SETH:So you think I’m good-looking?
You don’t need to answer that. I know you think I’m good-looking.
LANA:I hate you.
SETH:Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.
JAMES:Guys. Again. Get a room. Or a DM.
12
Sometimes it would feel really nice to be able to punch your ex right in the face.
—Lana Parker, “What Not to Do After a Breakup”
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.” May drags her feet through the parking lot as we make our way to the front door of the boxing studio, located in a nondescript strip mall somewhere in the Valley.
“I bribed you into it.” I hold the door for her, knowing if I don’t usher her into the building before me, she might make a break for it.
“One round of drinks is not nearly equal to the pain of a kickboxing class.”
We cross through a small lobby and into the large gym area. In the back stands a boxing ring that looks straight out ofRocky. It’s surrounded by several punching bags, all hanging from metal chains bolted into the ceiling. I’m immediately intimidated, until May nudges me over to the side and into a small classroom-looking space. One wall is fullycovered in mirrors, the floor is a cheap-looking laminate, and only a few other people mill about the room, which smells in that way all gyms do, musty and sweaty. Gross.
We find a spot in the back of the room, away from the small crowd of fellow students, tossing our bags along the mirrored wall.
“Should we stretch or something?” I half-heartedly pull one arm across my chest like we did in high school PE, which is essentially the last time I worked out. I’m trying to push myself out of my comfort zone, but I might have pushed a little too far.
May shrugs, using this chance to blatantly check herself out in the mirror from every possible angle. “At least my ass looks good in these pants.”
“Your ass looks good in all pants.”
“Duh. And all without ever having to kickbox.”
I shake out my arms and sigh. “Look. It’s one hour. One hour and then I can check this task off my list.”
“How did you convince Natasha to let you do this one on your own? I thought you and Seth were supposed to be doing all these assignments together.”
I purse my lips, leaning to one side and stretching my torso. “I didn’t tell her. Or him.”
May pauses her self-perusal. “I’m sorry, do my ears deceive me? Did you, Lana Parker, blatantly ignore a directive from your boss?”
I spin around so I don’t have to face her, forgetting there’s a mirror behind me until she catches my eye in the reflection. “The spirit behind this assignment is that I should be doing things on my own. So, I’m doing this one on my own.”
May cocks a finger gun at the me in the mirror. “Sort of.”
“Still counts.” I break eye contact and pause for a moment. “Besides, I needed a little breather from Seth.”
May bends over to touch her toes, seemingly to stretch, but mostly to give the few attendants an even better view of her butt. “I take it you will be picturing his face when aiming all the kicks and punches this evening?”
My first thought is that I could never hurt such a pretty face, but I’m smart enough not to say that out loud. “Yup.”
“Hmmm.” She straightens and levels a piercing look at me. “So there definitely hasn’t been even a hint of feelings resurfacing for one Mr. Seth Carson?”
I delay answering by taking a long sip from my water bottle. It’s pointless to lie to her, though that doesn’t mean I’m not tempted to try.
“Oh shit, you’re totally in love with him again, aren’t you?” May’s voice isn’t exactly subtle or quiet, and the other members of the class turn to look at us.
I shush her, my eyes narrowing. “I’m not in love with him, but I can’t help it if being around him brings up old feelings. Hence his not being here.”
