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“Your logic is a little twisted,” Will said with a laugh.
“It makes sense to me, and when it comes to working out, that’s all that matters.”
With that decided, they began to clear off the table. Charli handed him a Ziploc bag with the rest of his pizza in it. “Since you’re the only one who likes it.”
“Thanks.” He turned to Janessa, who was putting more pizza into plastic bags. “Did you want a ride?”
“Sure. Even if your ulterior motive is to make certain that I don’t back out.”
“I’m sure you’d say yougot loston the way,” Jay said, putting quotes around the words.
“Well, it’s not like I make regular trips to the gym.”
Will knew that Janessa was being intentionally ridiculous, but since it made him laugh, he didn’t mind. In fact, he rather enjoyed it.
“I’ll just go grab my stuff,” Janessa said. “I’ll be back in a couple of minutes.”
Will transferred the remaining cookies from his container into one Charli had since he still had plenty of sweets at his apartment. By the time Janessa returned, he was standing at the front door. Jackson and Wade had left, as had Kayleigh. Jay and Misha had gone back to her place to drop Ciara off with her mom.
They beat the couple to the gym, but they didn’t lack a familiar face. Reese was there working out with one of her friends. She waved at them but didn’t move off the elliptical she was on.
Will knew that that didn’t mean he wouldn’t hear from Reese about him showing up at the gym with Janessa. She had an opinion on absolutely everything, so she’d have one about that too.
Thankfully, there was no sign of Marissa. He’d seen her a few times at the gym since, but she’d kept her distance, and he was grateful that things had settled down at school too. At least with regards to Marissa. Some of the teens from the server meeting were still teasing him about Janessa.
“Guess I’d better get ready,” Janessa said with a sigh. “Be right back.”
Will went to the men’s changing room, and he was still there tying his shoes when Jay walked in.
“Did Janessa come with you?”
“Yep.” Will straightened but stayed sitting on the bench. “She didn’t seem like she was under too much duress.”
“I’m surprised she agreed to come again,” Jay said as he swapped his street clothes for his workout ones. “I think that has something to do with you.”
“Me?” Will frowned at his friend. “I doubt that.”
“I don’t know.” Jay sat down beside him and bent to put his shoes on. “She’s been spending more time with you than anyone else.”
Will rubbed his hands along his thighs, smoothing the silky fabric of his basketball shorts. “Could be because we have something in common.”
“Oh? What’s that?”
“Well, both of us have had our best friends move into relationships, so we’re not spending as much time with them.”
Jay turned to face him more fully, his expression serious. “I’ve been neglecting our friendship, haven’t I?”
“No.” Will shook his head. “I don’t feel neglected. I’m happy for you and Misha. She’s so much better for you than Casey ever was.”
“Being with Misha has made me realize how bad things actually were with Casey. I mean, I’d kind of known, but being in a healthy relationship has been very revealing.”
“I’m sure. I just hope that you two can go the distance.”
Jay grinned. “I’m gonna marry her.”
Will lifted his brows. “Really? You know that already?”
“Yep. She is everything I could ever want in a wife. A partner. I love her strength, her passion for her career, the way she cares for her mom and Ciara. There’s just so much I admire about her, and I hope she feels the same about me, even though I’ve messed up in the past.”
