Page 154 of Scattered Glitter

She crosses her arms as she leans back against the rack, giving me a once-over that goes straight to my core. “I always thought that was something people did in movies.”

I huff a laugh. “I’m not half as cool as you’re making me sound.”

“Oh, if anything, it makes you less cool.” She smirks, giving me a playful look. “Wasn’t parkour in trend, what, ten years ago?”

Her words hit a little harder than I expect, and the old sting of my high school days when my quirks made me a target surfaces. I push it down, raising an eyebrow to match her teasing. “Is that so?”

She tilts her head, studying me a moment longer, then her expression softens, the teasing slipping into something more genuine. “Yeah, but honestly? I’m done with cool. I’d rather be uncool with you.”

Her words settle over me, unexpected and warm, and the corner of my mouth curves up. I shift a little closer, the air around us suddenly charged. She looks up, catching my gaze, and I hold it for a beat longer than is casual, feeling my pulse quicken.

I don’t know how she does it—finds exactly the right words and gets behind the armor I’ve spent years building up. But as I watch her grin, a spark of warmth spreading through me, I know I don’t mind at all.

When she turns back and resumes her squats, I watchher form, stepping in to guide her stance when necessary. She starts to flag, the bar slowing an inch too soon, so I lean in and encourage her, “Keep going. You’re stronger than you think.”

She glances up, her eyes sparking with amusement. “You know, you sound like you’re about to start a motivational fitness channel.”

“Only if you’re my first subscriber.” I relax marginally, glad that the earlier awkwardness has faded.

She lets out a laugh, followed by a few deep, slightly labored breaths. “All right, Mr. Parkour. Tell me… why weights? Isn’t all that jumping and climbing around enough of a workout?”

I rest a hand under the barbell for support, giving her a breather. “Strength training helps with control,” I explain. “When you’re in midair, your muscles need to know what to do. One wrong move, and…” I snap my fingers, mimicking a fall. “It’s like everything’s connected. Balance, strength, finesse… it all has to be there.”

“Finesse, huh?” She smiles, clearly amused. “You make parkour sound like an art form.”

“It is,” I reply simply. Our eyes meet, and I feel the pull of honesty. “It teaches you things. How to trust yourself or push limits without crossing them. There’s more to it than looking cool on rooftops.”

She nods slowly, something in my words seeming to strike a chord with her, but then she shakes her head, and it’s gone. “All right, I’m so done.”

I laugh, stepping in to help her guide the barbell back onto the rack. She turns to me, still breathing a bit heavily, wiping her brow with the back of her hand. The faintest hint of jellybeans and sweat hits me, and it’s a strangely intoxicating mix.

“I think you’re turning me into a parkour convert.”

“First lesson’s free.” I hand her the towel she’d hung on the rack earlier. “After that, you owe me a coffee.”

She takes the towel, dabbing her neck. Her delicate, beautiful neck. “Oh, I see how it is. You lure me into your workout routine, then hit me up for a caffeine payment.”

“Not just any coffee,” I correct. “Best spot in the city.”

She squints at me. “You’ve really thought this out, haven’t you?”

Not at all.

What the fuck am I even doing?

“Maybe.” I shrug as if my heart isn’t racing. “Or maybe I like the idea of coffee with you. Either way, you’re the one with the bill. Don’t tell me themagic twins don’t pay you well.”

She grins. “All right.”

Fuck yes!

Cool, Nico, keep it cool.

“I, uh… I train kids in parkour,” I start, clearing my throat a bit too late to be natural. “Every Wednesday afternoon at two at Sunset Park.”

She blinks, looking genuinely surprised. “You do?”

“Yeah.” I run a hand over the back of my neck, looking down at my sneakers.

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