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“My type of gym?” Tabitha said. Everyone in the room turned to look at Thaddeus.
“Right. People try to lift too much. Do things they shouldn’t. They get hurt.” Thaddeus poked his tongue around his teeth. “It’s sad.”
“Those are people who aren’t listening to their coaches,” Hobbs pointed out. He’d heard this criticism many times during his years of coaching at Rhett’s gym, and he was weary of it. People who didn’t know what they were talking about were always quick to do an internet search of goofy videos and slanted statistics just to bolster their arguments against something that scared them or they’d never tried. “Truth is, more people suffer significant health problems by doing nothing than by lifting weights. A car breaks most when it sits in the driveway, not when it’s on the road. Yes, you might get in a crash, but if you practice safe driving, odds are you won’t. Same same.” Hobbs dug into his chocolate cream pie.
“I disagree,” Thaddeus said, his voice as calm as Sunday afternoon.
Hobbs waited, but nothing more came. “That’s it? You disagree?”
Thaddeus smiled. “That’s it. I get along just fine running and hiking. I don’t need to sling weights around or climb up walls.”
“Running and hiking are great,” Hobbs agreed. “But why limit yourself? The more you try, the better. You should come to the gym with Tabby.” He nodded at her, just as she was settling her plate in the dishwasher. She peeked over her shoulder with surprise in her eyes.
“Well.” Thaddeus cleared his throat, the first time he’d looked rattled since he’d arrived. “Tabithahas never invited me.”
“No problem.” Hobbs smiled. “I’m inviting you right now.” Hobbs was mildly aware that Thaddeus’s unfounded hate of functional fitness was not his problem. Neither was the fact that he thought he had dibs on Tabitha because they’d dated in high school. Or because he was a fancy lawyer who chased ambulances full of people with surgical mesh disasters. “C’mon.” Hobbs smiled again. “Put your money where your mouth is. What’s the worst that happens? Delaney here out-squats you?” He gestured toward Delaney with his fork. She shook her head, but Hobbs thought he spotted a smirk beneath her disapproval.
“I don’t succumb to childish dares.” Thaddeus handed his plate and fork to Tabitha, who still stood near the dishwasher. She accepted the dishes in silence, stared at them a moment, then rinsed them off and stowed them with the rest.
“Well, if you change your mind.” Hobbs shrugged. “Invite is always open.”
“Thanks.” Thaddeus smiled tightly. “Well, I hate to rush off. But I told my parents I’d be by for coffee. Besides.” He offered what sounded like a forced sneeze. “My allergies are catching up with me.” He glanced into the backyard, where the dogs were streaking around. Everyone out there was laughing and having fun, including the reverend. “Tabitha, please make my manners to Auntie El. I’m sorry she’s not feeling well.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Tabitha said. She cast Hobbs a glance as she walked past, but Hobbs couldn’t read it.
Once they had all left the kitchen, Nora popped her cigarette in her mouth, though she didn’t light it. “Subtle,” she said, the cigarette waggling in her mouth as she spoke. “How bad do you have the hots for Tabitha? Because you’re acting really jealous.”
“Nora.” Delaney shook her head. “You can’t say anything that comes into your head, you know? We’ve talked about this.”
“What?” Nora pulled the smoke from her mouth and clutched it between her first two fingers. “We’re not at the store, talking to customers. I’m just telling it like it is. Besides, you don’t even like him.” She pointed at Hobbs with her cigarette.
“We should go.” Delaney grabbed Sean’s hand. “Wyatt’s got to be worn out by now.” She peeked out the window at the dogs and Hannah, who carried a pissed-off-looking George.
“Just one more piece of pie,” Sean said, eyeing the assortment. “I only had chocolate and apple.” He grabbed a knife and cut a huge hunk of coconut cream.
“Well, if you’re going to eat more pie, I’m going to eat more pie.” Delaney thrust her plate under the slice he’d cut and took it for herself.
“Pie thief.” Sean went to cut himself a new slice, but Delaney thrust a forkful of her pie into his mouth. The two pressed a little closer, laughing.
“That’s my cue,” Nora grumbled. “You guys are actually making me miss my boyfriend, back in Williamsburg. I’m going to go call him.” She went out to the porch and slipped her cigarette to her lips, still not lighting it, then pulled out her cell phone.
Hobbs was left in the kitchen with the adorable couple and their pie, which felt like a crowd, so he strode to the dining room table and started clearing dishes just as Tabitha appeared.
“Why did you invite Thaddeus to our gym?” she asked.
“I thought I was being nice.”
“Right.”
“All right, he was talking smack, so I called him on it. Sorry. I had a macho moment.”
“Don’t you think that if I wanted Thaddeus at our gym I’d invite him myself?”
“C’mon.” Hobbs gestured to the front door, where Thaddeus had disappeared. “You don’t want to see him try the gym?”
“I’m not sure I do, no.”
Hobbs suddenly wanted to reach out, hook an arm around her waist and draw her in close. He wanted to be possessive, kiss her, feel her arms go around his neck and her legs go weak beneath him. He wanted to feel her body soften under his, to open up, yield to him, like she had before. But he also remembered what’d it felt like when she massaged his hands—the uncanny ability Tabitha somehow had to delve deep inside him and witch up everything he held tight, like a magic wand, stirring the pot. Hobbs was pretty sure she wouldn’t be a fan of what she found there, at the bottom of that pot. And then things would be over before they even got started. “I’m sorry for throwing the gauntlet down with Thaddeus. I should have been more mature. I hope he comes to the gym and you show him the ropes. And that he has a good time.”
