Hanna wished she could poke her out of the room with the ten-pound Body Bar propped up in the corner. Didn’t she know it was rude to eavesdrop?
Vince was about to say something else, but then the door to the fitness room opened and the rest of the class trundled in, each of them wearing their GET YOUR BUTT IN GEAR! T-shirts again. Hanna hoped they’d laundered them since yesterday.
“Okay,” Vince said, releasing Hanna’s leg and strutting to the front of the room. Everyone gathered around him. Hanna glanced over her shoulder, making sure no one was lurking in the hallway. She thought about Kate’s suspicions yesterday after dinner. Kate hadn’t followed her here, had she? The last thing Hanna needed was pictures of herself sweating and squatting with a bunch of losers getting on the Internet.
“So I wanted to talk to you guys today about nutrition and full-body wellness,” Vince was saying, settling into a lotus position on the floor. “Being fit isn’t just about exercising—it’s about eating right, too. Making healthy choices. Feeling good in your skin. And I want everyone to make a pledge to be healthy and feel good in their skin during this retreat.”
He passed out sheets of paper that said Boot Camp Pledge at the top. It was a long list, each item starting with I vow to. I vow to eat only clean foods—no processed sugar, no high-fructose corn syrup, no artificial flavoring. I vow not to drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes. At the bottom was a space for a signature.
“By the time this class is over, my goal is for all of you to feel good in your skin—no matter what your body shape is or how many pounds you’ve lost,” Vince said. “And one thing that can help you feel good is this.”
He held up a water bottle. Printed on the side was a label that said AMINOSPA in minimalist letters. “This is the most amazing vitamin water I’ve ever tried. It gives you energy, it flushes toxins out—I even think it helps me concentrate better. I’m a licensed seller, but I’ll give you guys a sample for free.”
He pulled more bottles of AminoSpa from his gym bag and tossed one to everyone. “I think you’ll like it,” he urged. “If you want more, I can get you guys a case at a great rate.”
“And you said you sell this, too?” Dinah asked, cocking her head and pursing her full lips.
Vince nodded. “It’s a great part-time job—you can do it from home. If you guys are interested, I can give you the sales literature.”
The business model reminded Hanna of the time in ninth grade when Chassey Bledsoe’s mom had started selling Ginsu knife knockoffs from door to door, bragging about how she was working from home and was making so much money. She even convinced Chassey to bring samples with her to Rosewood Day to give demonstrations during lunch. As soon as the administration had found out Chassey had a suitcase full of knives on school property, they’d stopped it immediately.
But Vince looked so earnest about AminoSpa, like he actually believed it was making everyone healthier and happier. Hanna caught the bottle he threw at her, unscrewed the cap, and took a long swig. She fought the urge to spit it out. It tasted like watered-down margarita mix.
Vince clapped his hands. “Okay. Let’s start sweating, shall we? The next couple weeks are going to be really intense—you’re going to be pushed to your limits. A lot of our exercises are going to involve sparring, competing, and partner stretches, so I’m going to pair you guys up. The person I pair you with will be your partner for the rest of the class; you guys will be spending lots of time together. They’ll be your check-in for your nutritional goals—and hopefully a lifelong friend.”
At this, Vince shot Hanna a coy, fleeting look, and Hanna’s insides swirled. It was definitely a signal: He was going to pair her with him. She could already picture it: the two of them shadowboxing, Vince rallying her on. The two of them running on the Marwyn trail, the other slowpokes far back in the distance. After each session, they’d drink lattes—or AminoSpas—together, blissfully spent. Then when Lucas got back, she would show him just how fine she was while he was gone.
“Tara, I want you with Josie.” Vince pointed at two middle-aged women in the back. They smiled at each other pleasantly. “Ralph, you’ll be partners with Jerome.” Two barrel-chested, bandy-legged guys nodded. Vince continued around the room, matching one red-shirted member to another. His gaze kept sweeping past Hanna, skipping over her. Because he was leaving her for himself, of course.
Finally, Vince pointed to Hanna and grinned. “Hanna. You’ll be with . . .”
Hanna expected him to thump his chest and triumphantly say me, so when he pointed at someone across the room, she didn’t understand. She’d thought she was the only unpaired person left standing, but one other retreater remained. The girl’s hands were on her full hips. She shifted in her checkerboard Vans. Her heavily outlined eyes were narrowed and her red lips were curled in a sneer.
It was Dinah.
Chapter 9
Fake Boyfriends Are So Much Fun