Page 38 of A Christmas Mystery

“Yeah.”

We start walking through what feels like an obstacle course of bodies and machines. After a minute, I realize Theo is no longer beside me.

I turn to discover he’s paused to talk to someone.

To talk to a woman. A very attractive blonde in a skimpy outfit—the kind I would feel foolish wearing but that looks perfect on her.

She’s smiling. She clearly likes Theo.

And as far as I can tell he likes her too.

Well, isn’t that nice for them?

The surge of jealousy and possessiveness is like nothing I’ve ever felt before. I never even experienced it with Chris. Maybe because I was always utterly confident of Chris’s regard, when I’m nothing of the kind with Theo.

Theo isn’t mine. There have been some preliminary feelings, but we aren’t even dating. He has every right to talk to and appreciate and even go out with another woman.

Even this pretty blonde.

No one is doing anything wrong here. Not the woman—who has every reason to flirt with a guy as great as Theo. And not Theo—who owes me absolutely nothing.

Only me. For being so ridiculously jealous over him.

I make myself swallow it down and keep walking toward the treadmills. My feelings might be irrational and petty, but I don’t have to act on them.

I recognize Greg from high school. He’s a tall, lanky guy with dark hair and a crooked smile. He always liked gaming and anime and weird synth music. We were never close, but he was always nice to me. I smile at him as I approach and climb on the treadmill between him and the wall.

“Maya,” he says, grinning as he recognizes me. “I haven’t seen you in ages. Are you a member here?”

“No. I’m just in town for the holidays.” I don’t mention Theo. He’s still talking to the blonde. I stare down at the control panel and am immediately stumped. It’s a fancy machine with complicated controls, and I have absolutely no idea how to make it go.

I’m not a gym person. My exercise consists of some light yoga and walking for however long I’m in the mood for. I might as well be trying to operate a fighter jet.

Shit, I need Theo, and he’s forgotten I exist.

Greg slows down from his jog so he can reach over and power my treadmill on. “If you just want a basic walk or run, you can just use this here.” He gets my machine going and shows me how to set it at a moderate pace to start out with.

“Thank you.” I smile at him with genuine appreciation. “I usually just walk outside, but the weather in December isn’t always amenable to that, so I figured I’d try this.”

“They’re always upgrading the equipment here. This is Green Valley after all.”

I know exactly what he means. The wealthy population here will only be satisfied with the latest and greatest—even for their workouts.

“It always takes me a while to get used to them every time they change them.”

Greg has a laid-back, easy manner I like. I’m no longer embarrassed by my incompetence.

I glance over to Theo and discover he’s finally remembered that I’m here with him and he’s supposed to be helping me solve my mystery. He’s frowning slightly with a grumpy expression I haven’t seen for a while as he peers at me walking on the treadmill next to Greg’s.

What did he think I’d do? Linger submissively at his heels while he had a conversation with someone else? Wait patiently for him to deign to notice my presence?

I turn back toward Greg with another smile. “I’m not sure I’ve seen you since high school. What have you been up to?”

“Working with my dad, exactly as was planned for me since the cradle.”

I have to think back to remember his father’s business. “Oh, he sells boats, doesn’t he?”

“Yes. And now I do too.”

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