Jacob turned her arm over and unclasped the device.
“Oh, right. Sunny’s mom has one. She’s obsessed with hitting, I think, fifteen thousand steps a day. Last time she was in town she dropped Sunny off at nine and then circled the block like a hundred times just to hit her goal. Give me your phone. I’ll see if I can fix it.”
Janey reached into her purse, disappointed that the possibility of a kiss was lost for the time being. As she surrendered the phone she noticed a new text from Stella.
“Hold on a sec. Let me just check this.”
Workout tomorrow? 6 am?? We’ll talk St. Lucia. Hope your week is beautiful!! #
She’d never make a six a.m. class if she stayed here tonight. Not that it was an option just yet, but before her FitWhatever had gone and spoiled the moment, things were going well. Jacob came up behind her, placing his hands on her hips.
“Everything okay? Your heart rate back to normal?” She turned to look at him. She liked watching him smile.
“Everything’s good. A friend just wants me to meet her early in the morning for a workout thing.”
“How early?”
“Six.”
He whistled. “That’s early. I don’t want to be forward.” He blushed and walked away from her, busying himself on the other side of the kitchen to chop shallots. “But I was hoping you might stay over. Nothing has to happen. Don’t think I’m that kind of guy. I don’t get much time on my own. I like spending time with you. I spend most of my free time at home making funny faces, pointing at things, and explaining to Sunny why her mom is gone all the time. It’s nice to be with a grown-up.”
Janey glanced down at her phone and then at her outfit. What did she have to lose by being honest?
“Do you have any grey sweatpants I could borrow?”
CHAPTER TWELVE
The Wall Street Journal
COFFEE POOPED OUT OF BRAZILIAN BIRD SELLING BIG IN STATES
By Henderson Cole
Using an experimental form of biodynamic farming, a rare and endangered pheasant has produced the priciest and healthiest coffee beans in the world.
The Jacu bird, an odd-looking animal native to the Mata Atlantica rain forests of northern Brazil, were once an invasive species to the coffee plantations in the region. Now local farmers have figured out how to capitalize on the former pest.
Brazilian farmers are harvesting coffee beans ingested, digested, and then released by the Jacu. Yes, the Jacu bird actually excretes this coffee before it is sold at a premium price point.
And buyers are shelling out the big bucks for this biodynamic organic wonder, $4,000 per 60-kilo bag, four times the normal price…
This time Janey knew exactly where she was going when she arrived at the Pearl Street building for The Workout. She buzzed herself in like a pro, made her way to the top floor, and procured her own cup of tea. The drink, warm and sweet, was exactly what she needed to alleviate the headache of a red wine hangover and fatigue from three hours of sleep. Her eyes opened wider. She stood taller. They should sell this at Starbucks. Maybe she should mention that to Sara Strong. And speaking of Sara Strong, there she was.
“Good morning, Janey. I feel so blessed that you joined us again.”
“Hi. Morning. Thanks for having me. This tea is so good.” Janey finished it and turned around for more. Sara put a light touch on her arm.
“You shouldn’t have more than one before we get started.”
“Okay. It’s just so yummy. You could bottle this.”
“That’s the plan.” Sara smiled wryly. “We’re negotiating a deal with some local vendors right now. Stella told me you’re a business genius. I’d love your advice. Maybe we can talk sometime.” Janey still couldn’t place her accent. It moved around the globe with every sentence. Was it South African now?
“I’d love to help.”
“Great. I’ll have one of the ladies reach out and we’ll set something up.” Janey assumed “one of the ladies” meant “assistant.” It was uncouth to say “assistant” anymore. Sara punctuated their conversation with a nod and walked confidently to the other side of the room. Janey had never seen anyone with greater efficiency of stride.
Janey ignored her admonition and reached behind her to have another tea. She found both a second cup of the hot liquid and Stella when she turned around.
“Darling girl! Is there a new trend in oversized fitwear no one has told me about.” Stella’s eyes danced with merriment. Janey looked down at the grey sweatpants that were at least three sizes too large for her and tied into a triple knot at the waist. At least they were the right color. She was trying.
“I didn’t stay at home last night,” Janey whispered.
Stella responded with a wide grin. “Good. That’s exactly what you needed. So happy for you. You look adorable. Let’s start a new trend of giant pants, you and I. We’ll have them on Man Repeller by Friday. I saw you talking to Sara. Did she mention St. Lucia?”
“No. She did mention her new tea business.”
“She’s negotiating with Organic Boulevard—the owner is a huge Workout fan—but things are stalled. Something about approvals from the FDA or something. I don’t know. But your brilliant mind would be much appreciated, I’m sure. Strange she didn’t mention the retreat. You’re all set, though. Last week of March. I’ll have the details sent to you this afternoon. I’ll be flying there straight from Morocco. Shaman conference. We can meet up at the airport and drive together from there if you’d like.”
“Great,” Janey said. She wanted more tea.
The Workout was the same as before. Each movement made her feel more energized. It was easy to see why The Workout was so addictive. All evidence of a hangover disappeared. Janey felt strong and sexy and powerful. She wasn’t even taken aback this time when Sara sat on the floor and wailed like a baby. She joined in, screeching like a newborn tasting air for the very first time.
As she prepared to leave at the end of class, Janey saw Stella and Sara huddled in a corner. Was Sara sneaking furtive glances over at her? Could they be talking about her? Maybe Sara really didn’t want Janey to come to her private beach getaway. The high of the class was wearing off and a dull ache returning to the center of her forehead. Janey wished they could start all over again.
“Janey Sweet? Is that you?”
Janey stopped wondering about Sara and Stella and turned to see a tall thin woman of indeterminate age with bright red glasses.
“Hey, Audrey.” She’d known Audrey McKay for years. Audrey was the best crisis PR consultant in Hollywood. A hundred years ago when Hugh Grant got caught getting a blow job from Divine Brown, it was Audrey who put him on Letterman. She turned Kim Kardashian’s sex tape into a billion-dollar empire. Janey and Audrey became acquainted when a particular client of Audrey’s needed a couture wedding gown to wear down the aisle that would hide the fact she was seven months pregnant with someone else’s baby.