“Yeah, I debated on getting that first,” I reply.
“Great minds and all that jazz,” she teases as she begins to eat.
I clear my throat and say, “It looked like you may have had a rough session. If you wanna talk about it, feel free, but if you don’t, that’s okay too.”
“I just need to process a few things, then I’ll gladly share,” she says. “It’s not bad per se, but my brain’s on overload.”
“Then let’s just enjoy some good food and relax, Tomorrow’s another day,” I tell her.
“This is true. Now, it may be that I’m beyond starved, but what are you thinking about getting for dessert?” she asks.
“I saw they have banana pudding, but after having yours, I’m afraid it might not compare. Still, I’ll get some, and probably some cobbler as well. What about you?”
“They have brownies plus soft-serve ice cream, so I may make my own brownie sundae,” she replies.
“May have you make one of those for me too. I can always do another mile or two on the treadmill.”
One of the best things Rio did was ensure we have a state-of-the-art gym at the clubhouse. We’ve also got a boxing ring for those times when we need to work off a little bit of steam with one of our brothers. When it’s cooler, I prefer running outside, but the heat and humidity in our neck of the woods makes that almost impossible during the summer.
“I don’t have that luxury, but I don’t think I care right now,” she teases. “I can always run up and down the sidewalks. But if I’m running, that means someone’s chasing me, so you better be ready to handle that.”
I burst out laughing, the image so vivid that for a couple of minutes, I laugh so hard that tears come to my eyes, and only stop when I hear Shelly joining in. “You okay?” I ask, mopping at my face to wipe up the tears.
“I was being serious, Abyss,” she sasses. “But we both know I am not gonna run, so I may need to see about joining a gym.”
“We got one at the clubhouse,” I offer. “You and I can start working out together if you’d like.”
“Really?” she asks.
“Really. Just say the word and we’ll work it into our schedule.”
“I’d like that, I think it would help me work out some of my angst,” she says.
“It can’t hurt. Exercise causes a boost in endorphins so it’s a mood enhancer, a natural one.”
“Can I ask you a favor?” she asks.
“Anything, if it’s in my power to do it, I will,” I reply. “What is it?”
“Gina came in today and said she filed a missing persons report on Gretchen but has had no luck. Is there… can the Kings maybe see if they’re able to help?”
While I can’t share club business with her, even though she’s an old lady, I can offer some hope. I still need to make it official with the club, which I plan to do when we have church again.
“Back when you called Gina to tell her that Gretchen had missed her appointment, I gave the information you provided me to our tech guy. I need to follow up on what he’s found, then I can see if we’ll be able to help in any way.”
“Thanks, Abyss. I’m really worried about her even though we’ve never met. Gina says it’s completely out of character for her, too.”
“No thanks needed, sweetheart. Hopefully, we can get to the bottom of things.”
“I hope so too.”
CHAPTER
NINETEEN
Shelly
I wasn’t lyingwhen I told Abyss I needed to process my latest session with Beth. We talked about moving on with someone else and how that might look, and I shared that Abyss had told me I was his old lady. It was when she asked me how I felt about becoming physically intimate with him that I broke down. My insecurities about how I look aren’t due to being a bit curvy, it’s because of all the scars. Beth says I need to discuss it with Abyss, since it’s a possibility with any partner that things can change.
