Chapter 21
I managed to escape the back room with a shred of my sanity, fleeing as soon as I’d finished rubbing Jackson down and helping him with several stretches.
Something was happening between us, and I wasn’t sure if it was because we were becoming familiar with each other or if a baser need reared its tempting head, greedy for attention. From both of us.
Or perhaps Jackson was simply being himself, and I was changing. Getting involved with anyone wasn’t on my list, particularly my new boss, and especially not before my divorce was finalized.
With my head down, delving into a bombardment of thoughts, I hadn’t been paying particular attention when I suddenly slammed right into someone. My head shot up, expecting to see a member of Jackson’s team, but instead my gaze fell on someone else entirely.
A rush of heat wrapped itself around me, the quickening of my heart pulsing in my ear.
A dot of sweat broke out along my hairline, and in the next five seconds, I was either going to have a full-on panic attack—something I’d only experienced twice in my life—or I was going to pass out. Neither scenario was ideal.
“Sophie?” Bruno’s fingers circled my upper arms, steadying me as I found my footing again. “I didn’t know this was your gym.”
Bruno was a good friend of my ex. They attended the academy together and even worked at the same precinct.
He’d always been friendly, but something told me our encounter would fall into a different realm.
I wasn’t sure what lies Mitch had told him about why we’d separated, but I had no doubt he’d spun the tale to suit him, to get his friend to feel bad for him.
Formulating what I should and shouldn’t reveal, I drew in a lungful of air and parted my lips, but before I could say a single word, Lance appeared out of nowhere, sidling up next to me.
“Hey, can you do me a favor and order another mat for the back room as well as some more cleaning supplies? I don’t know what the night guys are doing, but we’re almost out.”
Lance glanced at Bruno before looking back at me, his brows raised. I wasn’t sure he wanted his curiosity sated about who this guy was or if he wanted an answer to his question.
The only thing I could do was nod, which was enough to satisfy him, because he walked away, but not before throwing another look Bruno’s way.
“You work here?” he asked.
“Please don’t tell Mitch,” I blurted, unable to hold my tongue. After I warned Jackson my ex might try something to get me fired, he assured me my job was safe, but the last thing I needed was for Mitch to show up here and cause an issue.
“You know I can’t do that. He’s my friend.
” He took a step closer. “Just talk to him, Sophie. I’m sure you guys can work it out.
For you to just up and leave him because he works too much isn’t right.
You know how dedicated he is to his job.
To punish him like this, to make him choose between you and something he’s worked years for, isn’t fair. ”
I wasn’t surprised Mitch lied about why I left, but that wasn’t important right now. As various responses ran through my mind, I realized none would convince Bruno not to tell Mitch about me working here. In the end, I remained quiet, hating the helpless feeling swirling through me.
He took my silence as compliance, flashing me a tight smile before patting my arm. “You won’t regret it. You’ll see. He’s a good man.”
More deafening silence on my part, but at least this time, he left me alone without continuing to ramble on in support of his buddy.
Expecting my phone to ring any second, as I was convinced he called Mitch as soon as he walked out the front door of the gym, I drew in one breath after another.
As I barreled around the corner, headed for the office, I ran right into someone. Again. Only this time, the person I slammed into was Jackson, and much like Bruno had done, he grabbed on to my arms to steady me, ensuring I didn’t fall on my ass.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, leaning in and locking eyes with me. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
The last thing I wanted was to involve him with my mess of a personal life, but I needed to warn him again of what might happen.
“I just ran into a friend of my ex.”
“Okayyyy.” He drew out the two-syllable word, his fingers digging into my arms, seemingly involuntary.
“Lance asked me to reorder a few things in front of him, and now Bruno knows I work here. I asked him not to tell Mitch, but he said he can’t hide this from him.
” As if reliving the encounter all over again, my palms began to sweat as my breaths continued to be stolen from me.
“He’s gonna show up here. I know it. And I don’t want to see him. ”
“Then you won’t.”
“You don’t understand. Now that he knows where I work, he’ll be relentless.”
“I’ll handle it.”
“No,” I said resolutely. “There’s no telling what kind of trouble he’ll cause for you if you get involved. It’s my issue. I’ll deal with it.”
“Deal with it how you have been? Because all you’re doing is running away from the issue.”
Stunned he spoke so blatantly about a situation he had no understanding of, I jerked out of his hold and retreated several steps.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t I?” A pensive look danced across his face. “I know all too well about avoidance.”
“Well… well… your issues aren’t mine. Please don’t get involved.”
“You already involved me when you warned me about him.”
I couldn’t call bullshit because he was right. I did warn him, but I never told him I wanted him to insert himself into the situation, if and when it arose.
My mouth fell open once more, ready to tell him again not to worry about my ex and me, but he turned away before I could utter a word.
“I’m going for a run. Care to join me?” He walked toward the back exit, never waiting for me to answer, but I supposed he expected me to follow, which I did.
Anything to get my mind off my encounter with Bruno.
Besides, there wasn’t anything I could do about the issue with my ex except to wait and see what transpired.