Chapter 10
Rosalie
“Wow, you’ve really spruced this place up,” Matt says as he looks around the gym with wide eyes.
“You like it?” I ask hopefully. He seems to be one of their few frequent customers and I really hope it's a place he wants to spend more time in.
“Yeah, it’s awesome,” he says as he walks the natural pathway we’ve created between the machines. “This is dope; it’s going to be so much easier to do my circuit now.”
I smile and head back to the front as he wanders through the space, noting where everything is.
The reception desk arrived two days ago, and I’ve finally got it arranged just the way I want it.
I’ve even got a tablet setup to have customers sign in.
It doubles as a way of adding new clients to the system.
It allows us to automatically add their emails to a list so we can send out reminders or news about special events.
That reminds me of the Christmas event I want to organize.
“Hey, this looks great!” Leo says as he comes to admire my work. “Oh! Are those our business cards?” he asks, grabbing one on the display to inspect it.
“Yep.”
“Wow, the logo you designed came out great. You’re really talented, you know that?”
“Thanks,” I say shyly.
“No, seriously. None of us would have ever thought about any of this. And I’m sure if we had hired a marketing firm, it would have cost way more than what we’re paying you. I hope you know how much we appreciate you, and that we know how hard you’re working.”
I smile as my cheeks heat. I was always good at my job, but in the past nobody really said much beyond the occasional ‘thanks’.
I clear my throat and straighten the stack of rack cards on the counter as I broach the subject of the event.
“So now, things are just about all organized in here, I was thinking we should run a Christmas event. I want to celebrate the holiday and get people in to see the renovations. What do you think?”
I glance up at him, and his eyes light up happily. “That’s a great idea!”
“Yeah, I think so, too,” Grant says as he and Asher join us.
“Really? I wasn’t sure if you guys liked Christmas. I thought I’d have to twist your arms a little more. I even had a whole speech planned.”
Leo laughs. “Well, you can still tell us if you want, but we love Christmas.”
“Okay, awesome! I can’t wait!” I say excitedly as my mind pictures where I can place the lights and Christmas tree.
“You already have a shopping list started, don’t you?” Leo asks with a grin.
“I do…”
“Alright, well why don’t I take you out shopping after lunch? We can get started on it straight away.”
“Yes!”
“What’s for lunch today?” Grant asks, glancing at Asher.
They seemed to take turns bringing lunch in, and when I offered, they refused.
They told me it’s a business expense, and they always buy lunch for all their employees.
Of course, the three of them own the place, and I’m the only employee, so I didn’t know whether or not that was true.
“Pizza?” Asher asks, and we all nod in agreement. He leaves to get it as I grab a couple of items to put away in the back. While I’m back there, I organize the supply cupboard, making sure everything is easy to find.
When I come back out, I see Callum is here, and he’s chatting with Matt and Leo. I haven’t seen him since my first day here, and when he sees me, he waves me over.
“Hey, Clara, right?”
“Yeah, nice to meet you, Callum.”
His eyes widen, and his whole face lights up. “She remembers me!”
“It’s not hard to forget one of the only two customers I’ve met.”
“Ouch!” Leo says, placing his hand on his heart in mock hurt, making me grin at him.
“Don’t worry, I’m gonna change that.”
“You’ve done an amazing job in here, seriously,” Callum says, gesturing to the gym. “I’m actually going to start telling my buddies about this place now that it's not so embarrassing.”
“Hey!” Leo scowls at him.
“Just speaking the truth.” He glances at me as he adds, “Make sure you take good care of this one; she’s a keeper.”
“Trust me, I know,” Leo says, sounding more serious than amused.
“So, Clara, are you single?” Callum asks, making my eyes widen in surprise.
“Uhh…”
“Dude,” Leo punches him in the shoulder. “Don’t hit on the staff.”
“Why not? She’s hot… for an older woman.”
“Excuse me?” I ask, crossing my arms over the chest. Even though I’m like ten years older than him, no girl wants to be referred to as an older woman.
“I bet you could show me a thing or two, right gorgeous?” Callum says, eyeing me up and down. His tone is joking, but it feels a bit like he’s crossing the line, and I take a step away from him, not liking the direction he’s heading. It reminds me too much of Scott.
“Don’t talk to her like that.” Leo scowls, stepping between us as he stares him down.
“You’d rather I do it behind her back, like you?”
“I don’t do that,” Leo argues.
“You were just commenting on how good her ass looks in those pants—” Leo lurches forward and covers Callum’s mouth with his hand, laughing awkwardly as he glances over his shoulder at me.
“I don’t know what he’s talking about.”
“Sure… I’m just gonna go… over there,” I say, gesturing to anywhere that isn’t here.
As I walk away, I hear Leo whispering angrily at Callum about keeping his mouth shut.
I bite my lip in amusement. I think Callum is harmless.
He was clearly trying to get a rise out of Leo…
and it worked. I probably should be upset he was talking about my ass like that, but it’s honestly flattering.
And I know he also told Callum about all the work I’ve done here, too.
I hear the door open, and Asher steps in with pizza. He gestures with his head for me to follow him into the staff room. I gladly take the opportunity to get away from the others for a few minutes.
Pulling my new cellphone out of my pocket, I check the time.
I still can’t believe Asher bought me a phone.
He told me as an employee, I needed one so they could contact me.
He apparently added me to their business plan, so I don’t even have to pay monthly for it.
I really had landed a dream job here. If only I could tell them the truth about me.
By the time we’ve finished eating, the tension is gone between Leo and me. I wave goodbye to Asher and Grant as I follow him out to his car.
When I see the truck we’re heading towards, my eyes grow round in excitement.
“That’s your truck?” I ask excitedly.
“Yep, you like it?”
I take in the bright, candy-apple paint that seems to gleam like a Christmas ornament. “I love it! It’s like a modern Christmas truck!”
“It’s an F-150. Since Asher has his bike, and Grant has his Dodge Charger, I thought we needed something more practical that would fit us all and cargo. Here—”
He opens the passenger door and holds my hand as I place my foot on the little step and press up. His hand finds my hip as he helps me into the seat. He closes the door and jogs around to the driver’s side as I gaze around the black and red interior.
“It’s so clean,” I tell him as I buckle my seatbelt.
“Did you expect it to be messy?”
“A little.”
He chuckles. “Sorry to disappoint you, shortcake?”
“Oh, I’m definitely not disappointed,” I say with a little too much enthusiasm.
I clear my throat, feeling a little awkward as he pulls onto the street and asks, “Do you drive?”
I nod. “I have my license, but I’m from a city where public transportation was easier and quicker.”
“Ah, a big-city girl, huh?”
“I’d say medium-size. It’s not like New York or anything.”
“And you left that to come here?” We hadn’t spoken anymore about where I’m from or what I’m running from, but I know they want to know more. I’m just afraid of pulling them into my mess.
“Yep,” I say, popping the p as I look out the window.
He pulls into a hardware store parking lot, and I pull on the gloves Asher gave me.
“You need a winter coat,” Leo says, looking down at me as we walk to the doors.
“This is fine with a sweater for now,” I say, pulling my coat tighter around me.
He just grunts as he holds the door open for me.
Forty minutes later we’re walking out with a cart full of lights, decorations and a Christmas tree. I can’t keep the grin off my face.
I might actually be able to get into the Christmas spirit after all!
I think about the Christmas train and realize I have to work there again tonight. Maybe I could quit? But as a cold wind whips through the parking lot, I decide if I work a couple more shifts after today, I could buy myself a nice winter jacket, one that will keep me warm right through to April.
“We’re going to take a detour; I want to show you something,” Leo says as he pulls onto the road.
I nod and watch out the window as a few snowflakes start to fall. “It’s snowing!” I say with excitement.
“That makes it the perfect day for getting Christmas decorations,” Leo says, smiling over at me when I look at him.
“What does Leo stand for?” I ask curiously.
He looks surprised at my change of topic but then grins as he watches the road. “Take a guess.”
“Hmm.” I tap my chin as I consider it.
“Leopold?”
“Nope, try again?”
“Leonardo?”
“That’s the one,” he says with a smile.
“Really? You don’t look Italian.”
“I’m not; my mom just liked the name.”
“You don’t have a brother called Donatello, do you?”
He laughs and shakes his head. “No, but I do have a brother called Callum.”
My head whips in his direction. “Callum? As in…”
I trail off, and he nods his head. “Yeah, that idiot is my brother. Sorry about him earlier, by the way.” He rubs a hand down the back of his head, looking a little uncomfortable.
“That’s okay.”
“No, he crossed a line. But he was doing it to get a rise out of me.”