He smiled.Shit. ItwasNick. Was he bloody well stalking me?
‘And stop,’ announced Carl.
My limbs throbbed, and Ireallywanted to collapse in a puddle on the floor, but I couldn’t. Not in front of Nick.
I turned away, to give myself some time to recover, but a moment later Nick was at my side. He was wearing a light grey T-shirt, which was tight enough to show off all the planes on his chest.
‘Evening, Zoë.’ Annoyingly, his breathing was unaffected.
I willed my diaphragm to behave so I wasn’t so obviously panting.
‘Don’t “Evening, Zoë” me. How the hell did you know I’d be here?’
He shrugged. ‘How did you know Marcie would be at the piano shop?’
Dawn had known both things, and for a second I panicked that she’d told him.
‘Have you been following me?’
‘How do you know I’m not in Boxercise every Tuesday night?’
‘Maybe I’ll ask Carl,’ I replied.
‘Be my guest.’
My real reason for going over to Carl was because he was near the door. My instinct was to get out of here, but then I’d look like a chicken. And sod it, I’d paid for this class, why should I leave?
But before I could move, Carl was issuing fresh instructions. ‘Okay, pair up and get your gloves.’
I scanned the room trying to find the other woman who was here, but she’d already paired up with someone. Everyone seemed to partner up quickly, assuming Nick and I were already a pair.
I was stuck with him.
‘I swung by your office,’ said Nick.
‘Excuse me?’
‘That’s how I knew you’d be here. Your receptionist told me you’d be at the gym.’
What was Jody doing giving a complete stranger my whereabouts? She was always so trusting of everyone. Maybe I needed to give her the stranger-danger talk.
I wasn’t going to tell Nick I was miffed, though. ‘Right. So, you just happen to be a memberandhave your kit with you?’
He dipped his head as if explaining something to a child. ‘It’s the best gym close to both our offices. Why wouldn’t I be a member?’
He was such a liar. I bet he’d joined on the spot. A discreet conversation with the receptionist when I left would soon settle it. If he wanted to waste his money that was his business, because frankly, I’d run out of energy to argue with him.
Carl was standing in a corner, stamping his feet like a bull and clapping his hands. ‘Everyone got what they need?’
‘I’ll get us some gloves,’ said Nick, before jogging towards where the equipment was piled in a corner.
I could still make a run for it. But something about Nick’s demeanour had changed, a bit like it had at Jessica’s gig. He’d stopped busting my arse about hassling Marcie in the piano shop. Why?
The only way to find out was to ask. And I’d feel a hell of a lot more comfortable having that discussion in my regular clothes rather than the sweaty Lycra I was currently rocking. The sooner we got down to our Marcie negotiations, the sooner I’d be interviewing her.
Nick came back with gloves. Was he serious? ‘You want to finish the class?’
‘I find it very cathartic – don’t you?’
