Page 6 of Easy To Lose

“Yeah. A college friend needed someone to manage this place for her. She asked, and I said yes.” It’s the abridged version, but it’s enough for now.

“So that rumor that you were getting married in New York, that was all a lie?” The pit reforms as my brain conjures up the image of Aaron and that woman in our kitchen. My eyes drift shut as I fight off the urge to punch something.

“Fuck. Sorry, M. I didn’t mean to bring up bad shit.” The use of my high school nickname makes me fight back the tears that are threatening to fall. “Hey,” he whispers, the heat of his body washing over me the closer he gets. “You okay?” he asks softly, and I just nod my head, my eyes still closed.

“Yeah. I’m good.” I open my eyes, briefly seeing the regret on his face before turning away and looking at the wall. “You okay to put this up? Or do you need me here?” I ask, hoping he doesn’t need me around.

“I’m good. Although I wouldn’t fight you if you want to stay.” He winks, and I swear my entire body reacts, sending a shiver up my spine. Before I have a chance to utter an amazing sarcastic remark, he turns away and starts working again, leaving me to watch. And as much as I would love to stand here and ogle his backside, I make my way to the storage room, hoping to get the image of Owen’s sad eyes, bright smile, and ridiculous body out of my mind before I do something stupid.

Like fall for him.

Again.

Chapter 5

Owen

As I pull into the parking lot beside my gym, I can’t help but gaze over to Head Over Heels, wondering if Morgan’s working. I spent the better part of last night trying to get her gorgeous face out of my head. Trying and failing to stop thinking about what her hair would feel like brushing against my bare chest, or how those full hips would feel under my fingers as I pull her closer until there isn’t a single inch of space between us.

The first thought I had when I saw her again was that she looks even better than she did all those years ago. She had a rough go of it back then. And in the end, I probably made it worse. But I need to find a way to express how much I’ve regretted those decisions since the day she drove out of my life and never talked to me again.

“Owen! You coming in, or just sitting in your car and staring out the window all day?” Matt yells from the doorway as I shake myself out my memories and get out of the truck, heading toward the front door where he’s waiting for me. I take one last look at Head Over Heels before I follow Matt inside and lock the gym door behind us.

“Why are you here so early? You’re always here right on time, except yesterday and I’m starting to think there’s something wrong with you.” Matt says nothing, just gives me the finger as he moves around the room and starts cleaning the machines one by one.

“What happened next door? Last I saw you, you were headed over there to see what happened.” I smile to myself, remembering seeing Morgan for the first time and realizing that I had a second chance—not just to be her friend but to see if there could be something more.

“Yeah, turns out a shelf fell off the wall. I helped them put it back up and made sure it doesn’t fall again.” He gives me a look, and I roll my eyes. “What? That’s exactly what happened.”

“So, you’re telling me a store selling shoes and shit is not run by a chick, and you just spent your day there yesterday because you’re a nice guy and not because she’s hot?” My mind goes in two different directions at once. Do I tell my best friend that the girl I was in love with in high school is now working next door, and I’m trying my hardest to get her to talk to me again? Or do I lie and tell him she’s not hot, when in fact, she’s the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on?

“I was over there to help. That’s it,” I say, hoping he takes the hint and lets it go. Before he has a chance to come back at me with more smart-ass remarks, there’s a banging on the front door. When I glance over my shoulder, I groan, seeing Bailey standing there, looking furious.

“What the fuck is your girlfriend doing here this early? Doesn’t she have some kind of rule not to wake up before the sun?” I chuckle to myself as I throw a pencil at him as I head over to the door, opening it.

“Bails, what are you doing here? You know we don’t open for another hour.” She ignores me, brushing past me and entering the gym in a huff. I’ve learned over the last year that when Bails gets like this, I just need to let her be until she’s ready to rant. And I know a rant is coming; only I don’t know what it’ll be about today.

“How am I supposed to get exposure when brands won’t give me a chance? I mean, that bitch Amy Welch gets every brand deal on the planet, and I can’t even get one! I’m so much better than her. And have you seen her lately? I mean, skip a meal once in a while, you know?” Matt makes a sound, and Bails shoots him a look, to which he holds up his hands and walks to the back of the gym away from us, leaving me to fend for myself.

“Have you tried to look locally first? Maybe some of the places around here could use some exposure.” It’s an idea I’ve had for the gym, partnering with some other local businesses to see if it’s mutually beneficial. I just need to run the idea by Matt first before I go knocking on doors.

“I already do that.” I look at her questioningly, and she gives me that smile that I fell in love with when we first met. “That reminds me, I need you to shout me out today on your socials. I can do it for you if you want. I just need your passwords.” I’m speechless. She’s always used the success of my business for her personal gain, but it’s never been this overt and out in the open. It puts a bad taste in my mouth.

“Who’s that?” Bailey asks, pointing to the front door. When I see Morgan standing there in the early morning light, my chest compresses.

Fuck me, she looks gorgeous.

She’s not wearing anything but yoga pants and a loose-fitting tank top, but for me, it’s all she needs. A genuine smile crosses my face as I make my way to the door and open it, gesturing for her to come in. From the light gooseflesh on her arms, it’s obvious the early morning air is a little nippy for her, so when she comes inside, and I shut the door, she breathes a sigh of relief.

“Damn, I forget how chilly the mornings can get here with the humidity,” Morgan says, laughing to herself. She looks around the room, Matt coming up behind me with his hand extended.

“I’m Matt. Who might you be?” He’s flirting, and every instinct in me screams to pull him aside and make it clear that she’s off-limits. But then my eyes land on Bailey, who looks utterly pissed, and I feel like a complete jackass.

“I’m Morgan. I manage the shop next door. Or I will when we open.” Recognition flashes across Matt’s face as I shake my head, silently telling him that I’ll explain everything later. But he ignores my pleading eyes.

“Next door? Please tell me you didn’t have to watch this lug fix your shelves all day yesterday because that’s just cruel.”

Morgan’s genuine laugh crests over the silence of the room as I breathe it in. “It wasn’t so bad. Owen and I go way back, so…” She trails off, and I silently beg her to finish that sentence. But Matt interrupts again.

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