Page 112 of The Sidekick

Chapter Forty-Two

Tera

“I need your help,” Shade says in a grumbled voice. A computer bag drops into my lap, almost knocking over my coffee cup.

“Rude,” I mutter and pick the slim case up to gently set it on the coffee table.

“And I have some stuff to do today. So get dressed and come with me.”

“You can’t just say that and walk away, you jerk,” I lean on the couch to try and see around the corner to yell at him.

“I said I need your help,” he calls back.

Ugh, it’s like he knows that I like to be needed or something.

He hustles me to the car after I’m dressed and gives me the rundown of what he needs. He wants me to crack a code he’s been working on for a few months. Something to test my skills versus his. It’s sweet in a computer-geek way.

By the time I get a full scope of what I’m looking at, I realize we’re at the gym.

“It’s not Tuesday yet,” I frown in confusion. Or is it? Am I late? I’m dressed all wrong.

“It’s Monday, weirdo, and I’m scheduled to be here,” he gets out of the car, and I follow him in disbelief.

“So I get to sit here and work while you lift weights? Are you making sure I’m not cheating? Do you know how insulting that is? I should say no and sit in the car.”

He takes my arm and guides me into the back, farther than I’ve ever gone before, without answering. We pass by a boxing ring and some of those hanging bags I’ve seen in movies. There are a few guys in shorts that raise my brows on the way past. Maybe hanging out back here wouldn’t be so bad. The view is nice.

I sigh in regret as we pass through a doorway and end up in a large gym with mats all over the floor. I had no idea this gym was so big. I wonder what Shade paid for a year’s membership and wince. I’ll ask at the front desk and pay him back.

“Sit here,” he slides a metal folding chair out so I have a clear view of everything going on. Or he has a clear view of me to see if I cheat. Then he takes the laptop bag to dig for the charger and plug it in. As I’m frowning at his antics, Felix and Blaze come in and stumble to a halt.

“Hi, Tera,” Blaze says in a confused tone.

“Hey,” I wave sheepishly. “Don’t ask me where his head is right now. I have no idea.”

“I have a theory, and I’m testing it,” he calls over his shoulder to them.

He does? What theory? I want to know.

“Is this the theory of Tera? I don’t think I could make it through the twists and turns of that ride,” Blaze gives me a mocking grin.

“You’re like the worst people ever,” I glare back, and he laughs at my expression in surprise.

I can be mean to him when Shade is next to me. He’s like a buffer.

“When you get mad, it’s like watching a sloth get prepared for a fight.”

I gasp in horror, “Sloths don’t battle!”

“Exactly,” the twins say in unison.

“I’m looking that up to verify later,” Shade mumbles and turns the laptop on to get the code loaded.

Brody stops in the doorway, “Tera?”

“Don’t ask,” I gesture towards Shade with a helpless shrug.

“Here,” he drops the laptop at my feet, and I gasp again.

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