Page 25 of Santa Has a Six-Pack
“Keira.” I place both hands on her shoulders. “You are an amazing mom and wife. No one would ever doubt the love you have for your family.”
“Where were the signs, though? This is my fault, right? I should have seen it coming! I should have realized there were problems between us, taken steps to fix them, and?— ”
She’s spiraling.
“Sweetie, are you sure they’re having an affair?” I cut her off in a soothing tone. “I mean, the situation is obviously not good, but one flirty message doesn’t necessarily mean they’re sleeping together.”
“The text said, ‘Tis the season to be jolly… and fuck your face,’” Keira says, her voice cracking at the end.
“Wow. Yeah, that seems pretty definitive.” I sigh. “Damnit. I thought Tagg was a stand-up guy! A bit pompous, maybe. Remember that time he told me my bookshelves lacked integrity?”
“He despises wicker furniture.” Keira sniffs.
“But generally, I thought he was a decent person. Guess I was wrong. I’m really sorry, sweetie. You deserve so much better.”
I pull Keira close and give her a squeeze.
“Thank you.” She sniffs into my shoulder.
“Can I ask you a question, though?”
“Sure.”
“What does the elf guy have to do with all this?”
Keira pulls back from the hug and lowers her voice. “The woman Tagg is sleeping with…”
“Yeah?
“She’s elf guy’s fiancée.”
Chapter 8
Matt
I’m nervous.
Which is ridiculous.
Over the past eight years, I’ve coached hundreds—if not thousands—of people.
There’s absolutely no reason I should be nervous about training this woman.
Except for the fact that my heart races whenever she’s near me, and I end up saying all sorts of stupid shit. Not that I’ve ever cared about saying stupid shit before. Saying stupid shit is sort of my thing. Part of my charm, one could say.
But it’s clear that my particular charms do not work on Penny.
Eugene comes up behind me. “Might wanna put those googly eyes away before the ladies come inside.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re staring. And your jaw is unhinged.”
He taps my chin, and I instantly close my mouth. I turn away from the window where I suppose I was staring. Penny and Keira are outside our gym having an intense conversation.
“Why don’t you ask her out?” he asks me out of nowhere.
“Who? Penny?”
