Page 2 of Sweet on You
I blinked back the burning sensation behind my eyes. I’d already cried too many stupid tears over a relationship that was never real to begin with. “Trust me, Callie, it’s not.”
“How do you know if you’ve nevergonefor it with him—”
“Because Ihavegone for it with him!” I hissed and immediately regretted my moment of honesty when I looked to my left and caught Callie’s pitying expression. It was the same face that I’d been met with when I was dumped the day before my wedding.
“You… you have?” Callie asked.
“Yes. I asked him out about a month ago and he said no. So can we drop it, now?”
It wasn’t often my sister was rendered speechless. But there was truly nothing left to say. “But… but that doesn’t make sense. When? And why in the hell am I just hearing about thisnow? I’m your sister, Ronnie. I thought we were closer than that!”
“It’s embarrassing, Callie. I didn’t want to admit to anyone that I’d been rejected so hardcore.” I didn’t add that I especially didn’t want to admit it to my gorgeous, bombshell blonde baby sister. “And … it happened the day Steve proposed to Yvonne at the top of Mount Washington. Lex baked the cupcakes for the party after.” I swallowed and managed to blink back my tears, causing them to disappear somewhere deep and dark inside of myself. “We were flirting—or at leastIwas flirting. Joking about the stupid gluten-free cupcakes, and he actually baked me one with almond flour and no refined sugar. I thought…” I shook my head. I’d jumped to conclusions. Read too much into the stupid gluten-free cupcake. “It doesn’t matter what I thought. Bottom line, I asked him out and he said no.” I shrugged nonchalantly, but inside, a heaviness fell on my gut. “It’s fine. But… no, Lex does not like me. Cat-like or not.”
“I had no idea,” Callie said, and I felt my sister’s fingers entwine with mine.
“Why would you? It’s not your fault.”
I gave her hand a squeeze. “No… but…” Callie nibbled her bottom lip in the same exact way she used to when she was a kid and got caught doing something she wasn’t supposed to do.
“But… what?”
Callie blinked. Her long black lashes were free from any makeup, but still as glamorous as a beauty queen’s. “I did something that I thought was helping.”
Oh, God.I narrowed my eyes. “What did you do?”
“Well… you know how you give us those coupon things to hand out to new clients?”
“The free week of personal training? Yeah…”
“Ikind ofgave one to Lex.”
I exhaled the breath I’d been holding. “Oh. That’s all?” Most people never even redeemed those coupons. And Lex didn’t exactly seem like the gym rat type. I swatted the air. “I’ll deal with it if he calls to set up an appointment.”
Callie cleared her throat. “Um, well, that’s the other thing…”
“Nowwhat?”
“He’s sort of your next appointment today.”
Well, shit. I knew when I hired Callie to handle reception that there was a chance she might meddle in my business affairs, but I definitely didn’t expect her to meddle in my love life. Mynon-existentlove life.
“Why didn’t I see his name on my schedule?”
Callie sat up and hugged her knees. “Because I put him in asAlex.”
“Dammit, Callie!”
“I’m sorry! I had no idea about… that he… that you two weren’t…”
“That he flat out rejected me?”
Callie grew quiet. “Yeah. That.”
I glanced at the clock. My next training appointment was at four o’clock. In fifteen minutes. It was too late to cancel. And he was probably already on his way. I could maybe find one of my other trainers to take him on, but then… wouldn’t that look suspicious? I sat up, too, pressing the soles of my feet together, stretching my hip flexors. “You know what? It’ll be fine. Lex and I need to find a way to coexist in this town anyway. Maybe this is an opportunity to clear the air.”
Or maybe I can work his ass so hard, he never wants to come back to my gym ever again.
I smirked wickedly as the bells over my front door jingled.
“Uh oh,” Callie said. “I know that evil grin. What do you have planned?”
“Nothing,” I said and pushed to my feet as Lex entered the gym. He hadn’t seen us yet, back here in the corner, and I watched as he checked his phone and nervously pushed his hand through his russet-colored hair. “Just some tire flips and burpee-box jumps.”
Callie’s eyes widened. “Aren’t those usually for seasoned CrossFitters?”
Yep. They sure are.
