Page 3 of A Pawn in the Game
Sophie
Alan barks his heart out while I lock the door and place my keys onto a practical metal hook. I named him after Alan Turing, my favorite mathematician and scientist.
“Shhh. Calm down.” I scratch his back the way he likes, but it doesn’t help. “What the hell has been wrong with you the last couple of days?” I mutter, mostly to myself.
He’s been acting crazy. Barking at random times, acting nervous and skittish, which isn’t like him at all.
“You’re usually a cool, playful guy, aren’t you?” I coo at him, and he finally settles, finding his spot on the couch.
I uncap my water bottle, downing a sip before taking my hoodie off and arranging my gear. With a light warm-up of fifty jumping jacks, I start the daily calisthenics workout I found online.
I’ve been doing them for a few months now and they’ve been my favorite type of workout so far. After trying the gym or group classes, even online group classes, this is heaven. Each of the previous ones caused more stress than they’d relieved, so after reluctantly forcing myself to a few sessions, I ended up giving up on all of them.
I’d prefer to do nothing but doing nothing crashes my health.Both physical and mental. So daily workouts it is. By the time I’m done, sweat drips down my chest while it heaves with rapid breaths. I down the rest of my water bottle and head to the bathroom.
I need to call Alex. She’ll kill me if I don’t.
I repeat the sentence in my head throughout the shower, the only way to keep myself from forgetting it. Rushing through it, I dry myself off with a towel and make my way to the bedroom, avoiding the full-size mirror. I’m guessing my body looks different after months of training. I can feel how strong I am, how less my back hurts. But I have no interest in seeing it.
The phone rings for just a beep before Alex answers.
“I haven’t forgotten!” I blurt out.
“You were supposed to call me in the morning.” Alex is my cousin, as well as my best friend. My only friend, if I’m being honest, excluding the few IT buddies I chat with online.
“Well, at least it’s still today.”
“Guess so. What are you doing?”
“Just did my workout. Going to make some dinner now.”
“Is that your first meal of the day?”
“Of course not.” I huff, but I get why she’s asking. I’m notorious for forgetting to eat. Forgetting to do pretty much anything, when I’m in my little cocoon, working on projects.
“Mm-hm.” I don’t think she fully believes me.
“I’m serious. With what I’m planning for dinner, I might even reach a calorie surplus for the day.”
“Fine,” she groans. “I believe you, no need to get scientific about it.”
I smile, knowing how much she enjoys my scientific rambles. “What have you been up to?”
“Oh, you know. Just working.” She deals cards in Vegas and loves to joke about what a genius I am, when the truth is she’s just as smart. Unlike me, though, she’s got street smarts, too.
“Don’t overwork yourself.”
“Huh, ain’t that the pot calling the kettle black.” I just chuckle, so she continues, “I’ll be there soon. Just a month more.”
“How long do you plan on staying?” While I’m a homebody, Alex is a wandering soul, changing her place of residence every few months.
“Don’t know. However long it suits me. But my break’s just ending, so I need to say goodbye. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“I might not answer. This project I’m currently on is a real challenge, so if I’m in the zone, I won’t be answering my phone.”
“Sure, Sophie. But take care of yourself, please.”
“I will. Love you!”
