Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 102479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
“It’s exactly the same thing. Hugh was in a position of power. I knew he wanted me as bad as I wanted him, but he wasn’t going to make a move. So I had to take things into my own hands.” Miles smirked. “Or mouth.”
I chuckled and frothed milk to make my morning cappuccino. “I’m not you.”
“Says who? Reinvent yourself. Do things outside your comfort zone in New York. Become a siren.”
I took my much-needed caffeine to the couch and popped open the bottle of Tylenol from Jagger. Swallowing two pills, I set the phone on the coffee table. “I wish I had your courage.”
“You do, cookie. You just need to listen to your gut. Courage comes in all forms. Sometimes it’s just a subtle whisper that tells you to go for it, even when everything else around you is shouting stop.”
***
It took a full two days to feel like myself again.
Monday morning, I arrived at Equinox at five thirty sharp, determined to get my life organized. A young guy with hulking arms greeted me from behind the desk. He smiled. “You must be new here?”
“I am. But how did you know?”
“Because I offer every new member a free personal-training session, and I’d remember you.” He extended his hand over the counter. “I’m Troy. One of the trainers here. And you are?”
“Sutton.”
“Nice to meet you. Is today your first time here?”
I nodded. “I’m technically not even a member yet. I have a one-month guest pass.”
He looked at his watch. “I’m just covering the desk for someone for a few minutes while she grabs coffee. If you want, I can show you around when she gets back. It’ll give me a chance to pitch you for a complimentary personal-training session.”
“I’m more of a Peloton-and-treadmill person than weight training.”
He shrugged. “Your call. But I can still show you around.”
“That would be great. Thanks.”
“Let me have your guest pass, and I’ll get you set up in the computer while we wait.”
I took out the pass from Jagger and handed it over.
Troy looked down at the paper. “You’re a guest of Mr. Langston, huh?”
I nodded. “I work at Apex.”
“Well, if you’re half as dedicated as he is to showing up here every morning, you’re going to do great.”
I perked up. “Is he…here now?”
Troy shook his head. “You just missed him. Out the door by five fifteen every morning. I could set my watch to it.”
Disappointment set in. “Oh.”
“I’ll just need your license to put your information in the computer. We’ll give you a temporary ID card so you can swipe in like everyone else.”
I handed over my California license, and Troy got busy typing. Meanwhile, I looked around, checking out the gym. It was busy for so early in the morning, but there were still enough machines that I wouldn’t have to wait. As I finished surveying the rowing machines near the door, it opened and a familiar face walked in. Jack Gallo. Instinctively, I turned away, hoping to avoid him seeing me. But this hadn’t been my lucky month.
“Sutton?”
I did my best to feign surprise. “Oh, hey, Jack. How are you?”
He smiled. “Better now. Are you a member here?”
“I have a one-month guest pass, so I thought I’d check it out.”
“Awesome. I come here five days a week.” He paused. “Hey, I looked for you Friday night before I left, but you just disappeared. I didn’t have your number, or I would’ve checked in with you.”
“I…wasn’t feeling so well.” Was that ever the truth, and I wasn’t about to share more.
“Sorry about my buddies and their dumb shot game.”
“It wasn’t their fault. I should’ve known better. I’m sort of a lightweight.”
A woman walked behind the counter holding the biggest coffee Starbucks sold. “Thanks, Troy,” she said.
“Good timing.” He pointed to me. “Josie, this is Sutton. She has a one-month guest pass. I set her up in the computer. Maybe you can print out her ID card while I show her around? I don’t know how to do that.”
“Sure, no problem.” She tucked her purse into a drawer.
“I can show Sutton around,” Jack piped up. “We work together.”
I suddenly became interested in personal training. “Actually, Troy was going to tell me about personal-training sessions while he gave me a tour of the gym.”
“Oh. Okay.” Jack shrugged. “I’ll see you later then.”
Troy came around the counter. He waited until Jack was out of earshot. “Have a change of heart or trying to avoid that guy?”
“Thank you for not calling me out,” I said. “He’s a nice guy. I just… I don’t know.”
Troy smiled. “If it’s not there, it’s not there. Come on, I’ll give you that tour.”
I didn’t see Jack again until I was walking out an hour later. He jogged up behind me at the door and opened it. “How’d you like Equinox?”
“It’s great. They have everything. Though I’m pretty sure I’ll never use half the equipment.”