“I could eat a whole pizza by myself right now. I’m starving,” said Callum as he, Leanne and James joined us. He didn’t have a top on and it was a little hard not to look at all those defined muscles and tattoos, but I managed to keep my gaze from wandering. Leanne, who came to stand next to me, went up on her tiptoes and whispered in my ear, “Atta girl. Don’t give him the satisfaction. He does it on purpose.”
I smirked and glanced at her, noticing a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
Callum stood under a horizontal bar and reached up to grab it with both arms. Then he started doing extremely impressive pull-ups, but I followed Leanne’s instructions and ignored him. She let out a loud yawn and patted her mouth.
“Well, it looks like we’re all done here. Do you guys want to go grab food then head home? I’m in the mood for an early night.”
She looked at everyone except Callum, and I tried not to laugh at how obviously it bothered him. He dropped down off the bar, muttered something about taking a cold shower, then skulked off to the other side of the gym.
“You shouldn’t torture him like that,” said James. “You know his ego can’t take it.”
Leanne made a derisive scoff. “He’ll be fine. Every day this week I’ve barely seen him put so much as a vest on during workouts. It’s purposeful and you know it.”
“Oh, the games we play,” Paul sighed. “I’m going to shower, too. Reya, are you coming to eat with us?”
I glanced at Trev, who no longer had his arm around my shoulders. He looked like he was thinking about something real hard, but I had no idea what. I returned my attention to Paul. “Sure. If it’s okay with everyone else.”
“Of course it’s okay,” Trev answered before Paul had the chance. “Why do you think I invited you over?”
His open, friendly expression got a smile out of me. “In that case, I’m in.”
I arrived home a few hours later, after enjoying a genuinely fun meal with Trev and his freerunning co-stars. I honestly couldn’t remember the last time I’d laughed so much, and a surge of enthusiasm to go travelling with them filled me. This wasn’t just about Trev. This was about the entire group. The atmosphere that surrounded them was incredibly appealing. It didn’t make much sense, because I was only twenty-six, but somehow they made me feel young again. Their lust for life and all-around playfulness shone a light on the fact that I was old before my time. I was so bogged down in worries and fears that I’d forgotten how to be young and just enjoy each day as it came.
I felt like they could teach me how to do that, too.
Flopping down onto my sofa, I flicked through my phone and brought up the messages I exchanged with Trev earlier. I decided not to do what I normally did. I wouldn’t linger on what ifs and possible repercussions. I’d just do what felt right in the moment. My pulse sped up as I typed out a new text.
Reya: Okay, I’ll take the job.
A few minutes later Trev’s response came through.
Trev: FANTASTIC! I promise you’re going to have a great time :-D
I blew out a breath and lay my head down on a cushion, hoping he was right.
Six.
As soon as I accepted the job, things moved fast. I met up with Jo and Neil and they walked me through the daily filming schedule and what would be required of me. I called up an old college friend of mine who also taught piano, and she agreed to cover my lessons. Like me, she was happy for any extra work she could get.
I also began looking into places where I could perform and started to get excited about the prospect. By the end of the week, I had several bookings for Paris, as well as one for Brussels and another for Barcelona. That was the good thing about having videos on YouTube; people could easily check out my music and make a decision. The gigs weren’t as high paying as the ones I’d been trying for here, which was probably why they were easier to get, but it was the experience I was after rather than the cash.
I knew every musician said some variation of the same thing, but I really didn’t play for the money. Obviously, if that were the case then I would’ve quit years ago. In fact, I’m not sure I’d ever want to be super rich or famous. So long as I had enough to live comfortably I was happy. But more than that, I liked connecting with people one at a time. If I was super famous I wouldn’t be able to do that anymore. And I liked being able to walk down the street, completely anonymous. I was such a private person that being well known would drive me insane.
Speaking of famous people, I didn’t see much of Trev over the next few days. I had to go to the offices again to sign contracts, one for the temp position and another agreeing for the show to use footage of me if needed.
I didn’t think too much of it, because I doubted anyone would be paying attention to me, not when there were five famous free runners to focus on. I might show up in the background once or twice, but that was it. Anyway, I was excited to see what it was like filming the show first-hand.
It was a few days before we were set to travel to Brussels by train when I heard a knock on my door. My heart hammered and my cheeks heated, thinking it might be Trev. But when I answered it was only Karla. Not that I wasn’t happy to see her. And I was, except for the less-than-jovial look on her face.
“Come in,” I said, and she went to sit on my couch. She crossed one leg over the other, her dower expression dampening my previous excitement for the upcoming trip.
“Lee told me that you’re going to Europe with Trevor,” she said, clasping her hands together. Karla had a natural air of authority that in this moment made me feel like I’d just been called to the headmaster’s office.
“Karla, I was going to tell you. It’s just—”
“Trev flashed you a smile and you forgot everything that happened before?” she asked knowingly.
I sighed and slumped down onto the couch beside her. “No.” Yes. “You know things have been tough for me lately. Music is a hard business, and I’d be crazy not to take this opportunity. I know I’ll be working during the day, but in the evenings I’ll get to perform. I’ve already booked a bunch of gigs.”
She eyed me for a long moment. “And that’s all this is about? Getting to perform in new cities?”
“Of course,” I answered stiffly. “Well, and I like being around the group. They’re a fun bunch. What else would it be about?”
I immediately regretted the question when Karla’s expression turned cynical. “I’m not going to dignify that with an answer.” She paused and exhaled heavily. “I just want to make sure you’re going to be okay. I know Trev’s been making positive changes, but he’s still him, Reya. What if he starts seeing girls while you lot are travelling? How will you handle that?”
“It wouldn’t bother me,” I lied, both to myself and to her. I thought that maybe if I kept lying it would eventually become the truth. “We’ve agreed to be friends. Just friends.”
“That didn’t work out so great last time.”