I smile at the thought of Veronica talking about me. "Hardly, but I’m happy to know she’s mentioned me. Assuming we both know who 'she' is."
She laughs. "We most definitely do. And 'talking' is a nice way of putting it." She looks past me toward the gym floor. "Does she know you’re here?"
I shrug. "Not yet. It’s a surprise."
"Well, it’s your funeral," she says before leading the way to where the class is getting warmed up.
Again, I hear her before I see her. Even in the middle of this crowd, I can recognize her laughter. I’d recognize it anywhere. My jaw sets, and a hard pulse starts in my temple the moment I see the person it’s directed toward. He’s leaning in, occupying her space, and the sight of it grates on me. Who the fuck is this guy? My focus narrows, tracking the way she smiles at him, and the irritation settles deep in my chest.
"Change of heart?" Annie asks, glancing back at me.
"No," I mutter, my eyes locked on them. "Who the fuck is that?"
"Oh, that? That’s Frank," she says casually. "He’s one of our regulars. He and Vee take a couple of classes together."
My gaze bounces between Annie and Veronica. As if sensing my eyes burning a hole into the back of her head, Veronica turns. Our eyes lock across the gym. I can’t help but grin when she sees me, and she is not happy. But she doesn’t come over and berate me, or yell, nothing; instead, she turns to Frank and continues their conversation.
“Well, I have to go back to the front desk,” Annie says to excuse herself. She walks over to Nina, whispers something in her ear, and then leaves. I assume she informs her wife of my presence because Nina doesn’t take her eyes off me.
I stay where I am, not meeting her stare. Veronica ignoring me makes me want to stay even more. The class starts, and Nina calls for us to pair up. I don’t hesitate. I move through the crowd, my target locked, and step directly into the space between Veronica and Frank. She looks up at me, her eyes flashing with a mix of annoyance and something I can’t quite put my finger on.
"I need a partner," I say, my voice steady despite wanting to punch the shit out of Frank, and I don’t even know the guy. I know her type, and he’s not it. She’s not into older men.
“Sorry, I already have a partner.” She looks at Frank, who’s moved to stand next to her.
“I’ll be your partner,” I hear Nina say from behind me. I turn to find the gym owner watching me with a sharp, knowing gaze. She isn't smiling. If I want to stay, I have to play by her rules. I nod slowly. She walks to the front, and we begin to demonstrate. "All right, everyone, eyes on us," Nina calls out, her voice commanding the room. She doesn't take her gaze off me as she assumes a basic fighting stance. "We’re demonstrating the proper technique for a roundhouse kick," Nina announces to the room. "Miles, please show the class the proper form." I step back, acutely aware of Veronica’s eyes on my back. This isn't just a demonstration; it's a lesson. I shift my weight, channeling the irritation I feel into a movement, and throw a clean, powerful roundhouse toward Nina’s side, just high enough to challenge her skill. In one fluid motion, Nina doesn't block it with her arms. She pivots on her standing foot, bringing her shin up hard to meet my kick with a bone-jarringsmackthat absorbs the impact and redirects my energy. My leg pulses with the contact, the sound sharp in the quiet gym. "Again. And this time, Miles, try to actually keep up."
I hear a ghost of a laugh behind me, whispering. No doubt it’s Veronica and fucking Frank. Nina doesn’t give me a second to recalibrate. "Let’s show them the uppercut defense.” I plant my feet and drive a left uppercut toward her chin, aiming for the space just in front of her face. Nina doesn't flinch. She slips her head to the outside, her right hand catching my wrist to redirect the momentum while her other arm snakes under my bicep. She uses my own power against me. My shoulder hitches, my balance breaks, and suddenly I’m staring at the ceiling as she pins my arm across my chest. "Too much weight on the balls of your feet," Nina says, her voice loud enough for the whole class to hear. "When you miss a punch like that, you're losing control of the fight."
She releases me and steps back, resetting her stance. Behind me, the whispering stops, replaced by the heavy silence of Veronica watching me fail. I stand up and notice that around us, the other pairs are practicing the demonstration without physical contact.
Nina walks over to me, her voice dropping to a low, lethal edge. “Next time you want to have a pissing contest or mark your territory, do it somewhere else. She’s here, she’s safe, and this is a place she doesn’t need you to invade. If you stay, you're here to train, not to ruin her time.”
She doesn't wait for a response. She walks away to check on the other pairs, leaving me standing in the middle of the mat, my ego bruised and my logic scrambled. I look over at Veronica, but she’s already back at work, her focus entirely on Frank. An uneasy feeling starts to creep in. I decide to stay and spend the next forty-five minutes acting as Nina’s personal demonstration dummy. By the time she's finished handing me my own ass, my body aches in places I didn't know existed. I take my timeexiting the gym, hoping for a chance, any chance, to talk to Veronica.God, I’m pathetic.
I spot her across the room. I clench my hands into fists as I watch her wrap Frank in a hug. She pulls away with a smile and heads straight for the front door. She all but steps on me as she brushes past to reach the exit. I follow her out into the cool air of the parking lot. "Veronica!" I call out.
She doesn't even break her stride. She reaches her car and slides inside without a single backward glance. I stand there, watching her taillights fade as Kai pulls away. I get in my car and speed the short distance to my apartment, hoping to beat her there. My mind is already calculating her driver’s speed against mine. I need to be there when she arrives.
I arrive just as Kai pulls away from the building. I enter the lobby and see the elevator doors slide shut. She’s in there. I’m seconds behind, my heart hammering against my ribs, not from the workout, but from the looming confrontation. I hit the call button for the second lift, my fingers tapping as if that will make it go faster.This is a mistake, I tell myself repeatedly, but I don’t plan on stopping. How the hell did I get here?
When the doors finally open, I don't turn toward my apartment. I walk right past it. I stop in front of her door, my pulse thrumming in my throat. This tension has been tightening for days; I’m ready to snap. Logic went out the window the moment I saw her with Frank. Truth be told, it could have been anyone. I’ve known her longer. I’ve watched her longer. I’ve protected her from things she doesn't even know exist, yet all I get in return is her cool dismissiveness.
Fuck that.
She opens the door and, god fucking damn, she looks beautiful. She’s still in her blue leggings and sports bra, her hair a chaotic mess from theclass, and her face scrubbed clean of makeup. She looks so unfiltered, real, and entirely out of my reach. I know that once I cross this threshold, I won’t be able to turn back. I was a fool to think I could keep what happened in that room confined to the privacy of those four walls. Felix is right—she deserves better than the monster I am, but she’s been surrounded by monsters her entire life, and it’s those monsters that have kept her safe.
"What the fuck do you want, Miles?" she asks, her voice dripping with a flat, stinging disinterest that cuts deeper than any shout.
I push past her and enter her apartment. She slams the door behind me and follows.
“Who the fuck is Frank?”
She rolls her eyes but doesn’t answer. I walk toward her, a predator approaching its prey. “I’m not going to ask you again. Who the fuck is he?” Still no response.
“I don’t owe you any explanations.”
Every step I take toward her, she takes one back until her back is against the wall and she has nowhere to go. My chest is pressed against hers. I feel every breath she takes; her chest moves up and down. I don’t even realize I’m doing it until I feel her soft skin under my fingertips. I caress her left arm, up to her shoulder, then to her collarbone. Her breathing hitches.
