by Karen Deen
“Um, I’m not sure, maybe we could let you know,” she says, stumbling over her words again.
“Let’s just book in Monday morning, Ally. Otherwise we won’t get anywhere if we don’t start a routine. Isn’t that right, Nat? We would need to train with you at least three to four times a week, to get the fitness we want to maintain. Does that suit you guys?” Lilly wears a cheeky smile. I think I have found myself a new member for Team Xavier.
“Perfect. Let’s do six am Monday, Wednesday and Friday. We can work out the weekends as we go along. You good with that, Ally?” Her face is showing the inner turmoil she’s struggling with. Come on, baby, take that next step.
“I will have to check my diary.” She can’t look me in the eyes when she says it.
“No, you don’t. There’s no way you have anything booked in at six am in the morning, sis. I will pick you up every morning to make sure you drag your butt out of bed. It still leaves us plenty of time to get to work. Luke is also interested in training with Xavier, is it okay if I let him know and he can join us if he wants?” Ally looks like she is about to kill Lilly. I would love to be a fly on the wall in the car ride home with them.
“Of course. The more the merrier. That way there is less chance I can be too hard on you girls. I will be more than happy to be slamming your brother. I’ve got a feeling he thinks he is pretty hot shit in the gym. I think I can take him on, in a thing or two. We got on well last night over a beer until he took to the dance floor to devour Zoe. What was with those two?”
“Long story, but let’s just say thank God he finally pulled his finger out of his ass and admitted how in love he is with Zoe. They have been sneaking around for months thinking we didn’t know they were together. The only one who has no idea is Grant and that’s because he’s so hooked up on Zara, he can’t see straight.”
“Well, he better start seeing straight and treat her right, otherwise, he will answer to Nat and I. I don’t think she is giving him the time of day, either. That girl has her eye on the prize with her audition and determination to not let anything, or anyone, get in her way. Good luck to him if he can get her attention.” It looked like the boys in the Stevenson house were all starting to find their soulmates to spend their lives with. I wonder if it is time for the girls to follow suit. She has no idea, but I have a deep-down feeling, Alesha could be next on the list. That’s if I play my cards right.
Alesha still hasn’t replied one way or the other if she’s coming for the training with me. I’m torn as to if I should ask her out for drinks or just let her warm up to me at the gym. I’m not usually very patient. This shit is killing me.
Maybe I’m better to let her relax around me first. I doubt she would agree to drinks just yet, anyway.
I reach for my cell and open the calendar app. Bringing up next week, I start typing.
“I’m booking you in right now and then you have no choice but to turn up for training.” I have another motive for this, too. “Now, what are your phone numbers, so I can enter them in for the appointments?” Lilly happily rattles them both off for me. This will make my future date with Ally easier if I can contact her away from our siblings.
“I will message you both now so you have my number in case there are any dramas each morning. Just so you know, hangovers are no excuse for not turning up to training. Nat’s number is also attached to the message. Lilly, can you forward my number to Luke as well? That way he can get in touch whenever he wants to train.” Ally’s wide eyes are glued to her phone. She’s not sure what to make of what she’s reading. I couldn’t help myself. Judging by her reaction, it got the desired effect. Her stunned face is finally giving way to a small smile. She isn’t letting on too much, but she isn’t yelling at me either, which is a start. I just couldn’t sit back and not push just a little.
Chapter Five
Alesha
I can’t believe he actually wrote that. What decent guy actually admits that about himself? Sitting in the car with Lilly after leaving the gym, I keep rereading his message over and over. I wonder what reaction he is expecting from me. I’m actually trying not to giggle to myself out loud in front of Lilly. Otherwise, she’ll want to know everything. Maybe I should reply, but how does a girl respond to a message like this?
Xavier: Hi gorgeous. This is the number for the pussy whisperer. Call me anytime you need my services or maybe just want to chat. Today was fun, can’t wait for our next session. Xav.
There are so many double meanings in the message. I’ve got a feeling that’s exactly the result he was trying to achieve. I’m so behind the eight ball when it comes to flirting. I can’t even open my mouth to talk half the time, let alone come up with witty, sexy comments. I put my cell in my bag so I stop looking at it.
“Want to come shopping with me today, Lesh? I need a new pair of shoes. You are always good at telling me what looks good.” Lilly has got to be kidding! She never needs my help with shopping. She has a degree with honours in shopping from the retail shops of America. She is just looking for someone to keep her company. Normally, I would be happy to tag along, but today I’m just not feeling it. I need to go home and spend some time on my own. Try to work out what the hell has gone on in my life over the past twenty-four hours.
“You need a new pair of shoes or you just want a new pair of shoes? There is a difference, you know. Not sure there would ever be a time you actually need a new pair of shoes. The fact that Zach has built you a cupboard designed for all your shoes tells me you will never need shoes.”
“Aren’t you the funny one this morning. Of course I need a new pair of shoes. I have that new red dress that needs the perfect pair to match, don’t you think?” Lilly looks at me, trying to justify her shopping trip.
“What? The other ten pairs of shoes to go with the other ten red dresses you have won’t work with this red dress?”
“Lesh, what’s wrong with you? They won’t do. New dress, new shoes. You know the drill. Wearing the same pair of shoes with two different red dresses, I would feel so underdressed.” Lilly’s tone tells me she can’t believe what I am saying to her.
“Are you listening to yourself, Lil? You could feed a small nation on the value of your shoe collection. You are such a laugh. I pity the man who sweeps you off your feet one day. He’s going to need to be very understanding about your shoe fetish. He also will need to have a big bank balance to build you that super large house with a shoe room just to fit them all in.” This is what we are good at. Fun banter that never turns nasty.
“I can assure you the man of my dreams will certainly be big and not just in the bank balance department.” Her eyebrows rising up and down make me lose it. Like I said, everything has a sexual meaning when it comes to Lilly. If only I had that confidence.
“Whatever! You spend the day getting that super urgent pair of shoes by yourself. I have a few things to do, then I think I’ll head out to Zach and Emily’s place for a visit. I need a kid fix. The twins will make me laugh and I will get to cuddle with Thomas. I won’t have to share him with you or Mom.” Actually, there’s no sharing when Mom is around. Being a grandmother has been her life’s dream since we’ve all grown up and moved out. She needs people to fuss over and spoil. So, these three little ones are getting their fair share from her. They certainly aren’t complaining. Sophia and Samuel have loved her from the day they met. They were longing for a family to love them and Mom was more than happy to take on that role. Any traveling Dad was still hoping to do with Mom has now been put on hold. She always said that she would travel with him until grandbabies arrived and then he may as well park the camper because she wasn’t leaving. Dad grumbled, but now that it’s happened, there’s no complaining and he spends just as much time with the kids as Mom does. Poor Zach and Emily. Sometimes I think they have to fight to get their own kids back. I hope one day I will get to have children who Mom will be able to spoil and love. Of course, the chance is slim. I need to be able to talk to a man before I can even get close
to a relationship. The dream of children is still a long way away.
Pulling up at my apartment block, Lilly turns to me with those puppy eyes that the youngest in the family always seems to master.
“Are you sure you can’t come shopping? You know I’m not good with decisions.” Normally I would give in and just go, but today I need time on my own for a little while. Thinking about Xavier has me a little scrambled, which I’m not sure how to handle.
“Sorry, I have things I need to do. You will be fine. If in doubt, buy both pairs. What’s one more pair of shoes in the total collection you already have. Right?”
“You know, sometimes that sarcasm could be mistaken for humour. Are you hiding an inner comedian in there?”
“Not a chance. Luke is the clown of the family. Since when have you heard me tell a joke?” I try to be serious, but Lilly is already laughing at me. “I will talk to you later. Got to run.” I don’t want her to keep trying to convince me, so I jump out of the car and head to the door. I’m sure Lilly could end a World War if needed with her persuasion skills. You need to abandon ship before she gets started.
Opening the front door on my apartment always brings a sense of calm over me. It is my sanctuary away from the busy chaotic world. Taking a glance around, I see my personality in every corner of the room. Being a large open-plan room, the lounge, dining and kitchen all look out onto the wall of glass facing the balcony. I spend nights out there on my day bed, just me, my kindle, a glass of red and the sounds of the night, with low background music from my playlist. The view is beautiful both day and night. The park across the road gives me the sense of not being too crowded. The different seasons always give me a changing view. Facing west, I can see the mountains in the distance, which always look majestic. I haven’t been up there for years. As a little girl, Dad would take us hiking or for picnics. I loved to be with my family, just not walking for hours at a time through dense bush. There were trails up there, we just never seemed to use them. Dad always thought it was so much more of an adventure if we walked off the path and learnt how to get ourselves back to the parking lot. I would feel nervous sometimes, thinking we were lost, but every time we would break through the trees and surprise, there was the safety of the car. Luke still likes to run the trails often. Occasionally, he drags Grant and Zach with him, probably so he can beat them running to the peak. Being competitive in this family is a given with the boys. As children, it was more of an issue than now. Luke hated to lose and there was always a fight at the end over who cheated. Thank goodness they have now grown up. Well, most of the time anyway.
Although I love the peace of the greenery, the city at night with the lights twinkling is just as amazing. I bought this apartment after looking at various properties with the help of my brothers. This place needed work but I was sold the first moment I walked through the front door. Dad and the boys just asked what my wish list was and before I knew it, everything was done. I was ready to move in. One of my big-ticket items was the custom-built bookshelves. I love real books. The smell, the feel and the weight of them as you read Pages moving from one hand to the other as you race through to get to the last page, so you can work out the ending. My kindle is my main reading tool because it is so easy to travel with and get a new book as soon as you’ve read the last word of the previous one. However, nothing beats a real book. I have collected my favourite books and authors over the last few years. Some signed, others sitting waiting for the day I might be lucky enough to meet the author in person. Everyone has a passion and mine is books. If that makes me a nerd, then I am happy to claim that title. It upset me as a teenager, now I don’t care. I am who I am, like it or not. I just wish I could sort out the confidence issue and life would be complete.
I throw my keys in the bowl I have just inside the door and head for my bedroom. I need to change into clothes that will be easier to play in with the kids out in the yard. I never know what they will have me doing. If the weather is good today, maybe we will take the horses out for a ride. Zach had stumbled across an old rundown farm, with the most amazing house, spending years doing it up and restoring it to its former glory. It is now full of love and happiness with his little family. It is a wonderful place for children to grow up, with so much room to run around and discover life. Mind you, Sammy certainly needs to run a lot to wear off some of the abundance of energy he has trapped inside him. Emily and Zach will have their work cut out as he grows up trying to get him to sit still long enough to study and learn in school. He reminds me a lot of Luke when he was younger. I think that is why the two of them share such a special bond. Two peas in a pod.
Cleaning is something I’m in the position to be able to pay someone to do for me, but I get satisfaction out of the end result. It’s not like I don’t have the time to do it myself. With only me living here, and not many visitors, the cleaning is not a very big job. My OCD doesn’t cope well with other people doing things like this for me. I need to take care of my books and make sure everything is in its place. Zach only ever brought the twins here once. My nerves were on high alert as they picked up and touched everything as they explored. They were careful, but it just had me freaking out. Now, I visit them instead. It’s much easier.
Luke thinks he’s hilarious whenever he’s here. He manages to either move some of my things or push the picture frames so they aren’t straight. At first, I would get really mad, but now I just laugh and go around looking for his little game, fix it then send him a message pretending to be cranky. It has become our own little joke between us. At least today everything is dusted and sitting exactly where I like it. Now, time to head out to the farm for the afternoon. Hopefully it will give me something to take my mind off thinking about Xavier and whatever the hell that was this morning between us.
Xavier
Nothing clears the head and the lungs like a hike in the mountains on a sunny day where the air is crisp and not too hot. I’m one of the lucky people who gets to do a job they love so much so that it doesn’t feel like work. I have always loved exercise of any sort and being a personal trainer combines that love with working with people who need my help. It’s satisfying to help someone through a weight-loss program, or just trying to get fitter in life. I also love to work with clients who are going through rehabilitation from an injury just like Zara. That is how we met her, after her major knee surgery. Watching people go from not being able to function normally though a day, to get back running and exercising at their peak is hard work. Well worth it seeing the results they achieve. The beginning is always filled with pain and the client is wanting to kill me. By the time they are back living a normal life, they’ve done the backflip and love me for what I’ve done to help them get where they are.
Nat is the same. We both love exercise and the outdoors. Both of us were in all the sports teams at school. Track and field was my favourite, although I loved playing football where I played offense as a slot receiver. Boy, did I receive.
Especially the benefits it brought of hot-looking cheerleaders who were happy to hang around the team. To a teenage boy who was full of hormones, this was the best part of high school. It’s stereotypical that cheerleaders hook up with all the boys on the football team. Let’s just say my high school was a stereotypical one then. Lost my virginity to Jenny Harris, a blonde cheerleader with legs that went forever and boobs that always seemed to be popping out of whatever shirt she wore. It happened at the team bonfire after a win against Georgeville High. We smashed them, and everyone was celebrating with beers and pizzas out in Mitch Colburn’s paddock outside town. Jenny and I had been dating for a few weeks, and she was all over me the whole night. The boys were egging me on. I had no idea what I was doing but figured if she was wanting me to do it then it was time to pop my cherry and become one with the world of sex. Jenny had already slept with half the team, so I knew she was experienced. I didn’t tell her it was my first time. There was no problem with my dick being ready. She had been rubbing her tits all over me all nig
ht and wiggling her sweet little ass in my lap. She knew exactly what she was doing. I took her out to where all the cars were parked and fucked her in the back of my truck. No romance, just raw, fumbling, inexperienced sex. It didn’t take long for me to want to lose my load and she was screaming loudly as she was coming. I think it was to make sure everyone heard her rather than anything to do with me.
I was walking around for the rest of the night with a big grin on my face after finally doing the deed. It meant nothing to her, obviously, because a week later we broke up and she moved on. She upgraded to the coveted prize of dating the quarterback. Every cheerleader, along with every girl in the school, wanted to be with him. Jordan Bandon was hot property. Luckily for him, he worked it out as he got older that concentrating on his game was more important than cycling through the cheerleaders. Coach Sampson took him under his wing and mentored him through finishing school with good grades as well as a full scholarship to play college football. He is now playing in the NFL and married to a Victoria secret model. They are the glamour couple of the team. I’m still in contact with him occasionally but his life is crazy busy, and I totally understand that. You only have so many years in the NFL so one needs to make the money while they can.
A few times we have chatted about his training and different injuries he was trying to get through without letting the team know. The worst thing that can happen in the pro league is to be benched so someone else gets a chance to play your spot, and they play a perfect game. He knows he can trust me to help and keep it to myself. Sometimes it’s going back to where you came from that makes you feel safe. I have been to a few games with tickets courtesy of Jordan and caught up for a quick beer afterwards. He keeps telling me I could get a job on the team as a trainer but it’s not my style these days. I’m happy and content where I am. He always asks about Nat when we’re catching up. I can never work out if he’s just being polite or if he had a bit of a thing for her in high school and maybe still carries a torch. She was never one to fall all over the guys on the team. She was also off-limits, being my sister. The bro code says that you don’t cut your mate’s grass and you don’t touch your mates’ sisters. However, I always wondered if there was something between them.
