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The clang of metal plates reverberated through the gym as I stepped inside. The sharp tang of rubber mats and chalk hit me immediately, grounding me in the familiar space.

It didn’t take long to find her.

Ari was at the squat rack, a barbell loaded with what looked like twice her body weight resting across her shoulders. Her form was perfect, her legs steady as she lowered herself into a deep squat, the muscles in her thighs and glutes flexing with the movement. My mouth went dry. She stood, her back to me, completely focused on her set.

She hadn’t noticed me yet, which gave me a moment to take her in.

She wore those damn leggings again. The ones that should’ve been illegal for how well they fit her, paired with a sports bra that showed off the curve of her shoulders and the definition in her arms.

I had no right to be staring, but fuck if I could stop. Watching her in her element, strong and unshakable, did things to me.

“You were supposed to meet me in the garage.” My voice echoed in the mostly empty gym, making her freeze mid-rep.

She racked the barbell with a clang, then turned, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand. “I needed to blow off some steam,” she said, her voice breathless but steady.

I raised a brow, crossing my arms as I leaned against the nearest machine. “So, you ditched me for squats?”

“I didn’t ditch you. I just prioritized my mental health. Squats pair well with therapy.”

There was a thread of something vulnerable beneath the teasing tone, and I wanted to know what it was that was bothering her. But that would require a careful approach.

“Fine,” I said, pushing off the machine and moving closer. “But if you’re going to make me wait, at least make it worth my while. Show me what you’ve got.”

“Careful what you ask for.” She gestured toward the bench and the loaded barbell nearby. “I was about to do hip thrusts.”

Of course she was.

As if I hadn’t already been struggling to keep my thoughts from going south.

“You’re trying to kill me.”

Her grin widened as she slid to the floor. “You’re the one who wanted to watch. Don’t blame me if you can’t handle it.”

I couldn’t even respond. My brain short-circuited as she rolled the bar toward her, positioning it across her hips. Her movements were precise and deliberate. Fuck, she was fully aware of how much power she held in every inch of her body. With her feet braced, she drove her hips upward, the barbell rising with her as her glutes contracted at the top.

My jaw clenched as I tried to tamp down how my body reacted to seeing her. Because as much as I enjoyed the view, I knew something was on her mind, and my cock tenting in my tiny shorts didn’t help relay the message that I wanted to be there for her.

“You okay?” I asked, leaning against the rack as she set the bar down after another handful of reps.

“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?” she asked, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand, avoiding my gaze.

“Bullshit.” Her head snapped up, mouth parted in shock that I’d called her out. “When I’m blowing off steam this hard, something’s usually up.”

“Well, we’re not the same person,” she threw back, but there wasn’t much heat on the words.

“Tell me I’m wrong.”

She hesitated, her fingers tightening slightly on the bar. “Your dad stopped by earlier,” she finally admitted. “To introduce himself.”

My brows knit together. That wasn’t totally unusual. He was the team owner, and they were bound to meet eventually, but there was something in her voice that I couldn’t quite place. “How did it go?”

She broke eye contact, staring at her white Chuck Taylors. “Fine. He said he’s looking forward to Media Day.”

I was smart enough to know that ‘fine’ was not-so-secret code for not fucking good. “What else did he say?” I pressed, pushing off the rack to move closer.

She shrugged, but the movement was stiff. “Nothing too surprising. Mostly that he’s excited to see how we handle ourselves for the cameras.” She hesitated before adding, “He also told me how great Emma was. How well-loved you two were by the public eye.”

Her words hit like a gut punch, and my jaw tightened. “He said that to you?”