Page 12 of Cosplay & Consequences

I smiled at her. “First, I don’t have any cats. I don’t know how or where the face eating cats are showing up but I’m not concerned. Second, I love my life, and despite your treatment of me I love having you around all the time.”

The twinge of guilt on her face was amazing to see. Paige never liked talking about stuff like this with me. Any attempt at a real topic involving emotion was shut down as soon as possible. She shook her head at me. “Yeah, man. I know, but there’s so much more for you than this. I know I’m no poster child for stable relationships, but at least I put myself out there.”

I sat there listening to Paige and realized how much she meant to me. How she always looked out for me and my well-being. It was also rare when she showed any kind of emotion.

So, of course I had to roast her for it.

“Are you feeling, okay? That sounded dangerously close to affection.”

She sighed and flipped her middle finger at me.

“That’s the sister I know and love.”

“Go to bed, Danny.”

“I will if you leave me alone.”

Right before she closed the door behind her, she called out. “Read the notes.”

I dressed for bed and laid down. I halfheartedly skimmed the notes she sent to my phone before plugging it in and tossed it on my bedside table. I spent far more time with the slip of paper from “Fiona” and memorizing the digits she had written on it. I eventually fell asleep, still smelling her fragrance on me.

My sleep was short-lived. I got maybe three hours before my alarm went off. I headed to the gym Paige had arranged for me. Jorge didn’t wait for me, having put in a workout before I arrived and was drenched in sweat. “You ready to work out, boss?” he asked cheerfully.

“You and I both know that I am not the boss in this relationship,” I joked.

He let out a long laugh. “Have you been sticking to the diet plan?”

“Religiously.” Technically true. I haven’t been to church in years.

His eyes narrowed a bit. “So, no Snickers bars?”

“No. Not in a week,” I lied.

He poked my abdomen with his index finger, as if making sure.

“Really? You can tell from one poke?” I asked.

“I can tell,” Jorge said seriously.

Jorge had a way of knowing things, so I wasn’t going to question it. “All right, Jorge. If you’re done checking my gut, how are you going to punish me today?”

“We start off with cardio. I got a treadmill programmed with your workout over there. Then we’re doing leg day.”

I groaned, but obediently headed to the treadmill. I would argue, but the results spoke for themselves. My abdomen and arms were probably half the reason why the studio went with me as their choice for Tyrst’an. I had spent weeks before the audition trying to show that, at least physically, I was more than a TV actor. Stella might be at the end of her career, but she knew what to expect from the audition. Before I even read a line, they made me take my shirt off, examining me like I was a side of beef.

I got on the treadmill and started my run as Jorge stood to the side. Usually, he wandered off and prepared the next round of torture. Instead, he watched my gait, his head tilted in interest.

I was suddenly worried he somehow knew about the Snickers I’d stashed in my room.

A moment later he gave me a smirk. “You got lucky last night, didn’t you?”

I tripped on the treadmill, falling back a foot and stumbling before the safety clip disengaged the motor. “Did Paige tell you?” I asked, regaining my balance.

Jorge smiled, turning away. “Your gait was off. Get back on the treadmill.”

I stood there with my mouth hanging open. “You cannot tell that by me running for thirty seconds!”

“Jorge always knows!” he shouted back. “You should always be on Team Jorge!”