Page 40 of Secret

I have a new friend named Allie. She is amazing and reminds me of you. I think you would get along well with her and I miss you.

The school is good. I have applied to the local university to study an art therapy course. Blake and Sebastian are going there too, so I won’t be alone. I think Allie is as well.

We need to Skype soon as I miss your hot face and mad red hair.

Love you

Xxxxx

I check my phone after I press send and Blake has texted me to say good morning, and I message him back saying the same.

Sexiest man alive: I’m taking you out for a date tonight x

Me: how are we going to escape my brothers for a whole night? X

I ask because they haven’t let me out of their sight since I went to Blake’s yesterday.

Sexiest man alive: leave it to me beauty ;) be ready at 7 pm x

I text him back saying yes and then do a girly squeal in my bedroom at the idea of a normal date with Blake.

I find Harley in the kitchen, and he hands me a plate with toast and scrambled eggs as I sit down, like he has waited for me.

“Thank you,” I say and sit down to eat.

“So, I can’t persuade you into working at the gym?” He grins, and I know he is joking. I doubt he would let me.

“Well, looking at fit guys working out all day does have its appeal. I’ve changed my mind,” I say, smirking, and I try not to laugh at his horrified face.

“No, I’ve changed my mind; that was a bad idea. Let’s go somewhere else this morning. I can make Seb meet the trainers.” He goes to grab his phone.

“I’m joking. I’ll be fine, I’m just going to go swimming,” I say quickly, so he puts his phone down and his face goes back to that serious one I know so well.

“You can’t tell anyone at the gym that you’re our sister. Telling people at school is fine, but the general town doesn’t know. Arthur, the boss, could find out.”

“I won’t say anything. You can drop me off down the road so they don’t see me get out of your car and I’ll message you when I’m done. I won’t swim long, so I can keep an eye on my phone.”

“Sounds good,” Harley says.

We eat in peace, and I don’t see my other brothers that morning, which is usual for them on a weekend. I hop into Harley’s SUV as we go to the gym an hour later.

I get out like we agreed, about five minutes away, and walk past a few shops in town before getting to the gym. The front is all glass, so you can see the reception counter and the exercise bikes in the background. The place looks big from the outside, with an impressive sign above the door saying ‘The King Gym.’ I snort at the smart name as I walk in through the automatic doors expecting the awful smell of sweat to hit me. I’m surprised when it actually smells like lemons instead. Harley says he has registered me, so I only have to say my name.

We also discussed that he has had my name legally changed while we were on it. I wasn’t happy that he forgot to tell me. Harley says he did tell me before I signed the forms, but he guesses I wasn’t really listening, which I remember I wasn’t. Luke was showing me his tattoo drawings, and I couldn’t believe how good at drawing he is. I guess I get my artistic side from my father. It’s hard not to think of him and hate him now for what he did to my brothers. They don’t deserve the life they have been dealt; hell, no one does.

“Elizabeth King,” I say, shaking my bad thoughts away as I stand in front of the counter. There’s a young guy, a bit older than me, sitting behind the counter. He looks around twenty-five with black dreadlocks and a white vest.

He flashes me a flirty grin. “Related to the owner?” he asks as he types on his laptop.

“Nah, I’m just new to town,” I say, looking behind him at the guys working out. There is a nice a view, like I thought. What would it be like to watch Blake working out? All those muscles covered in sweat, I shiver at the thought.

“All right, Blondie, here is your card. You just show this next time you come. Do you need someone to show you around?” He winks at me, and I barely notice the flirting with my thoughts of Blake.

“Thank you, and no, but which way is the pool?” I ask, looking around for a sign.

His face falls a little in rejection, but he recovers quickly, telling me, “Down the corridor on the left, the signs on the doors say which room is the women’s locker room. I hope to see you around more.”

“Thanks,” I reply before walking the way he says.

---