on the treadmill alone to process my thoughts.
When I arrived at the gym, I removed my workout jacket and placed it in one of the cubbyholes by the receptionist desk. Entering the main workout room, I glanced around while pretending I wasn’t. A few early birds like me were working out, but no sign of Mr. Amazing Ass.
After stepping onto my favorite treadmill, I popped in my earbuds and turned on the music. It was Tempest again, cranked up to maximum volume, because loud was the way Tempest was supposed to be listened to.
When I was at my maximum treadmill speed, I reached for the water bottle I’d placed in the cupholder when suddenly I was plucked right off the treadmill belt. My heart rate skyrocketed, and it was already high from my workout.
“What are you doing? Put me down!” I cried out, pounding on the hard-as-sculpted-steel back of Mr. Amazing Ass. I knew it was him because I found myself upside down over his shoulder, staring down at it.
“Shut up,” he said.
Shocked, I stopped struggling as he strode out of the workout room and into the front foyer. Although his voice was a little deeper and raspier than I remembered, I knew it anyway.
“Barry?” I tried to push up to look at his face as he opened the glass front door and stepped out onto the street.
“We’re going to talk my way since you didn’t respond to my email.”
He held me steady with one hand and inserted a key to open the door to the Vietnamese restaurant next door to the gym.
“And of course it’s me. Who did you think it was?” He shifted to punch in a code to stop the beeping alarm. “One of your admirers?”
“I don’t have any admirers,” I grumbled.
“Bullshit,” he spat out. “Every guy at the gym watches you. It’s been driving me crazy.”
“Where are you taking me?”
I gave up trying to argue with him. When Barry had that stubborn tone to his voice, I knew it would be pointless to argue. He didn’t answer, just strode through the empty restaurant that had muted jade-green walls adorned with cool black-and-white photos, and about a dozen tables, most of them booths.
“Put me down,” I said firmly. “This is ridiculous.”
“No, not until we talk.”
