“Oh, yeah I have been here since seven, I like to get going bright and early. So…” He claps his hands together and smiles, “Shall we begin?” He is now rubbing his hand back and forth like an evil arch nemesis, all he needs now is a maniacal laugh.
I start to follow him and he looks over at me, “No water bottle?”
I smack my head, “No, I forgot. I swear my head is all over the place this morning already.”
“That’s alright, we have plenty of bottles of water around here and when we are done we will head to the juice bar and get you a recovery shake.” I just nod and keep up. “Okay, let’s start with some stretches and then I will test to see how physical you already are, so we know just where to start.” He stop at an open space where there are people sitting and stretching and people standing and doing various maneuvers. “How often do you work out?” He asks.
I shuffle my feet, “Not that often…”
He grins and assures me it’s alright. He stands tall and raises his arms up then brings one behind him over his shoulder. I repeat his instruction and take in his tall and very visible muscles, all thanks to his very well fitted tank top. He has on normal basketball shorts and sneakers. He explains why I should stretch and how and when, even at home. Then we move into strength training. He has me doing squats and lunges, telling me this will help for strengthening my legs. Planks and other core exercises for stability, “Because when you take a hit you want that strong core to keep you up and so you can throw a hip and or body check faster and easier. It’s all to help with balance as well.”
We finally finish a couple hours later and he keeps that promise about the shake. At the juice bar and very attractive server who is stick thin and a huge bust in a form fitted pale yellow polo shirt, comes right over as soon as we hit the counter, “Hey Mary Beth can we get two…” He stops looks at me and asks, “Do you like chocolate, peanut butter and bananas together?”
I nod, I love anything with peanut butter.
“So, two Manic Monkeys please.” He tells her.
“Sure thing,” She reaches out and takes a card from Justin and I take a quick glance it’s his employee card. I also notice that her fingers linger on his a little longer than I expected. I feel my cheeks go warm. Why am I feeling like this? I have no reason. She is just flirting with him probably for like the one millionth time. She comes back and sets down two capped cups with straws and hands him back the card, “Here you are. And I get off at four.”
He doesn’t say anything back at her, but just hands me my cup and nods at her. She picks up her own cups from behind the counter and takes the straw slowly into her mouth. I must a look on my face as I watch this blatant display of sexual invitation, because she gives me a funny look when she sees me watching. Justin tugs on my elbow and we go sit in one of the sitting areas at the front.
“Sorry about Mary Beth…”
“For what flirting?”
He looks down at his cup and moves his eyes up to me, “Yeah, well we had a thing not long ago and she assumes we will do it all again.”
“Seriously, you don’t need to explain yourself to me,” I take a sip out my paper cup. “Oh, my goodness this is good!” My eyes wide at the amazing flavor combo and how cold and refreshing it is.
Smiling, “I’m glad.”
“I will pay you back.”
He shakes his head, “No need. I get these things for nothing, perks of being a trainer.”
“Well thank you, for everything.”
“We will do it again this week like I told you. The more active I have you before the boot camp, will help. You will thank me for it.”
Active with him huh? I can’t help but smile at the thought.
As I am walking out the door to leave Justin comes jogging out after me. “What’s up?” I ask him. His demeanor has changed in the last minute, what is going on? I have found that he does this often, his attitude must be wired to a flip switch or something. One minutes it’s a good friendly time and the next…
“Can I call you later? Maybe we can grab a bite to eat?” He asks. And now here is wishful Justin. “Nothing major or any pressure, just two friends eating and talking.”
I do like hanging out with Justin.
“I know this place, I think you would love it. It’s small and cozy.” He is luring me in.
“Alright. Fine, but just friends right?”
“Cross my heart,” And he does. Smiling now from ear to ear he tells me he will pick me up and I agree that it is fine. We are friends after all.
Justin is right on time to pick me up at the library, where I told him to get me. I don’t want Maddy to get the idea that I am turning into her. The fact that I made an effort, a true effort to save our friendship and she ditches me for a guy…well that’s not the kind of friend I deserve. Now if this had happened a few years ago, I would have just bottled it up and not even had gone out I am sure. I would have just suggested staying home.
He pulls up to the curb and I am walking out the door and locking up behind me when he meets me half way. He is wearing a pair of black cargo pants and a light blue fitted tee. Like as if any shirt on him wouldn’t be snug, those muscles…
“You look beautiful,” He compliments me.
I’m just in a navy blue sun dress and dark brown leather sandals. Nothing special. “Thank you, I have a few different dresses, but I like this one.”
“Well don’t ever give it up. And you look gorgeous in dresses too by the way.”
He opens his truck door for me, I’m quick to say, “What my cropped leggings, tank top and sneakers don’t look good?” I wink.
He smiles and shakes his head, closes the door and climbs in next to me. “You could wear a bathmat and still look like a model.” He throws his huge silver Dodge Ram into gear and we rumble down the streets of Beaufort.
“So, where are you taking me buddy?” I playfully punch his arm.
Grabbing his arm he acts hurt, “Watch it killer, I know I am good trainer but damn…”
I can’t help but giggle and roll my eyes. I look out the window and the sun is going down. I take in a much needed deep breath that I think I have been holding since the other night at the bar with Maddy. I shudder when I think about that Zach guy and what he tried to do.
“Hey you okay?” He glances over.
I tuck my hair, “Um, yeah…” I wave it off.
“No, really what’s wrong? I can tell something is up. You were just laughing at me and then you got quiet and tensed up. We are friends…” He drags out the word friend. I know he hates that’s all I am allowing us to be. But I can’t do anything else about it. Not now.
Then I have a brilliant idea. “Do you think you can teach me how to fight or do self-defense?”
He pulls into a back lot to a row of businesses, one of which I am sure is the restaurant, I didn’t notice which one it could be, as I was looking and now waiting for his reply. He throws it in park and pulls the keys out of the ignition. “Why?” He asks worried and angry.
“Because I am a woman and I want to be able to protect myself in any given situation, off the rink. I want to feel safe going to my car at night after closing up. Will you help me or not?” I cross my arms over my chest.
He waves his hands around and fumbles with his words, before finally agreeing to help me. “Did something happen to bring this on? Did someone hurt you?”
“I had a recent run in with a drunk, but I was able to fend him off, but if he was sober, I don’t know what I would have been able to do or know what to do. That’s why I’m asking you.” I can see the muscles in his thick neck start to pulsate just about and his veins are protruding. He is angry and I don’t blame him.
“We will start on Thursday when we get together again.”
“Thank you,” I lean over and give him a friendly kiss on the cheek.
He leads through the back door to this restaurant, “Are we supposed to go through the back like this?” I ask looking around waiting for someone
to pop out and tell us that we aren’t allowed to be back here.
“No worries, I know the owner,” He smirks at me and I relax tiny bit. It smells delicious in here, as we walk through a screen door. Then it hits me.
“Shit…” I mutter under my breath.
“What’s that?” Justin asks me as we make it into the familiar kitchen. This is Derrek’s fathers place. I look for Stacy, because I am sure she would recognize me.
I keep my eyes to the floor and hope my hair covers my face up a little. He brings me through to the dining room and he finds us a table. I scoot into a booth and he sits next to me.
Someone sets down two glasses of water in front of us, but I don’t look up. “Hey Justin!” I hear a girl’s voice. I look up finally and I see blondie from the night they all came into the diner after practice. She is chewing gum and she smacks it when she sees me. “Hey, aren’t you the girl from…”
“The diner? Yeah…” I finish for her. So he knows not the owner but the girl waiting on us. What’s his game? Is he trying to make her jealous?
“Margot this is Chloe, Chloe this is Margot, my…”
“Friend,” I quickly finish for him.
He raises an eyebrow, “Yeah…And Chloe is my cousin, and my Uncle owns the place.”
Chloe, I know that name…Oh. Oh my God. Before I can finish my thought I see Derrek coming through the swinging kitchen doors. He is in a white chef’s coat and carrying a tray of dishes. I eagerly pick up my menu that Chloe had just set down in front of us. I open it and duck my head, pretending like I am interested in the food options. Justin leans over and ducks his head behind the large menu with me.
“What ya doin’?” he asks me amused. I run my eyes over the menu columns and shrug.
I point to the menu, “Just looking over what sounds good. Any suggestions?” I am trying to sound as casual as I possibly can in this situation.
I see a finger pull down the menu away from me, I look up and my eyes go wide again. Derrek has a chair turned around and he is straddling it. He pulls his arm back to his body and rests both of them on the table. He has on a red bandana and it really makes his eyes pop. He’s smiling, but his jaw is also clenched. “Hey there.”
I suck in my lip, which I now know is my tell-tale sign that I am nervous. I am sure he has caught onto it by now. His smile fades and I feel Justin pull away, he sits back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest. “I didn’t know you were working tonight.” He tells Derrek, his voice lower and cut.
I look back to Derrek and he still has his eyes on mine. “I’m filling in for my Dad. He wasn’t feeling well.” His eyes finally flicker over to Justin. I look between the two and I cannot figure out this little secret conversation that is taking place in their guy-verse.
“Well tell uncle Sal, that I hope he feels better soon. In the meantime, can you fix something for Margot and me here? You know something that actually tastes good?” He smirks at him.
Uncle?
“I have learned everything that my Dad had to teach me and four years in culinary school, that…” He stops talking and looks me in the eyes, “I never disappoint.”
I feel myself swallow hard and reach for my glass of ice water, being a klutz like I am I push it over instead and Derrek gets spilled on from across the table. I jump up and grab my white linin napkin, I come around the side of the table and start to dab at his white apron that is tied around his waist. I feel a set of hands on my shoulders, “I am sure he can do that himself Margot.” Justin lightly informs me from behind.
I look back up into Derrek’s eyes and he has a smoldering look in his eyes. Those green eyes of his may as well be on fire from the heat they are causing to radiate through my body and particularly forming in my core. I gust out a breath I was holding and I let him take the napkin from me, leaning down he tells me, “Thanks Honey Bee,” he whispers. His fingers graze mine.
Justin’s grip tightens slightly on my shoulders and he give me a tug to gain my attention back to him. “Let’s sit back down Margot. What do you want to drink?”
Derrek is still watching me, “She’ll have unsweetened iced tea.”
My eyes stay with his and I can feel a pang in my chest. I know what that means to him when he says it too. Especially being here in his family’s restaurant and him remembering what I like to drink makes me smile.
Justin leans forward, “Is that what you want Margot?”
I smile and nod.
“I’ll have Chloe get that for you,” Derrek nods and starts to back away.
“Um, excuse me,” Justin brings Derrek’s attention back to him. “Can you tell my cousin that I would like a Corona please?” He has a snarky tone to his voice.
“Yeah, sure.”
Justin grabs my hand before Derrek fully turns away. His eyes meet mine and as he turns his head drops and he walks back to the kitchen. I pull my hand away from Justin’s. “Uh, sorry…” He tells me.
I put my hands in my lap, “I told you we are just friends Justin. I can’t do this and the hand holding thing…”
“What a friend can’t hold another friends hand?” He questions me.
“I have seen friends do that, sure, but I also don’t want anyone to get the wrong message…”
He slumps in his chair, “Anyone or Derrek?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask him and as soon as I do Chloe is setting down our drinks.
She points the straw she has in her hand and tells me, “Um, I will give you two a moment…” She scurries back to the kitchen after dropping my straw by my glass.
He grabs his beer bottle and takes a large gulp, forgoing the chilled glass. I wait for him to explain and when he doesn’t I start to stand up. Pulling on my elbow I sit back down. “The way he looks at you, I know what he is thinking, hell I have had the same thoughts, but he’s not good for a girl like you.”
“How do you know what a girl like me would need in a guy?” I have lost my appetite.
He rubs his hands on the fabric of his pants and grumbles, “You seem like a less experienced kind of girl. And Derrek, well…”
“You don’t know me. No one knows me!” I stand back up, I have had people making assumptions about me my whole life. I pick up my purse and I toss down a five for my iced tea.
“Margot wait! I didn’t…”
“Hey! That’s enough.” Derrek is rushing out from the kitchen doors. He must have either been eavesdropping or just came in at the right or wrong time. He’s standing next to me by the front door. “What’s going on?” He asks looking between Justin and me.
“None of your business Derrek.”
Derrek steps in front of me now, “It actually is. You see, Margot is someone I care deeply about and if you are upsetting her then I am going to have to do something about that.”
Justin crosses his arms over his masculine chest and I look from him to Derrek. They are both sculpted, but in different ways. Justin is bulkier and Derrek is leaner and toned from what I have seen of him on the beach. I would hate to see this turn into a fight, but if it did I would put my money on Justin’s size.
I look to Derrek, “Why didn’t you tell me you were cousins?”
“Wait you two have been out together?” Justin asks shocked.
“As friends, yes.” I snap back at him. Derrek, takes my hand and I don’t pull it away, I look at him waiting for his answer when Justin interrupts.
“I see he can hold your hand, but I can’t?” He looks hurt and I feel bad about that, but Derrek, just knows more, he knows more about me and where I have come from. I feel like a toy being fought over on the playground. Derrek taking my hand wasn’t to make a move or to show up another guy. I have a feeling that Justin only took my hand at the table to show up Derrek.
My head is spinning and I shouldn’t even be here to begin with. The bell on the door rings with someone coming through. I move to the side to let whoever it was in and so I can sneak out. Just as I am in the door way I hear, �
��Hey, so you couldn’t stay away from my brother could you? I knew you’d be back.” Stacy, Derrek’s older sister that I met the late night he brought me here. The night I opened up.
“Seriously?” Justin gasps out. He throws his head back and I take my opportunity to slip out and make a run for it. Justin may have driven me here, but I am sure as hell not leaving with him. I’m feeling like a ragdoll being pulled from on each arm. This is not what I wanted not in the slightest, I am not one of those girls who love being fought over between guys. I’m friends with both of them and I don’t know if I can continue with either of their friendships now that I know they are competing.
I make it down the street only a few yards when I hear a female’s voice calling after me. Realizing it was Stacy, I stopped and allowed her to catch up. “Hey, thanks for stopping, these heels are not meant for running.”
I offer a tight lipped smile and I hold my arms to my chest.
“What happened back there?” She asks.
“I honestly don’t have a clue. I was there about to have dinner with my friend, um…your cousin, Justin and Derrek saw us. I had no clue he was bringing me there or that they were related.” I rambled it all out so fast, she has a dead stare about her right now. I hold my fingers to my forehead and I start to apologize.
She lightly takes hold of my arm and lowers it so she can see my face, “I’m sorry you just had to go through that tug of war, I am. But my brother and cousin have been doing that sort of thing throughout the years.”
“Fighting over girls?”
She half laughs, “Yeah, it started in high school and it has happened a few times over the years. They are so different, I don’t know how they could be interested in the same girl or the girl be interested in the both of them. I love them both, don’t get me wrong, but hell…”
I adjust my purse on my shoulder and awkwardly smile.
“Didn’t your siblings or cousins fight over stupid stuff all the time?” She asks me, with a smile.
About Time Page 16
