Chapter Five – Whiskey Gingers #3
“She’s a new client at the gym. And because of that, it would be inappropriate for me to even try to go there.
” I gave them what they wanted. “Trust me, I thought it through. I even told her today that it wouldn’t be a good idea for us to continue working together and that if she wanted to come in, she would need to work with someone else. ”
“While I get what you mean… the client trainer angle is hot.” Cadence leaned in. “Haven’t you ever fantasized about hooking up in the gym? Getting all hot and sweaty and then getting… all hot and sweaty!”
“It's not a hot angle, Caddy!” My mouth fell open.
“If I ever have thought about it, it would be with someone who wasn’t paying me!
Come on. It's gross to be that close to someone and turn it into something else. I swore I would never do that. Trainers already have a bad rep because of people doing that. It takes advantage of the client.”
“Child, your clients are able bodied adults! What if she wants it?” Cadence lifted her brow. “I mean, maybe it’s mutual. Clearly, there was something happening to make you think you had to bring it up.”
“Oh, she definitely wants it.” I played with the edge of my plate. “Also, it gets more complicated, because I think she wants something else. Something more…magical. I get the feeling she’s not human.”
“You know the magical girlies are drawn to you,” Tayvion said. “And here I am over here, only attracting human men. I mean, are there no more vampires out there?”
“The last time you were with a vampire, you damn near died!” I rolled my eyes. “Stay away from the fangs, Tay!”
“And it was a thrill! I want that again.” She winked. “I mean, those bloodsuckers are wild. Come on; living that long, you get bored. So, you have to shake things up. There’s almost nothing they will say no to!”
“I’m telling on you to your mother.” Cadence pointed at Tayvion. “It’s in poor fashion for a fae to be with a vampire, and you know that.”
“Hell, it's also in poor fashion for a fae to be plus-sized. You think I give a fuck about that?” Tay lifted from her seat and smacked her ass before plopping back down. The man at the table next to us gave her a once-over and a quick smile she didn’t catch.
“Vampires are fun—those old, fuddy duddy fae elders can bite me—pun intended.”
“Anyway.” Cadence rolled her eyes. “I’m going to act like I didn’t hear that, since one of those fuddy duddy fae elders is my father.”
“Whoops,” Tayvion snickered.
“So what is she? Pixie? Because if she is, girl, run for the hills!” Cadence chopped the air with her hand. “I’m serious. Cut her off and keep it pushing.”
“I’m not really sure what she is. She feels different.” I sighed. “The closest thing I’ve felt to her is that old ass witch we met back in college. You know the one rattling on about soul bonds?”
“I’m sorry, what?” Tay smacked the table. “What old-ass witch are you talking about?”
“Yeah, Shon and I were out for a run one night, and this witch—she looked like she had walked out of a damn horror novel—came up to us. I thought she was going to attack us or something, but she just started talking about other worlds and soul bonds and then scurried off into the trees. She looked like a lost squirrel!”
“I thought she was high!” The memory of the woman brought out a deep laugh I almost choked on. “You know, the older witches get, the more experimental they become with drugs!”
“Shit, most of them live longer than they should. All that magic use, spell casting and shit; it messes with the mind. Ain’t no way you can tell me it doesn’t,” Cadence added on. “They’re all high off their own supply. Tough way to go.”
“Well, what about her emotions?” Tay asked. “Could you feel what she was feeling? I’m sure if she was as affected by this as you seem to be, you would have been able to pick up on it.”
“No,” I sighed. “I couldn’t really get a feel for what’s blocking her. You know, usually, I can tap into people pretty quickly, but not her. There’s a wall there, like a fortress she’d built around herself. There are a few supernaturals out there like that. I just don’t know which one she is yet.”
“Damn, she must be really powerful. And if she is, that means she likely already knows about you and prepared for it.” Cadence leaned in. “This is juicy, like a mystery waiting to be solved.”
“You’re way too into this,” I said. “But I’m telling you, none of this really matters. I am not pursuing this any further. The risk is not worth it. But it would make sense if it turned out she already knew about me. Again, though, I’m not sure. If she keeps coming around, I’ll keep an eye on her.”
“Why not explore it? It could be fun,” Tay said. “Powerful, mystical woman to match your flow. And her emotions won’t bog you down because she can obviously block you from them if she wants. Didn’t we just discover that’s the problem with all your former love interests?”
“I don’t think fun is the term here. Besides, who said anything about love. And if she did know about me before coming to the gym, that means she has ulterior motives and definitely isn’t trying to get with me like that.”
“What if she wants to take things…outside the gym?” Cadence asked.
“Well…” I trailed off.
“She asked?” Tayvion screeched, calling more attention to our table. “That woman is bold! I like her!”
“I’ll remind you, you don’t even know this woman.” I squinted at her. “But after I told her we shouldn’t see each other professionally anymore, she suggested we see each other in a different capacity.”
“And what did you say when she suggested that? I mean, it does eliminate the issue, doesn’t it?”
“I said nothing. Honestly, it caught me off guard, and I froze.” I thought about how I felt after Likosa’s suggestion. “She may have done something, because by the time I really registered what she said, she was already gone. It was like I blinked, and twenty minutes flew by.”
“So what I’m hearing is, she said what she said, and then you left it open.” Tay sucked her teeth slowly. “Which means you’re into it. You don’t want to say no, but you’re doing so because you feel like there is some moral responsibility to do so.”
“How is that what it means?” I shook my head. “What about the part when I said I’m pretty sure she magically froze my ass? How could I have done anything but leave it open?”
“If you were completely uninterested, you would have blurted out no and run off into the night,” Cadence chimed in. “Your pause gave her time to work her magic. You froze, showed your hand, and now, she has you right where she wants you!”
“You are making this so much more than it is.” My denial sounded weak, even to me.
“Am I?” She waggled her brows. “Or are you not making it enough?”
“That was so cheesy.” I stuck my tongue out at her. “Now, can we talk about something else?”
“Sure. What about homegirl over there who keeps eyeing you?” Cadence nodded over my shoulder.
“Who?” I asked.
“Uh-huh…you’re gonna end up banging your client.” Tayvion sighed. “She’s got you so rattled, you didn’t even notice the leggy model giving you the eye. Ain’t no way my girl would have missed that!”
“You’re right. She’s doomed.” They shared a look and then burst out with a cackle that made my heart race.
“Fuck it. I need a drink now.” I waved down the server and ordered the first of several whiskey gingers.