* * *
“So,” Kaylie says as we enter the gym, “your fitness trainer…”
“There’s nothing between us. In fact…” I walk up to Pamela. “Does Lucas have a thing for you?”
Pamela laughs. “I don’t think so.”
“Are you sure?” I press. “Because I think—”
“I know he doesn’t.”
I lift my eyebrows.
“We’re cousins,” she says brightly. “As far as I know, Lucas is single.”
“Oh, I wasn’t asking because… No. Nothing like that,” I say in a rush.
“I’m sure.” She beams at me and then turns to focus on Kaylie. “I haven’t seen you here in a bit.”
“I’ve been busy,” Kaylie says.
“Maybe let’s try to follow the rules a bit more this time if you don’t mind,” Pamela suggests, still smiling.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Kaylie says breezily, and she loops her arm through mine, and we walk away.
I eye her. “And just what was that all about?”
“Let’s just say that I’m all for following the rules until the rules get in the way.”
“In English, that means…”
“You aren’t supposed to have more than one person in a shower stall,” she says. “In my defense, that rule wasn’t written down anywhere. I did check.”
“Is it written down now?” I ask.
She lifts and lowers her eyebrows, and I laugh and laugh.
“You’re a legend,” I assure her.
“I wouldn’t go quite that far, but I do happen to know all about having a good time. Speaking of having a good time, you and Lucas…” She lifts her eyebrows again, this time keeping them raised.
“There’s nothing there,” I tell her.
“But you want there to be.”
“Well, I wouldn’t turn him down if he wanted to go a round, but that’s all it would be.”
“You don’t want to break his heart.”
“About that…”
“Hmm?” she prompts when I don’t go on.
“He tends to use insults to motivate me, and I take exception to that.”
“So you want to…”
“I want to break his heart and crush his spirit because hearing that shit…”