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"Any time. Especially if we really get that cappuccino machine." After Mannix almost fired him, it was awkward enough already. Strained. If I wasn't careful, that would start to impact the business and the kids. Kids, especially, were good for noticing tension, and feeding off bad energy. This place was supposed to be fun. I wanted to keep it that way.
"Okay, let me walk you through this system." I waved at the screen and moved my chair over so we could both sit in front of it. He pulled over a chair and sat. His arm brushed mine. He jumped, moving the chair away quickly before he sat back down.
He gave me a look, but didn't say anything.
I cleared my throat and started to explain, although the new system was straightforward and a lot simpler than the old one. To me anyway.
"Does that make sense?" I asked when I finished.
I realised he'd been staring at me for the last couple of minutes. Had he heard anything I said?
I turned my face to look at him. "Did I lose you?"
He blinked. "Sorry, what? Oh. No, you make perfect sense. I mean, the system. You're right, that looks a lot easier than what Nicola had set up. Quicker too. I'd much rather spend time coaching than doing paperwork."
"I'd rather be coaching, practising or drinking cappuccino than doing paperwork," I agreed. "If we do well enough, I'll hire someone to do all of this. We can focus on the things that matter. Helping make kids better gymnasts and have fun."
"I'm a big fan of both of those things," Charlie said. His expression was unreadable. He might be more like Mannix than he'd like to know, or admit. I decided against telling him that. The situation was tense enough already.
"Anyway, that's it." I turned away quickly. "The first class should be here soon."
"Right." Clearly relieved, he stood and picked up both of our empty cups to throw them in the rubbish bin.
"Just so you know, construction next door will start next week," I said before he left the office. "They know not to work while we have a class, but there's going to be some disturbance. Apparently they need to break up part of the floor and put down new concrete. After that, it shouldn't take long."
No doubt the guys would turn up at least once a day to check on the progress. And to make sure none of the tradies working next door tried anything inappropriate with me. Like smiling. Or breathing the same air.
"Great," Charlie said. "Any chance I can expand my skills by giving classes in there too? I could use the extra hours."
"I don't see why not," I said. "Let's revisit that closer to opening." I didn't even know what skills or qualifications a person needed in order to teach things like spin classes, or circuits. Or aqua aerobics, if Ice got his way. I added that to the long list of things I needed to look up or think about when I got the chance.
"Okay, boss," he said, his expression grim.
I smiled wryly. "I did sound like the boss, didn't I?" I clapped a hand to my forehead. "It's happening already." I grinned past my hand.
Charlie almost smiled before he moved away from the door to welcome the kids into the gym.
I sighed. Was the guys’ buying this place a gift or a curse? On one hand, it was amazing. On the other, it was a lot of work. At least, it would be until I could hire a manager to take over the administrative stuff. All of this could very easily overwhelm me. What the hell did I know about running a business anyway?
The guys were crazy for wanting to get rid of Charlie, I decided. The only way this place was staying afloat was if I had help from someone who understood the business. He could give me a list of things needed to be changed and every single one of them would be right.
I watched through the window as he greeted the kids with a smile and a high-five.
They all grinned, clearly happy to see him. There wasn't a single one who didn't adore him. Should I make him the manager? Would he even want that? He loved what he did, but if he needed the hours, running the place would give him that.
It was another thing I would have to revisit later. I wasn't going to ask the guys for more money, so I'd have to wait until the gym was making it for me. They might try to put a collar and a short leash on me, but I wouldn't let them. I was determined to do things my way, even if I fell on my face in the process.
I caught Charlie glancing at me and looked back towards my computer screen. I hoped like hell he'd lighten up, sooner rather than later, before it made working together difficult, or even impossible.
I turned off the computer and slipped out of my chair. I should be excited. My mother was getting married tomorrow and today was the first silks class I was teaching in the gym. I finally had that report finished and only had one exam to do before my semester was done. One more semester and I could graduate.
Ishouldbe excited, but the nightmares persisted, even when I slept beside one or two guys every night. Even when I woke with Mannix holding me, and Ice rubbing my back. Even when we fucked until I was exhausted.
I couldn't shake the feeling they were out there and they were getting close. More than that, I felt like I was missing something. Something important.
Something in the back of my mind I didn't want to think about, or acknowledge, because the truth might be more than I could handle. Even touching it with the corner of my mind, I recoiled from it.
There was no way. I couldn't even let myself think it, not even for a nanosecond. If I thought about it, I might put together pieces I didn't want to put together.
