Page 29 of Sexting the Don

As we head to the home gym, I can’t help but admire Natalie’s determination and success. She might be a little bit of a slouch in the gym, but when it comes to her acting dreams, she’s got what it takes, and it shows.

It’s inspiring, really.

“Ready to kick my butt?” Natalie asks, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Always,” I reply, feeling a surge of confidence. “Let’s do this.”

Natalie winks at me as we set up our mats. “So, tell me, how’s your love life going? Any hot dates recently? Or are you still holding out for Mr. Perfect?”

I roll my eyes, chuckling. “You know me, Nat. I’m not as adventurous as you are. Besides, I’ve got enough on my plate without adding a man to the mix.”

“Oh, come on,” she teases, stretching her arms over her head. “You’ve got to let loose sometimes. Maybe you’ll find someone who can help you relax a bit.”

“Yeah, right,” I laugh, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks as I think of Enzo. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Natalie grins, clearly not buying my casual dismissal. “Uh-huh. Spill. I can tell there’s something you’re not telling me.”

I sigh, shaking my head. “It’s nothing, really. Just someone I met. But it’s complicated.”

“Complicated? Sounds intriguing,” she says, raising an eyebrow. “You can’t leave me hanging like that. Give me the juicy details.”

“Maybe later,” I reply, trying to dodge the conversation. “For now, let’s focus on the workout. I really need to clear my head.”

“All right, fine,” Natalie concedes, smirking. “But I’m getting the details out of you eventually. Let’s get to it.”

I lead the workout, excited to show Natalie some new moves.

Natalie mimics my movements, and we get into a rhythm. The workout flows smoothly, each exercise building upon the last. But soon, my mind starts drifting back to Enzo. The way he looked at me, the intensity in his eyes when he touched me.

“Mandy, you with me?” Natalie’s voice pulls me back to the present.

“Yeah, sorry,” I say, shaking my head to clear the thoughts. “Just distracted.”

“Must be some distraction,” she teases as we switch to push-ups. “Is it the guy you mentioned? The complicated one?”

“Maybe,” I admit, not wanting to delve into details but also unable to deny it. “He’s different.”

“Different can be good,” Natalie says, glancing at me with a knowing smile. “Just remember, you’re the one in control. Don’t let anyone make you feel otherwise.”

Her words resonate with me as we continue our workout. I push through the exercises, trying to focus on the physical effort rather than the whirlwind of thoughts about Enzo.

As we move to the final circuit, my body starts to tire, but my mind is sharp. Natalie’s right. I need to stay in control. Maybe Enzo is just a distraction, or maybe he’s something more. Either way, I’m not letting it derail my life.

We finish our workout, sweat dripping and muscles pleasantly aching. Natalie suggests we take a break with some after-workout wine. I’m totally fine with that.

“Just a sip,” I say as she fetches the bottle.

We sit on Natalie’s deck, where the ocean view is breathtaking as the sun sets over the waves. It’s one of those perfect LA evenings that make you forget all your worries.

“So,” Natalie says, a mischievous glint in her eye as she hands me a glass of wine, “you going to tell me more about this complicated guy?”

I laugh, taking a sip. “You don’t let anything go, do you?”

“Not when it comes to juicy gossip,” she grins. “Come on, spill.”

I sigh, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. “It’s no big deal. I had a one-night stand.”

Natalie’s eyes light up. “Now we’re talking! Details, girl! Who is he?”

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