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I climb back into my car and head home. Then call a taxi to take me to the bar where I have arranged to meet with some of the guys from the Navy Seals. We don't meet up often, but it is always good to catch up with them.
After a few beers, for reasons unknown to me, I am talking about Gabi. The conversation is going south though as the guys tear into me.
Matthew is ripping on me, "So you live next door to thisbeautifulgirl, who you have kissed, and she is single, and you have not actually asked her out yet? Dude, what is wrong with you?"
"He lost his balls," Gavin yells loudly so that people in the bar turn to look at us. I smile and shake my head. "Guys, it's been a while. Give me a break."
Matthew chuckles. "I think you've had a long enough break, what do you say? What has it been now? Five years? Six?"
"Guess the Seal bravery does wear off over the years," Gavin says.
"Oh, give it up," I say laughing. I take a sip of my beer feeling it in my blood.
"You've clearly given up." Matthew and Gavin pack up laughing.
"Jeez, man. Ok. I will ask her out." I say. It's been at least thirty minutes of them ripping on me about not having asked her out yet and I cannot take much more. I order us a round of tequila. The bartender sets the shots down in front of us.
"When?" Gavin demands to know, staring at me with a challenging expression on his face. "Yeah, dude. When?" Says Matthew. I stare at them in disbelief. They really aren't going to let this go. Fine.
"Right now," I say, boldly downing my fourth shot of tequila for the night.
"Cheers to that." The guys shout and tap their beer glasses together.
I walk out of the bar feeling lightheaded and happy. I have not been drunk in a while and it is fun and relaxing. I hail a taxi and hop in, still geared up from the guys pushing me. I tell the driver to head straight over to the gym.
It is nine-thirty. The gym closes at ten. I have enough time to get there, and I am sure she will be there. The guys made me log onto her website to check her class schedule and she has one finishing at nine forty-five.
I arrive just as the class is ending and spot Gabi chatting to one of her clients. I pretend I have not seen her and head over to the front desk.
"Hi," I say, trying not to slur or look too drunk.
"Hi, how can I help you?" the girl behind the desk asks cheerfully.
"My daughter had a class here yesterday and I think she left her jacket behind. Was anything handed in?" I say with confidence even though Bella did not even bring a jacket with her to class.
After a few moments of checking the lost and found the girl says, "I'm sorry. There is nothing here, but let me just ask." She leans over the counter, "Gabi." She shouts Gabi's name across the almost empty gym. I keep my back to Gabi, wondering how this is going to play out. Feeling nervous, but also feeling excited and still confident with the tequila in my bloodstream.
Gabi walks over to the front desk. "Gabi, this client - his daughter left her jacket behind after yesterday's class. Did you see anything?"
"Alex?"
Finally, I turn to look at her. I can't stop the grin on my face.
"Gabi, Bella left her jacket." I say with a smile.
"Oh. I haven't seen anything, but we can take a look around?"
She stares at me for a moment.
The girl behind the counter picks up her bag. "Gabi, I am headed out. I'll be here to open at five tomorrow morning."
"Thanks, Toni. See you tomorrow."
She waves to the girl and then turns to me. She is eyeing me up and down and I stand a little straighter. Lifting my chin up and focusing on not looking even the slightest bit tipsy. "Come on. Let's look around where the kids take off their boxing gloves. Maybe she left it there."
We walk towards the back of the gym as the last people start to leave.
CHAPTER 9
