“Why the hell would you tell them that? I said I didn’t want to go there.”
I patted his knee lovingly. “I know what you said.” I smiled sweetly as he groaned and started backing out of Shane’s driveway. Even though I had told Amanda, and myself, that Adam’s forgetting my birthday was no big deal, it did sting a little. So I felt there was no harm done if he stung a little too. Plus, maybe he'd let me ice down his muscles afterward. What girl would pass up that chance?
***
Monday rolled around and I was already counting down the days until I got Adam to CrossFit. But, at least for today, I’d have to settle for going by myself. I had brought a bag with me to work so that I could head for the gym as soon as I left, but Amanda had asked me to go to a later class so we could go together. She’d spent the rest of the weekend at Shane’s, so I guess she was going through Lily withdrawal.
Since I had extra time before the gym Monday night, I was able to get there a few minutes early. I plopped my belongings on the ground against a side wall and waited patiently as the previous class finished up the last of their exercises. I kept my eyes fixed on the door, knowing that if Amanda was late, Shane wouldn’t hesitate to make her row just like any other CrossFitter. When I saw her breeze through the entrance, I let out a sigh of relief—for her sake—and glanced over toward the other class, who had just finished up and was coming this way to get their things.
I began to make my way over to the workout space to get ready for our warm-ups, when I stopped dead in my tracks. What. The. Fuck? What is he doing here? Though he was leaned over tying his shoe, his face obscured by his own body, there was no mistaking him. His broad shoulders and tanned muscular arms were showcased by his snug, sleeveless Under Armour shirt. My breath hitched as my eyes roamed involuntarily down his body to appraise his firm ass in dark mesh shorts. And as he stood, the small speck of doubt I had about his identity disappeared entirely when he ran a towel across his sweat-glistened neck and dark messy hair.
Max fucking Samson was there.
I couldn’t figure out why I’d been so shocked. He’d told Shane he’d take him up on his offer to try out CrossFit. I knew that. But there was something about having him there—in a place I almost considered a second home—that felt too invasive. Jesus, Lily. He’s just in your gym, not your vagina. Get a fucking grip.
I’m not sure if it made it better or worse that Max didn’t seem fazed at all by me. He strolled confidently over to where I stood, picking up his keys from the floor on the way. “Thanks, Shane.” Oh, shit. When did Shane come over here? I’d been so involved in my shock at seeing Max, I hadn’t even noticed that Shane had come over to talk to Amanda. “You weren’t kidding. This is a killer workout. I appreciate the opportunity to come by,” Max added.
I could tell Shane was tempering his excitement. “Yeah, man. Anytime. We’d love to have you back.”
The two shook hands before Max shifted his eyes toward me. “Nice to see you again, Lily,” he said tentatively. “Enjoy your workout.”
“Uh, thanks. Nice to see you too.” We both hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to finalize our uncomfortable goodbye. Will it be weird if we hug? Will it be weirder if we don’t?
“I’ll make sure Shane goes a little easier on you next time,” Amanda said to assuage some of the tension. “He likes to ride people pretty hard sometimes.”
I saw Max smirk at the sexual connotation of her comment. Would there ever be a time when his mind wasn’t in the gutter?
“I never heard you complaining,” Shane fired back at Amanda with a wink.
“Looks like you’ve got your hands full with this one, Shane,” Max said, pointing at Amanda. “Thanks again. I’m sure I’ll see you before the bachelor party. Ladies, it was nice seeing you both again,” Max added politely before heading toward the exit.
“Sounds good! I look forward to it,” Shane called out over the blaring music as Max made his way to the door.
“Jesus, Shane, you might wanna adjust your broner. People can see it through your shorts.”
“My what?” Shane asked, only half-listening as he looked over Amanda’s head toward the door where Max had just exited.
“Your broner. It’s a boner for another dude.”
“Oh, shut up. That’s not a real thing. You just made that up.”
“It is too a real thing. I may have made up the term ‘broner’—which is awesome, by the way—but your man crush on him is totally real.”
“I don’t have a man crush on him. He’s just a cool guy who likes sports and is in great shape. We have a lot of the same interests.”