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She nods and points at the treadmill. I get on for a quick warmup run. While I run, Emma stands next to the treadmill and watches me.
“What?” I bark after a while.
“What do you mean, what?” she claps back.
“You’re staring.”
“I’m watching your form. That’s my job.” Her frown deepens. “What’s up with you?”
“Nothing.”
My body isn’t happy about the alcohol I put into it—not the wine last night and definitely not the beer this morning. Gone are the days I could drink and recover like it was nothing. I’m far from being the young adult who takes life in his stride.
I push the treadmill faster and faster until I can barely keep up with the speed. My thighs scream at me and my body can’t keep up with oxygen. I gasp for air, but my heart rate is through the roof.
“Hey, easy!” Emma shouts over the thunder of my feet on the conveyor belt. “This is awarmup.”
I ignore her and push myself until my legs give out. I fall on the treadmill and the emergency stop jerks the belt to a halt. I lay on the treadmill, legs hanging off, and groan.
“Jesus, Blake, what the fuck’s wrong with you?” Emma scolds, ducking onto the treadmill to check if I’m okay.
“I’m fine,” I say and push up. “It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“Just let me check you out,” Emma says and she looks into my eyes to check for concussion. I didn’t hit my head; I’m fine.
“I’ve been through worse,” I insist.
Emma rolls her eyes when she’s sure I’m fine and gets up. I get up, too, groaning. I’m going to have a bruise or two in the morning. I grab a water bottle and drink. Emma watches me.
“Are you drunk?” she asks. “You reek.”
“I’m not drunk. I drank last night. And I had a pick-me-up this morning. I’m not drunk.”
Emma narrows her eyes at me. “Do you want to talk about it?”
I shake my head.
“Okay, let me try this again. Talk to me. It’s not a question.”
I groan. “I slept with her.”
“Who?”
I snort. “Who do you think? Rachel.”
“Why is this such a big deal?” Emma asks.
“Because I feel something for her, Em. And I can’t afford that. Damn it, I should have kept it in my pants. But this woman is fucking irresistible.”
Emma’s face softens and she walks to the bench I’m sitting on, taking a seat next to me.
“You can’t keep stopping yourself from feeling something, Blake. It’s not a crime to fall for someone.”
I don’t answer. Emma knows how I feel and why.
She sighs. “What happened after you slept together?”
“I did business with her and left it at that. That’s what this is about, anyway. Business. It doesn’t have to be more.”
