Page 95 of Sweet Twins For My Brother's Best Friend

Not for the first time, I look over at my phone on the ground and consider calling him again, even though Hannah told me he’s the one who should apologize to me. I’m just not sure that’s entirely true. The situation is not exactly black and white.

I start my run with the words thumping in my ear:“Strength and growth come from continuous effort.”

The rest of the speaker’s words melt into the background as I consider that echoing sentiment. It rattles around in my mind while I run.

I find that this happens a lot when I run, that I start off trying to focus on the meditations but end up actually meditating instead, completely unable to keep my mind on the words as my eyes move back and forth between my feet as they slap the pavement.

Before I know it, I’ve reached the gym, my feet taking me there before I even registered my destination. I stand on the sidewalk in front, hands on my hips, and look up at the sign that says CHOICE in neon lettering.

I named my business CHOICE because the amount of work you put into exercise is your own personal choice. Whether or not someone decides to come to my gym is their choice. How much they exercise and train and how they choose to look – it’s all their individual choice.

I kick a rock and consider all the choices that now lay in front of me, the path laid out that I’ve built brick by brick with my own freewill.

My phone rings, and I answer hesitantly. “Hello? Sarah?”

Chapter Forty Three

Hannah

Even though Chris is still in the house, I pull out my key ring and relish locking the door as I leave. A little tingle rushes through my body at the act. It feels almost intimate and I’m grateful that Chris seemed to understand my need to do that.

Lucy and I hop into the car together, and I roll down the car window for her as I drive toward the office.

Lucy’s tongue whips in the wind as if it isn’t a part of her, her chin balancing against the glass. I reach over with my right hand and pet her back while she relaxes, feeling the hot sun on her black fur.

It’s not the first time I realize that I’m having a moment that I have had every day for quite some time but which will likely soon be a thing of the past.

Once there are two car seats in the back and Chris next to me, Lucy won’t get to ride in the car with me as often. Even if she does, it likely won’t be just me and Lucy on our own very often after the babies arrive.

The realization hits me hard, and tears fill my eyes as I continue to drag my hand down her back, feeling the knobs of her spine under her thick blanket of short hairs.

When we arrive at the office, Lucy rushes to the front door of the office, panting excitedly. She jumps up at it, her front feet scraping at the glass and her ears bouncing with her every move.

“Lucy, little thing, did you miss this place?”

Again, tears spring to my eyes as an awareness sinks in that I’ve deprived her of the home she’s now known for a while.

Just becauseIknow Chris’ space is bigger doesn’t mean she understands that it’s better for us to be there.

These babies are making you emotional,I laugh to myself, rubbing her ears between my fingers. I pull them back into an ear ponytail, which used to make me laugh but now only makes me feel tender feelings for her.

“You are so beautiful, Lucy, you know that?” I squat down so that I’m eye level with her and touch my nose to her wet nose, looking into her black eyes, seeing the sun glint specks of orange in them. I feel emotional over her short black eyelashes and her gentle expression.

I open the door and let her bounce around, sniffing the walls and floors and furniture. I sit down at my computer and open up the financial information that I already have on Chris’ gym.

I highlight the transactions that look shady and know that I’ll eventually get the more detailed spreadsheet from Chris.

Finally, I open up a map of California and look up what cities have the most gyms in the state.

I also check which cities in the country have the most gyms and which locations have the most active members.

I hold my fingertip between my teeth, nibbling on my nail, before leaning forward and replacing it with the back of my pen.

I’m inclined to say that what makes Chris so successful is Chris, but I know that there’s more that goes into it than that.

It’s hard to be impartial, though. Chris is successful because he’s kind, thoughtful, ambitious, friendly, and knowledgeable, true, but Chris is also successful because of his location and his design choices and the employees he hires.

Chris is successful because of all of the choices, both big and small, that he makes for his business.

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