We step outside and walk toward my motorcycle, and she drops my hand when her phone vibrates. “Whoa,” Lanie says, looking down at her phone. “My brothers have sent me a dozen messages.”
“Is everything okay?”
She sighs. “Not really. Jack and James think you’re cheating on me.”
I chuckle. “How am I cheating on my fake girlfriend?”
She turns her phone toward me. It’s a picture of myself, one I don’t remember taking. Maybe that’s because I didn’t take it—I didn’t even pose for the photo.
It’s a screenshot from Instagram. The last woman I went on a date with from the dating app sneakily took a picture of me while I was sitting across from her at the coffee shop. I’m clearly looking off into the distance and didn’t know my photo was being taken. But she posted it to her account with the caption: check out my hot date!
I roll my eyes and hand the phone back to her. “I went on one date with that woman and we did not click.”
Lanie frowns and puts her phone in her purse. “This just kind of sucks because the date she posted it was during the same time my brothers think we’re dating. And now they’re saying you’re a cheater and they were right and I was wrong about you.”
“Lanie,” I’m so sorry. I scrub my hand down my face, internally cursing myself for going on that date. It wasn’t even fun. Why did I waste so much time with random women I didn’t like?
“We can tell them it was a misunderstanding.”
She snorts out a laugh. “This girl called you her date. There’s no misunderstanding that. Apparently Jack is friends with her. He’s really gloating right now. It’s so annoying.”
I wish I could reach out and touch her. Hold her hand again, or pull her close to me. I feel like the worst fake boyfriend ever. I accidentally fake cheated on her. “So… what do we do?”
She tosses up her hands. “I guess we break up. I guess they win. They warned me that dating you was a mistake and now they have proof that they were right.”
“It doesn’t have to be like that,” I say. My mind is working on overdrive, desperately trying to think up some story that will make this all okay. If only I had a way to spin it…
Lanie puts her hand on my chest. “Kris. It’s okay. Seriously.”
I reach up and cover her hand with mine, and then she slowly lowers her fingers, breaking contact with me. It hurts more than the sad smile she gives me. “You still did this huge favor for me, and it was fun while it lasted, but we knew it wouldn’t last. And I was stupid for thinking I could actually trick my brothers. It is what it is.”
“I’m really sorry.”
She shrugs. “Guess this is our official breakup. I’m going to call Suzy to take me home.”
“What? No. I’ll drive you home.”
Her lips split into a grin that almost looks evil. “Trust me… you do not want to take me home right now. My brothers are there and they’re angry.”
The thought of punching them in the face for treating her like a child who can’t make her own dating decisions actually sounds like a great idea, but I don’t say that out loud. Instead, I nod. I’m defeated. I screwed up. I fake dated the girl of my dreams, and now she’s gone.
“You sure you have a ride home?” I ask.
“I’m sure,” she says with a smile. “Thanks for this… it was fun while it lasted.”
I don’t even know what to say to that. It wasn’t exactly fun for me. It was something between wonderful and painful.
I climb on my bike and nod once. “See you around.”
* * *
Tasha peers at me from a weight bench. “You okay, boss?”
“Fine,” I say, staring at the television. Some football game I do not care about plays on the large flat panel television that hangs from the ceiling over the treadmills. I’ve been watching it for the last hour. I don’t know why.
“Who’s winning?” she says.
I turn to her. “Huh?”
“The game,” she says. “Quick, don’t look at the TV. Tell me who’s winning.”
I shrug. “No clue.”
She stands up, setting a ten pound weight back in its proper place on the rack before walking over to me. “Kris, you’re sad. What’s wrong?”
“Not sad. Totally fine.”
She cocks her hip and taps her foot on the floor. “I’m not an idiot. You’re sad. You’ve been sad. You said your fake break up was one thing but you’re acting like a dude who just got his heart broken.”
Maybe I did.
Not going to admit it, though.
I shrug and look back at the TV. I couldn’t even tell you what two teams are playing. It’s all just colors and movement across the screen while my thoughts are on the woman I can’t stop thinking about.
Tasha puts a hand on my shoulder. “Boss… you need to cheer up.”
“I’m fine.”
“Clearly, you’re not.” The voice comes from Noah, who has a much deeper voice than his girlfriend Tasha. I startle, turning around and seeing him and my other co-owner Brent standing at the entrance of the gym. They work the day shift and shouldn’t be here right now.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“Guys’ night,” Brent says. “Let’s go.”
I stand up. “I’m at work.”
“Tasha can handle it,” Noah says. “You’ve been moping around here for a week now, and it’s just bad for customer morale.”
I toss a glance at the three clients who are working out across the gym. “They don’t seem to care.”
“We care,” Brent says. “Let’s go.”
Tasha waves at me. “Sorry, boss. But you needed your friends. So I called them.”
18
Lanie
If the weather is even remotely nice, my dad can’t go a single weekend without hosting a BBQ. I don’t mind it for the most part because our friends come over and my brothers have a couple beers and loosen up and the food is always amazing. When I was in college, I used to get annoyed when my parents would have people over because the music and noise would make it hard to study.
But right now I’m a 24 year old with a weary heart and I could use the distraction from sitting in my room and sulking about it. I say weary because I can’t exactly say broken.
Your heart can’t break if you were never in love with someone. If you never actually dated them. That would be stupid…right?
Even though Kris and I were nothing real, it still hurts to know this not-real thing we had is over. It hurts more than I want to admit.
My brothers have been ultra-nice to me, which is even weirder. Usually they love rubbing it in when they’re right about something and they were “right” about Kris as far as they know, so they should be gloating their stupid heads off right now. Instead, they’ve been… nice? Sweet? I think they feel sorry for me.
And it’s not like I’ve handled this well. I’m sad. I’m…not heartbroken—I refuse to use that term—I’m just sad. When I met Kris that day, he looked dark and broody and maybe kind of bad. Like the kind of guy who would lie and cheat and rip your heart out.
It turns out he was none of those things. He was sweet and compassionate and he went along with my stupid plan. Now I just wish I still had him in my life.
I keep wanting to throw on some workout clothes and go to the gym, but I chicken out every day. What would I say to him? Would he even care that I was there? Now that our arrangement is over there is no reason for him to keep talking to me.
It’s a little after one in the afternoon on this pretty Saturday and here I am sitting in my bedroom thinking about Kris. After helping my parents set up the paper plates, napkins, and condiments, I had ventured back in here to get dressed. Dad said he’s inviting the Arctic Protein employees over today, so there will be more people here than usual for his Saturday burgers and hot dogs. I don’t normally dress up for these informal shindigs, but if my coworkers will be here I don’t want to look like a slob.
Mom y
ells my name from the other room.
“Yes?” I yell back, poking my head outside my door. The pink sundress I chose is only halfway zipped up my back.
“Your brothers need you.”
I roll my eyes. “Be there in a second.”
Things have been so awkward around Jack and James lately. Ever since they think I broke up with my cheating boyfriend, they’ve been treating me all fragile like and it’s annoying.
I finish contorting my arms behind my back to zip up my dress and then I slip my feet into some sandals. My lavender hair hangs loosely around my shoulders. The purple of my hair and the pink of my dress reminds me of cotton candy. It’s cute. I smile at myself in the mirror. If Kris doesn’t want me, maybe someone else will.
Outside, my dad’s BBQ is in full swing. A couple dozen people are here already. My brothers find me the moment I step outside.
“Hey Lanie, you look cute,” James says.
“Who are you and what have you done with my brother?” I say, giving him a sarcastic look. He’s always complaining about my outfits.
He rolls his eyes. “I can complement my little sister.”
“You never do.”
Jack calls my name and motions for me to join him a few feet away. He’s standing with a guy I’ve never seen before. If he’s an Arctic Protein employee, they must have just hired him because I know everyone who works at our fairly small business.
“I want you to meet Lance,” he says, motioning toward his friend.
“Nice to meet you,” Lance says, holding out his hand. I shake it and smile, giving him a polite hello.
“Lance works at Roca Springs Engineering,” Jack says. “He’s a project manager.”
“Cool,” I say even though I do not care about this guy’s job.
“Project manager is a big deal,” James says. “You’re like, top of the food chain.”
Lance chuckles. “I wouldn’t say that, but yes, it’s a lot of responsibility. I enjoy it, though.” He looks at me and smiles.
And I can’t believe it took me this long to realize what’s going on. My brothers are trying to set me up. I laugh nervously and answer some of Lance’s boring small talk questions. My brothers seem satisfied with themselves and soon they walk away, leaving me to talk to this guy. He’s nice and all, and I guess he’s not bad looking.
But he’s just too… nice?
He’s literally wearing khaki pants and a polo shirt to a backyard casual BBQ lunch. His hair is perfectly cut and he’s just so put together. That’s not a bad thing but… I guess I really like the scruffy relaxed bad-boy vibe Kris gives off. Lance is too nice. Too clean cut. My five minute conversation with him is so boring I feel like falling asleep while I’m standing here in my own back yard. My brothers have tried to set me up with a guy who isn’t my type at all. I guess they mean well, but Lance isn’t Kris. And right now my heart just wants Kris.
Still, I’m not about to be rude to this poor guy. By the way he’s smiling at me and talking me up, I’m guessing he knows he’s been set up with me, too. But he seems like he enjoys talking to me. Awkward. I don’t want him to get his hopes up. But what am I supposed to do? Say, “Sorry dude, but I don’t like you because my heart belongs to a sexy bad boy who doesn’t like me?”
Yeah, that wouldn’t be weird or anything. Ugh.
I’m saved a few minutes later when I see Suzy enter the backyard, carrying a tray of her famous brownies. I call her name and wave her over. “Hey, girl!” she says, walking up to me and Lance, who is still talking about his boring job.
“Suzy, this is Lance. My brothers just introduced me to him.”
“Oh!” she says, giving me a knowing look. That’s what I love about my best friend. She’ll pick up on even the slightest hint. “Nice to meet you. I’m so sorry, but I need Lanie in the house for a moment.”
And just like that, she drags me away and I get to leave as if it’s not my fault. “You are a saint,” I whisper as we walk back into my house. A few of my coworkers are mingling in the kitchen, so I can’t talk too loudly.
“Ack,” she says rolling her eyes as we walk to my bedroom. “That guy was totally not your type! What were your brothers thinking?”
I sigh and sit on my bed. “I have no idea.”
“I guess they still feel bad about the Kris thing.”
“The Kris thing was the stupidest idea I’ve ever had,” I say, burying my face in my hands. “Why was I so stupid?”
She shrugs. “Eh, you win some, you lose some. It wasn’t a stupid idea. It just… backfired.”
“I’m not talking about my brothers,” I say softly. “Not the stupid Instagram post. I’m talking about…”
I sigh and look down at my lap. Suzy sits next to me. “What’s going on?”
I still haven’t told her. Not everything. Not all of it. She’s my best friend and I thought she might just instinctively know but… maybe she doesn’t.
I take a deep breath. “I think I fell for Kris.”
Suzy’s brown eyes bug out. “Like… fell, fell?”
My teeth dig into my bottom lip and I nod. “Like fell, fell. I’m such an idiot.”
“No, girl, you’re not.” She puts a hand on my arm.
“I am. I’m the biggest idiot. I pretend dated Kris just because my brothers are so annoying, and then it totally backfired because I’m the idiot who fell for him. He was supposed to be my fake boyfriend and here I am wishing he was my real boyfriend.” I groan. My fists have clenched around my bedspread, and now it’s all wrinkly. I release my fingers and smooth out the fabric. “Why did I do that? I should have just flirted with Kris like a normal woman… maybe he would have liked me. Maybe we could have gone on a real date.”
“There’s still time for that,” Suzy says.
I shake my head. “No there’s not. My brothers think he’s a cheater. There’s a pretty good chance they’ll try to fight him if they run into him one day. There’s no going back from this. I’m screwed.”
A light knock on my bedroom door makes us both jump. Then my oldest brother Julian pokes his head in my door. He has a serious expression on his face. I mean, he’s always the serious one, but he looks somehow more serious right now.
“Can I come in?” he asks.
I shrug. He’s already halfway in my room anyhow. He opens the door fully and steps inside, then closes it behind him. “I heard all of that,” he says. That’s just like Julian to be blunt and to the point. If he’s going to embarrass me, he might as well do it now.
“Can you pretend you didn’t hear it?” I ask softly.
He gives me a sad smile, then my big brother pulls me into a hug. “It makes so much more sense now,” he says. “I didn’t think you’d date a guy who treated you like that.”
“It was all an act,” I admit, looking up at him as he releases me, his arms still holding my shoulders. “I was trying to annoy Jack and James because they’re the worst.”
He smirks. “They can definitely be the worst. But you need to live your own life, Lanie. Don’t worry about them.”
I exhale, rolling my eyes. “Trust me, I learned my lesson.”
“By the way,” he says, glancing toward my bedroom door. “The only reason I came to find you is because Jack has some other guy he wants you to meet. Real stuffy looking guy. You wouldn’t like him.”
“Ugh,” I say. “Why is he doing this?”
“Because he thinks you’re all sad about your cheating ex-boyfriend and he wants to set you up with someone he approves of,” Julian says with an eye roll that matches my own. “But, I am the oldest brother here and I have advice for you, kid.” He puts a hand on my shoulder and looks me in the eyes. He reminds me so much of my dad now that he’s all grown and married and so much more mature than the twins and me. Julian smiles. “If you like this guy, you should talk to him.”
“I don’t think I can,” I say. “It’s too embarrassing.”
“Life is too short to miss out on what you want,” Ju
lian says. “If you like him, tell him.”
19
Kris
When Noah and Brent and I were in college, we were basically inseparable. We even took classes together when our schedules could be aligned, and when class was over, we’d hang out in our dorm and play video games or hit up parties together. That was college life and it was fun and all, but I’ve been out of college for three years now and things have changed. I’m kind of a homebody now. I work the night shift and was alone until Tasha got hired. I live alone and I spend most of my time alone. Sometimes I feel lonely, sure, but for the most part, I like it.
The last few days have been the total opposite of that. Noah and Brent have been stuck to me like Velcro and it’s all Tasha’s fault. She told them some sob story about how I’m all broken up about the Lanie thing and how I’m just moping around the gym all night.
Let me be clear—I do not mope around the gym all night.
Sure, I’m bummed about Lanie and I’m missing her and I’m wishing there was some excuse I could think of to contact her again. But I’m not some sad pathetic sack like the guys seem to think. Still, it doesn’t matter because they’ve been hanging out later at the gym each day, spending time with me and taking me out to dinner and stuff. I keep telling them they don’t need to babysit me. That I’m not some teenage kid with his first heartbreak. But they don’t listen. They play it off like they want to hang out because the two of them work the day shift together and they haven’t seen me as often because I’m on a different shift.
I really am grateful for these guys, but their constant smothering attention needs to stop now. If anything, I’m not having fun hanging out with them. I’m just constantly reminded that I’m single and miserable and missing her so badly it hurts.
After a week of this nonsense, I decide to be an adult and put a stop to it. When I get to work, the guys are hanging out in the lobby even though they should be going home now because their day shift is over.
Flirting with the bad boy: A love at the Gym Novel Page 9
