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Weird. This all definitely fit the category, and I hated it. In fact, I didn’t just hate it, I was over it. Over obsessing about it and over trying to make it right when I did nothing wrong.
“That’s right,” I said into my empty office, since Eva and Olive were off preparing for another mixer. “I did nothing wrong, and I wouldn’t cower to his attitude by pretending I did. “I’m going out Kendra, forward calls to my cell,” I told her as I breezed through the front door with a confident smile that I didn’t quite feel. Yet. But by the time I arrived at the gleaming glass doors of Stone Cold Fitness, I felt pumped up.
Ready for battle.
My shoulders deflated at the tall blond in an electric yellow one piece that showed off her stunning physique to perfection. Babs. It was unfair for any person to be so beautiful as well as fit to death. When she waved at me I felt like a complete jerk, because she was also nicer than I deserved. “Hey Babs.”
She put a hand to the trainer’s shoulder and pointed in my direction as she made her way over. “Sophie, it’s so good to see you again. I love that dress, gives you a whole Marilyn vibe.” Her words were sincere, but if anyone was the Marilyn between us, it was her. “And that red belt, killer.”
“Uh, thanks.” I hated that I felt so insecure around this woman, especially because it was all my doing. Babs had given me no reason to feel this way, dammit. “You look like you’re getting a good workout?”
She laughed and bumped shoulders with Stone’s newest trainer. “Derek is a real slave driver, but he does good work if you’re interested.” Again, there was no malice or mockery in her words, but I felt acid churn in my stomach. “It’s excellent stress relief, especially when you have a high powered career with demanding clients. Or students.”
“Everything all right?” If Stone cared about this woman, I would too because he was my friend. My best friend.
Surprised flared in her eyes. “Yes. No. You know how it is, one of my colleagues is trying to discredit my work because I won’t give him the goodies. I’ve got it under control. I think.” She turned to Derek with a smile. “I will. Right?”
“That’s right,” he said with an appreciative grin. “You looking for Stone?” I nodded, suddenly feeling idiotic about ambushing him at work, about, what really? His temper tantrum? “He’s not in, went to Tulip to scout out a new location.”
“Oh. Right,” I said as if I knew when I didn’t, which only highlighted exactly how upset he was with me. Stone never passed up an opportunity to turn any mundane thing into an adventure. Before last week, he would have called me up and asked me to take a small road trip with him. This week I had to find out from one of his employees. “Thanks for the reminder, Derek. It was good to see you again Babs.”
She was already back in front of the wall of mirrors, with impressively large dumbbell in her hands. Her smile flashed in the mirror and she called out. “See you soon, Sophie.”
I wasn’t sure if that was a promise or a warning, so I waved and rushed out of Stone Cold Fitness, knowing I needed something sugary and someone to talk to who wasn’t Stone. Or Eva, or Olive who were so madly in love that they couldn’t possibly understand. But I had a new friendship with someone who might understand. I hoped.
“Mara? You feel like joining me for deli sandwiches and giant cookies?” I held my breath, knowing that Mara’s sharp tongue could have me feeling a lot worse in the next few seconds.
“Sure. I’ll be there in thirty, grab a booth near the back window. Please,” she added as if it were an afterthought.
I smiled at her always grumpy tone because it was just Mara, she was a nice person and she always gave her honest opinion. Even when you didn’t really want that much honesty. Today I needed it. At least I thought I did, but when Mara strolled in wearing ripped jeans and a Pilgrim, TX t-shirt, I wasn’t so sure. She stopped at the counter to place her order and I examined her closely, wondering about her secrets. She’d moved to Pilgrim a few years ago, but she hadn’t said much about her past, which only made me more curious.
“Hey. You look like crap.” The words weren’t meant to be an insult and I couldn’t help but smile.
And snort. “Thanks, Mara. It’s just what I needed.”
She shrugged and took the empty seat across from me. “I got you an extra cookie. You sounded like you could use it.”
