Page 48 of Love & Other Disasters

Brent did not sound happy. J.P. drove to the gym and changed, and hit the treadmill for a warm up. Turning from the treadmill, to find Brent holding gloves, who jerked his head to the side to follow him.

He grabbed his gloves from the treadmill cup holder and followed.

Brent turned and tossed him the punch mitts. “I’m hitting first.”

J.P. put his gloves on the cabinet and moved back to Brent. “Is everything okay?” he asked, sliding on the mitts.

“I can’t believe you slept with Violet. Have you lost your mind?” He threw a few punches into the mitts.

So Violet told Elle already. “We’re both adults.”

Brent hit the mitts again; J.P. made him reach and duck. “It crosses a line, and you know it. Why are you doing it?”

“You’re done,” J.P. said, handing Brent the mitts. “My turn.”

“Oh, come on,” Brent complained.

“I suspect my predecessor committed embezzlement, and I spent the entire day meeting with the legal team about it.”

Brent paused and stared at him in disbelief. Without a word, he pulled off his gloves and took the mitts from J.P. His friend attempted to wear him out, running him through drills, but he was running on too much adrenaline. J.P. moved to the heavy bag and added kicks to his combos. If he exhausted himself, maybe he wouldn’t pace the floors all night wracking his brain for answers he didn’t have.

“Man, that sucks,” Brent said, bringing J.P. out of his head.

“Yeah, well now I can get experience in embezzlement investigations.”

“You haven’t been there very long, just leave.”

“I’m not ready to admit defeat.”

“You’ll never admit defeat.”

A rough laugh escaped J.P. He unstrapped his gloves. “I need water.” Brent followed him to the water fountain.

“Feeling better?” he asked, after J.P. gulped down the water from the fountain.

“No.” He headed toward the locker room not looking forward to a lecture about Violet.

“We’re not done talking about Violet…” Brent followed him.

J.P. pushed through the locker room door. “I’m not talking about her.” He grabbed his stuff from a locker and didn’t take the time to change.

Brent caught him before he got into his car. “Dude, come on,” he said, “Why her?”

“I don’t see where this is any of your business.”

“Elle’s worried you’re taking advantage—”

“There it is,” J.P. cut in. “You’re on a mission from Elle.”

“She has a point; this looks bad from the outside. I was there when you met, and I saw it, but everyone at Medi-Health doesn’t know. And it will come down harder on Violet when it comes out.”

“You’re overreacting,” J.P. barked, he got into the car and left. No one would find out, and he would protect Violet if they did.

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