Total pages in book: 19
Estimated words: 17129 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 86(@200wpm)___ 69(@250wpm)___ 57(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17129 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 86(@200wpm)___ 69(@250wpm)___ 57(@300wpm)
The gym was busier this time around. Some guys were working out with the weight machines in the back, and some women and a few men were using the exercise machines at the front. Through the glass doors off to the side, I could see Lennox, Mikayla’s assistant manager and best friend, leading a yoga class.
I hadn’t officially met Lennox yet, but Mikayla had told me enough about her that I felt as if I already had. From what I understood, Lennox was a spitfire of a woman with more energy than she knew what to do with. And a bossy personality.
“Hey!” Mikayla exclaimed as she came out of her office. I looked over at her, a crooked smile tilting my lips. Damn, she was beautiful. She was wearing a pair of dark blue leggings, a plain black tank top, and a pair of black sneakers. Her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail, her blonde strands hanging down her back. A beaming, beautiful smile tilted her lips. “How was your nap?”
“Restful,” I told her honestly. I shoved my hands into the pockets of my sweats. “I see business picked up.”
She nodded. “It did. I’m so excited about it.” She glanced around before aiming those blue eyes at me again. “I just finished up working.”
“Lucky me,” I chuckled. Wasn’t lying either. It meant I got more of her time.
A light blush stole over her cheeks. “I’m technically off now. I was going to get a small workout in before I took off. You mind working out with me?”
“Fuck no,” I told her. “I’d love to.”
That blush got deeper, and she quickly walked away. Chuckling, I followed after her, grinning like an idiot the entire time.
I finished my set and began wiping down the equipment I’d just finished using before heading to Mikayla’s office to see if she might want to grab dinner. It was late and not much would be open, but even if we had to grab fast food, I wanted to spend time with her.
I couldn’t get enough of being in her presence. And I refused to even ponder on what that meant for me.
Her office door was open when I walked up, and right as I was getting ready to knock on the open door, I heard her sniffle. My heart stopped in my chest, and I quickly stepped inside. My soul cried at the tears in her eyes. She was holding a picture frame in her hands, and they were trembling.
“Goldie?” I asked softly. What the fuck had upset her?
She snapped her head up to look at me and then quickly set the picture frame down, roughly clearing her throat. “Sorry,” she croaked. She forced a smile to her lips, and I hated it. I detested the sight of her fake smile. “Everything okay?”
I nodded, though I was sorely regretting not finishing my workout session when she did. Because maybe I could’ve kept her from being sad if I had.
“You okay?” I quietly asked.
“Yeah. Fine.” Her forced smile got a little wider. I wanted to wipe it away. “Do you, um, want to grab dinner or something? I know I’m a bit of a mess, but—”
“You look great. Perfect,” I assured her. I held my hand out to her. “Come on. We can take my truck, and I’ll bring you back to get your car after. Sound good?” I was worried if she got alone again, she would end up bursting into tears. And the thought of her turning into a mess when I wasn’t around to hold her through it bothered the hell out of me.
I waited for her to grab her wallet and lock up her office before we headed out to my truck, her hand wrapped around mine. She was silent as I opened the passenger door so she could hop in. Once I was in the truck, I quickly turned the engine over and shifted the truck into reverse. “What’s open right now?” she asked, angling her body so she faced me a little as I backed out of the parking spot.
“Mexican,” I told her honestly. “There’s a restaurant off of Highway 15 that’s pretty good. And they have quick service.”
She nodded. “Sounds good to me.”
The few minutes’ drive over to the Mexican restaurant was quiet, but Mikayla seemed to have calmed down and was just resting with her eyes shut. I had the radio playing soft rock music from my phone, hoping it would soothe whatever had her upset earlier.
“I love Bad Omens,” Mikayla quietly spoke up suddenly. I glanced over at her. Her eyes were still shut, but a small smile was tilting her lips. “The lyrics from their songs just hit differently.”
Major points in my book that she actually enjoyed rock music and didn’t just play it because it was an expected thing at a gym. “What’s your favorite by them?” I asked her as I pulled into the parking lot for the restaurant.