Page 4 of Hiding for the Holidays
I see the slightest widening in Grant’s storm-gray eyes, even from here, before he schools his expression.
“Thanks, Matt.” He nods at the man beside me, who turns and goes back to his workout.
I swallow nervously as Grant and the café guy walk towards me. They’re both well over six feet tall, towering over my five foot three frame as they come to a stop a few feet in front of me. Small creases around their eyes tell me they are probably a little older than my thirty-one years, but not by too much.
Nobody says anything as their eyes rake over me, and I fight the urge to run, remembering why I’m here.
“Hi. I, uh…” Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the crumpled flyer, showing it to them. “I saw you’re offering a free self-defense class trial.”
Grant’s eyes move to the flyer as he nods, a small smile forming on his lips. “That’s right. We have one starting in a few minutes, if you’d like to join?”
“Really?” I ask with excitement. This was perfect. I wouldn’t have to make another trek out here if I could take the class now.
“Yeah, the class is held in the open space at the back. Comeon, I’ll show you.” He motions for me to follow him through the equipment towards the back of the building.
Café guy steps up to walk beside me, a big smile as he says, “Thanks again, for picking up my wallet. I’m Leo, by the way. I didn't catch your name?” He holds out his hand to shake, and I instinctively reach out to take it.
“Clara.”
The second his large hand engulfs mine, I feel a chill run up my spine, making me shiver. His smile fades a bit as he lets go and shoves his hand back in his pocket. He turns to watch Grant as we follow him to the back. “Nice to meet you, Clara.”
“I’m Grant.” The man in front turns to nod at me quickly before stepping around a weight bench and gesturing to the open space. It’s hidden from the front of the building by a wall. I thought that was the back of the building, but it was hiding an entire section back here. On the left is the open space he was referring to, and on the other side are punching bags where a man with his back to us hammers into one of the bags as if it’s seriously offended him.
My eyes widen at his intensity. I wouldn’t want to get on his bad side.
I look back at the padded area where the self-defense class is apparently going to take place and frown when I realize there is no one else here.
“Where is the rest of the class?” I ask, my head turning to look around the gym.
He doesn’t answer, and I turn back to see Grant and Leo staring at one another, as if having a completely silent conversation.
My skin prickles with unease. I don’t know these guys, and the place is pretty empty. Is the flyer some sort of ruse to get people here?
“You know what?” I say, taking a few steps backwards,towards the front. “I just remembered I have something else to do right now. I’ll come back tomorrow.”
“No, wait!” Grant says, holding out a palm towards me with a look of worry on his face.
“You’re not the only one taking it.”
“I’m not?” I ask, glancing around again.
“No, Leo is too.” I look at the man skeptically. Leo is built, so there’s no way he doesn’t know how to defend himself. “And a couple of others, I’ll go grab them, then we can get started.”
I frown at his back as he quickly marches towards the man at the punching bag. I scan the gym. The only other people in here is the guy who greeted me, Matt, and another twenty-year-old guy who’s doing pull-ups.
“So,” Leo says, getting my attention. “A flyer brought you here?”
“Uh, yeah.” I lift the flyer I’m still holding and take a glance at it. “It surprised me, too.”
He glances at the flyer in confusion for a second before he says, “Yeah, I guess it’s not the best photo.”
“The photo?” I ask with a laugh. “The whole thing is poorly designed. There is no clear target audience, no call to action; there isn’t even a website or address.”
His eyebrows lift in surprise at my assessment, then he glances down at it again. “Huh, no wonder it doesn’t bring many people in.”
“How do you know?” I ask. Isn’t he a customer?
“Oh… I’ve been coming here for years,” he says, looking over my shoulder. “Here they come.”
