Chapter 11
Knight in Shining Gym Shorts
It was early. The sun hadn't risen yet, and the gym was empty. I had a full gym inside my house, but since I sponsored my brother Niko's gym, I came a few times a month just to make an appearance.
My visit this morning was different, though.
I'd finally put two and two together and realized Brooke's disaster of an ex-husband, Chris, was a regular here. If he stuck to his schedule like he stuck to his bad life choices, he'd walk through those doors any minute.
Perched on the weight bench like a gargoyle, I leaned forward, elbows on thighs, dragging my white towel down my face. I stared at the front door with the intensity of someone waiting for a pizza delivery during a Netflix binge.
I was determined to make sure that what had happened to Brooke's café never happened again. I had zero doubt Chris was behind it. The need to protect her, to make things right, consumed me in a way I hadn't felt in a decade.
The door opened, and I tensed like I was preparing for the world's most awkward confrontation.
Each breath came slowly, like a boxer psyching himself up before entering the ring.
I was preparing for war. Someone who would do that to a person they were supposed to love and protect is obviously unhinged, but I was betting on him being a scared little boy when it was a fair fight.
When the man who walked through wasn't him, I deflated like a punctured balloon.
I sat in that spot for another thirty minutes until I gave up.
I told Brooke I'd help her with restocking this morning, so if I waited any longer, I'd be late.
Sucking in a deep breath, I pushed off the bench.
I'd try again tomorrow, and if he didn't show up, I’d have to change my plan.
Either way, we were going to have a little chat.
"Hey," my brother's familiar voice shouted from somewhere behind me.
I twisted around, matching the smile on his face.
Niko was a few inches shorter than me, but carried the same build.
His hair was a little shorter, but his eyes were the same shade of brown.
"What are you doing here?" We gravitated toward each other.
His gaze flicked over the gym. "Where's Rocky? " Rocky was my personal trainer.
"He's on vacation."
"You want to work out together?" My gaze dropped to his jeans and then back to him. He threw his thumb over his shoulder. "I can change really quickly."
I shook my head. "I'm about to hit the showers. I'm meeting Brooke this morning to help with the café." I told him about her the day after I'd met her. I'd never done that before.
"So, is this serious?" He flicked me a skeptical look.
I hadn't had a serious girlfriend in around ten years, so I couldn't blame him. "I'd like it to be, but she was just recently burned pretty badly, and I don't think she's ready for anything serious."
"Well, it took you ten years to get over being burned," he teased.
I winced. Ten years of carefully constructed walls, casual dates, and zero commitments. Ten years of convincing myself I was better off alone. And here I was, ready to tear it all down for a woman I barely knew. The realization was both exhilarating and terrifying.
"That was just because I hadn't found someone who made me feel like she does."
"Does she really, or do you feel like you need to fix her, bro, because it's very different?" Niko, though younger, carried himself with the quiet confidence of an old soul.
I wasn't really in the mood to discuss my feelings, so I brushed him off.
The truth was, after Kelsey, I never wanted to be in a serious relationship again.
I'd built my life around that certainty.
But something about Brooke had shaken my foundation.
I couldn't explain it, even to myself, and that uncertainty was both thrilling and terrifying.
Was I really ready to risk my heart again?
Niko married his high school sweetheart, his first girlfriend, and he'd never experienced heartbreak, so he didn't understand.
"I'm gonna hit the showers."
"You should come for dinner tonight. We are grilling steaks. The girls miss you." He had two daughters that I absolutely adored.
I nodded. "Yeah," I smiled. "I'll try to stop by."
"Bring Brooke," he said. "I need to meet the girl who's melted my brother's frozen heart."
I rolled my eyes. Niko was also dramatic, but the invite was nice. "I will... ask her. What time?"
"Around five."
I nodded, turning to stroll toward the locker room. "I'll text you if anything changes," I said over my shoulder. Without turning around, I waved before disappearing into the locker room.
The familiar scent of sweat and cleaning products hit me as I pushed through the door. Glancing at my watch, I headed through the hallway to the locker room. I had twenty minutes to shower and change before I needed to leave to meet Brooke.
As I rounded the corner to the large open area lined with lockers, I froze. A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. Brooke's ex stood in front of the blue lockers in his grey suit and red tie, staring down at his phone."
I approached casually, hands in my pockets. "Hey, man," I said, feigning innocence. "Chris, right?"
Chris's gaze lifted slowly from his phone, annoyance flashing in his eyes before recognition hit. A smug smile spread across his face as he turned to face me fully.
"Hey, man." He leaned against the locker, crossing his arms. "I knew I'd see you again when you were ready to apologize.
" My jaw clenched, fingers curling into fists in my pockets as I fought the urge to wipe that smirk off his face.
"No need to be embarrassed about your behavior.
" I allowed him to continue as he shoved his gym bag into his locker.
"Don't worry. It's not your fault. She just isn't going to change.
" His lip curled up in disgust. "She enjoys being… "
"Actually," I cut him off, my fist clenching at my side, a fake smile plastered across my face. "I came to thank you."
"Yeah, no problem. I figured you should know the truth." Chris smirked.
I stepped closer, my voice low. "Oh, no.
I wanted to thank you for being so incredibly stupid," Chris's head jerked back, "that you let her go.
" I felt a cold smile spread across my face as his eyes widened.
"Thank you for letting this beautiful, incredible, sexy, smart woman find a real man.
Thank you for pushing her into my arms."
"What the fuck?"
"And I want to make this very clear," I stepped into his personal space and squared my shoulders, "if you ever threaten Brooke or destroy anything that belongs to her again, I will destroy you."
"I don't kno…"
I bumped my chest into his. "We aren't going to do that," I growled. "We aren't going to pretend you didn't cause that damage to Brooke's café." I shook my head and shoved my finger into his chest. "You don't have to admit to it, but we aren't going to play games."
Chris's teeth ground together audibly, a muscle twitching in his cheek. The air between us thickened, heavy with unspoken threats. The fluorescent lights hummed overhead, casting harsh shadows that deepened the tension lines on his face.
"I know it was you. You know it was you. Brooke knows it was you. You were angry, and it's never going to happen again. Do you understand?"
He didn't respond.
"I'm only going to ask you one more time." I leaned in, my voice a low growl. "Do you understand?"
"I…" Chris stammered, his eyes darting left and right.
In one swift motion, I grabbed his shirt, twisting the fabric in my fist. I yanked him close, our faces inches apart.
"The only thing I want to hear is that you understand.
" My grip tightened with each word. "If you threaten her or destroy anything of hers, I will destroy you and your entire life.
" I gave him a small shake. "Every time you breathe the same air as her, I'll break a body part, starting with your fingers.
" I could feel his rapid heartbeat through his shirt. "Do. You. Understand?"
"Y…"
"Matt," Niko shouted. "What the fuck? Let him go." He moved quickly to separate us.
"Help me!" Chris's voice cracked as he called out, his eyes darting between Niko and me.
"Matt." Niko's tone was a warning as he took a step closer.
I kept my eyes locked on Chris, my grip unwavering. "This is Brooke's ex," I growled.
Niko paused, his posture shifting as understanding dawned. "Oh." His gaze hardened as it settled on Chris. "The one who destroyed her café."
"What?" Chris's face paled as he shook his head frantically. "No, I…"
"Yep," I cut him off, giving him a small shake for emphasis.
"Hmmm, well, you should go get that shower so you can meet Brooke, and I'll escort him out."
I released his shirt and shoved him back.
"Just a little incentive." I twisted, pointing to my phone, which was sitting on the bench behind us, that was audio recording the entire thing.
"If you come around her again, I'll make sure her daddy gets a copy of you saying such vulgar things about his daughter.
I'm sure you'll find yourself out of a job. "
He huffed out a laugh. "You should hear the way he talks about her.
Why do you think I married her in the first place?
Because he offered to make me partner." I kept my facial expression neutral, but I sure as hell hoped he was bluffing.
"He knew no one would want to marry her, or at least no one successful.
No one who would fit into their family."
I took a step closer, my voice low and menacing. "Well, I guess we could find out how it goes."
Chris's bravado faltered for a moment before he squared his shoulders. "I'll stay away from Brooke," he said, his voice tight. "But go ahead, share that with her father." A smirk played at the corners of his mouth. "You'll be the one embarrassed." He shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant.
In one swift motion, Niko yanked open Chris's locker. The metal door clanged against the neighboring locker as he grabbed his belongings and shoved them roughly into Chris's chest. "Let's go," Niko growled.
Chris stumbled back a step, clutching his gym bag. His eyes narrowed as he glanced between Niko and me. "I haven't even started my workout," he protested, a hint of desperation creeping into his voice.
"You'll have to find a new gym," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You're not welcome here anymore."