Page 23 of More To Us

Chapter Six

Kira

"Then don't think of it as a date," Austin says. "Think of it as an apology for not telling you I was in the band. I'll take you to dinner."

"You already apologized. You don't have to take me to dinner." I continue on the lat press but I've lost count of my reps. My muscles are starting to ache but I keep the motion going to distract me from Austin, who I've now decided is the hottest guy I've ever seen, at least in person. Last night in the bar, I couldn't really see him that well, but now, in the bright light of the gym, I'm able to get a good look at him, and holy crap, he's hot. Every part of him is ripped muscle, and unfortunately, I have a weakness for guys with muscles, which is why I'm focusing on the weights and not him.

"If you're accepting my apology," he says, "then why are you so against going out with me? It doesn't have to be a date. We can just go out as friends."

"I already have a friend. Amber. She's also my roommate."

"And you're only allowed to have one friend? You can't have another?" He smiles and my eyes get caught on his smooth perfect lips and those straight white teeth. As if the muscles weren't enough. He has to have a perfect smile. And beautiful blue eyes. And of course he hasn't shaved yet today, so there's a sexy layer of stubble covering his rugged face.

"I have other friends, just not here in Chicago." I bring the weights down and relax my arms by my sides.

"Well, now you do." He's still smiling. "I'll be your second friend in Chicago."

"That's okay. I'm sure I'll make plenty of friends when I start college next week."

He rests his forearms on the machine and leans toward me. He's sweaty and yet he doesn't even smell bad. It's more of a musky, manly scent that I find oddly appealing.

"Am I that bad?" he asks. "You won't even be friends with me?"

"It's just that I really don't—"

"Let's start over." He holds his hand out to me. "Hi. I'm Austin Wheeler. I'm 21. I work for Wheeler Construction and Renovations, my dad's company. And when I'm not working, I play guitar in a band called Vandyl. I have three older brothers and I like working out."

"Nice to meet you, Austin." I shake his hand just so he'll put it down and back away. He's too close to me, and if I remain this close to him for much longer, I'll find myself agreeing to go out with him. It's not like that would be the worst thing in the world. In fact, I'd probably like going on a date with him. He's super hot and we both like working out, but I don't want to date a guy in a band. As I witnessed last night, he has girls all over him all the time and I don't want to compete with that. He can have any girl he wants. He'd go out with me a couple times, get bored, and move on with someone else. He's not boyfriend material, not that I want a boyfriend, but if I did, it wouldn't be some muscular hottie who has girls begging to go out with him.

"Your turn," he says, still hovering over my machine.

"Could you please move back? You're kind of sweaty."

He immediately steps back. "Sorry. I wasn't even thinking about that. Shit, that's embarrassing." A hint of pink comes over his cheeks which I find kind of sweet. He's Mr. Confident, almost cocky, one minute, then is suddenly self-conscious, concerned that I really am turned off by his sweat.

"Don't worry about it," I tell him. "It's a gym. It's normal. I'm sweaty too." I'm really not, but I say it so he doesn't feel so self-conscious.

"Yeah, but you don't stink. I do." He takes another step back. "I should go shower."

It's the strangest thing, but now, for some reason, I don't want him to leave. As soon as he said he was leaving, I got this urge to make him stay. Is it just because I like looking at him? Or is it something else?

"If you change your mind about dinner, just let me know. I'm here almost every day, but if you don't see me, just ask one of the guys at the front desk for my number. Everyone here knows me." He's talking fast, almost like he's nervous, which I also find to be sweet. He's got this whole other vulnerable side I didn't know about until just now. "Or I could just give you my number." When I don't answer, he nods and says, "Okay, well, it was nice seeing you again. I'll let you get back to your workout." He turns and walks off.

"Austin?" I call after him.

He turns back. "Yeah?"

I get off the machine and walk over to him, extending my hand. "Hi. I'm Kira. I'm 21 and starting college next week, probably making me the oldest freshman the school has ever had." I laugh a little, then keep going. "I'm from Michigan and have three younger brothers. And I like working out."

He smiles and shakes my hand. "Well, we have that in common at least."

"Yeah." I let go of his hand, my eyes getting stuck on his face again. Those blue eyes, and that smile. I really like his smile and the fact that he smiles a lot. He seems like a really positive person and I could use more people like that in my life. This past year, I've been surrounded by people who are constantly negative. It's nice to be around someone who isn't.

"Any reason why?" he asks.

"Why what?"

"Why you like working out? I only ask because you're in really good shape and I was thinking maybe you're an athlete. I played football and baseball in high school. That's what got me lifting weights. Now I just do it because I like how it makes me feel."

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