Page 46 of Contested

Sebastian took a deep breath, gripped his forearm, and squeezed once. Then he let his hands fall to his sides and left the locker room.

He threaded through the corridor and pushed his way into the gym, scanning it as he entered. The lights were already bright, and the space had started to fill with the morning rhythm of bodies and equipment.

Marcos was already there.

He stood in the corner near the rack of dumbbells with Zach, one of their fitness coordinators. Marcos seemed relaxed. At least, more than he had last week. His arms were loose by his sides, his shoulders were down, and he nodded along with whatever Zach was saying. His hair swayed messily with every movement, and Sebastian could see muscle flex under his compression top when he shifted his weight.

Sebastian nipped at his lip before Zach caught his eye and beckoned him over.

Marcos’ gaze flicked up to meet Sebastian’s. Quick and direct. Then it fell back on Zach.

That was better than nothing.

Sebastian walked across the gym and came to a halt beside them, keeping his attention on Zach.

The man wore the look of someone who was patient, but also wasn’t going to take anyone’s shit. Late-thirties, maybe. Slight wrinkles running across his forehead, completely bald head, and the kind of build that showed he had been doing this for a lot longer than Sebastian.

He handed Sebastian his tablet.

“It’s been sent to both of you as well,” he said before giving Sebastian time to look through it.

It was their workout routine. Push, pull, legs, upper, lower. A standard split. Easy to follow. It was the text that sat with each workout, though, that caught Sebastian’s attention.

Together. One spot and record. One lift.

It was plain. It made sense. It twisted Sebastian’s stomach in an uncomfortable way.

They weren’t going to be able to come to the gym and pretend the other wasn’t there. They were going to have to interact. Help each other. Sebastian was going to have to stand over Marcos while he pushed out reps. Marcos would have to guide Sebastian’s arms when he was about to reach failure.

Zach took the tablet back and said something about laps around the field after each workout, and Marcos and Sebastian both nodded. Then he left, leaving the two of them alone as the sound of the gym slowly came alive around them.

Marcos shifted first, clearing his throat and moving to the rack, starting to set up an incline bench press. He adjusted the bench, set the height of the bar, and started pushing plates onto it.

Sebastian stepped in to help, and Marcos let him.

They didn’t speak, and Marcos still didn’t look at Sebastian properly, but he lifted a plate toward him. Sebastian took it and slid it onto the bar.

When it was ready, Marcos gestured to the bench.

Sebastian got onto it, lying back and watching Marcos walk around behind him to stand ready in case he needed assistance.

He didn’t.

The weight lifted easily for most of the reps. The bar moved down, touched, then rose again, clean and steady. Sebastian kept his eyes on the ceiling and counted in his head, refusing to focus on the shape of Marcos standing behind him.

He stalled a little on the eighth, but Marcos didn’t have to step in.

Sebastian racked the bar and got up.

Marcos’ eyes slid over him once, quickly. Then he double-checked the weight and took Sebastian’s spot.

Sebastian watched him take up the space on the bench. His broad shoulders hung over the edges, and his arms flexed as he reached up for the bar. His thick legs tensed and shifted as his feet planted firmly against the floor.

Sebastian swallowed, brought his gaze back to the weight, and adjusted his stance in case Marcos needed help.

Marcos completed the set with ease and racked the weight. Then they waited in silence. Seconds passed slowly while they recovered, both of them standing close enough that Sebastian could hear Marcos’ breathing return to normal.

Then it was Sebastian’s turn again.