Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
NATHAN
The gym is a chorus of grunts, metal clanking against metal and the rubber squeak of sneakers against gym mats. Kinsey, Renthrow, and McLanely are training with headphones in their ears, but I’ve always preferred working out raw.
No podcasts.
No music.
Nothing to distract me from my form and my breathing.
Normally, I can slip right into the zone when I’m exercising. The world around me fades and the volume of my thoughts dials down to zero.
But that was before I told Riley Carter I liked her.
From the moment I wrapped my fingers around the dumbbells and did my first rep, Riley was on my mind.
I keep going over our conversation this morning.
Her shocked expression when I told her how I felt.
The way she pinched her cheek to check if she was dreaming.
The way her eyes darted all around the room.
It was all so cautious and adorable and perfectly Riley. I can’t believe it took me so long to tell her I’m on the fast lane to falling in love with her.
McLanely presses the ‘off’ button on the treadmill and it slows down. He turns his neck and makes eye contact with me.
I push through one more rep and set the dumbbells in the cradle.
McLanely gestures to the water bottles stacked off to the side of the private gym.
I nod.
Renthrow and Kinsey remain at their stations. Kinsey’s going to town with the battle ropes while Renthrow is lifting about double his size in weights.
“I asked Max if you could join us at the gym this morning because I wanted to talk with you,” McLanely says. “Privately.”
I bob my head. I thought it was strange when Coach pulled me from the scheduled practice drills and assigned me to strength training. At first, I got nervous, thinking the team leader doubted my ability to play tomorrow, but I was relieved when it was a private session with the pre-drafted players.
“Have you heard from that lady since morning?” McLanely asks, handing me a water bottle.
I shake my head. “To be fair, Layla doesn’t wake up before ten a.m. So that might be the main reason.”
“I don’t like being blackmailed, Campbell. It stinks.”
“Same.” I guzzle down the water as I catch my breath. “I have to be honest. Layla used your proposal to try and manipulate me into spending time with her last night. I know I promised you that I’d babysit her, but Riley wasn’t feeling well. I needed to take her home.”
“I don’t blame you. If I were in your shoes, I would have taken April home too, blackmail or no.”
We both take another swig.
McLanely runs his fingers through his hair. “I already made a decision to speed up the proposal when I took April home last night, but hearing that she tried to blackmail you too… it just confirms what I have to do. I can’t let this chick continue to rule me and my friends.”
“Is there any way I can help?”
Chance shakes his head. “I’m trimming the proposal down. I cancelled the doves and the fireworks and paid the caterers extra to set everything up tonight instead of next month.”
I blink rapidly. “Doves and fireworks, huh?”
“It’s April, man. I have to go all out.”
“I don’t know April that well, but… she gave me the sense she was more low key.”
“You’re not wrong.”
“So… maybe cancelling the doves and the fireworks is a good thing.”
Chance scrunches his nose as if he doesn’t agree.
Renthrow joins us. “What are you two whispering about?”
“My proposal,” Chance says plainly. “It’s tonight.”
Renthrow doesn’t look surprised. “Did you make a decision on the doves?”
“I cancelled.”
“Thank God. That was going to be a disaster.” Renthrow glances at me. “I heard you retired.”
“The publication is supposed to put out a corrective statement.”
Renea called me this morning. Rather than ask, she informed me that she’d already written a legal notice to the corporation. I had to talk her out of calling all her lawyers. I’m not worth enough to the company to start a legal battle.
“Your agent works fast,” McLanely says with a nod.
“It’s great having Renea in my corner. She’s incredible at what she does.”
Kinsey joins us then. He moved so silently that I didn’t even realize he was standing behind us.
To my surprise, I notice that he’s wearing a pink scrunchie around his wrist.
“What’s that?” I wonder, pointing it out.
“It’s Rebel’s,” he says matter-of-factly. “In case she ever needs one.”
“That’s a great idea,” McLanely mumbles.
“How’d you and Rebel get together?” I ask, taking another swig of water. “You two seem like… complete opposites.”
Kinsey shrugs. “How does anyone get together? I asked her out. She said yes. Done.”
If only it were that simple for me and Riley.
McLanely slings a hand around Kinsey’s neck. “Yeah right. You see this guy? Rebel wanted nothing to do with him.”
Kinsey scowls and shoves McLanely’s arm. “You weren’t any better with April.”
Renthrow snorts.
“Didn’t you and April fall in love pretty quickly?” I ask, remembering the big splash it made in the headlines.
Chance clears his throat. “We didn’t exactly start as a real couple.”
“You got together for PR?” My eyebrows jump high.
“It’s real now,” Chance protests. “And Kinsey did the same thing. Rebel dated him to get into the Lady Luck Society.”
At my incredulous look, Kinsey shrugs. “I saw an opportunity and I went for it.”
I swing to look at Renthrow. “You too?”
“Kind of.”
I scrub my chin. “Seems like I had the wrong strategy.”
“With Riley?” Renthrow raises both hands. “And I just want to make it clear that I am not invested in your answer, but Cordelia spent three hours last night ranting about how badly she wants you and Riley together.”
I laugh. “I knew I liked Cordelia.”
“Are you sure she’s rooting for Campbell?” Kinsey tilts his head. “Because she asked me and Rebel if we’d be comfortable if she set Benji up with Riley.”
Chance scratches his head. “Benji? You mean that guy who was crazy about Rebel?”
Kinsey nods.
I scowl at Renthrow. “What’s with Cordelia? How could she betray me like this?”
“If you weren’t dragging your feet, she wouldn’t meddle.”
“Ouch,” Chance smirks. “Go easy on him, Renthrow.”
“I’ll have you know that I already told Riley how I feel.”
Kinsey looks surprised.
Renthrow’s eyebrows pop to the top of his forehead.
“That’s great.” Chance slaps my back. “What did she say?”
I shrink back.
Kinsey looks sympathetic. “She rejected you?”
“She just…” I try to find the words, “looked really shocked.”
“Shocked-happy or shocked-horrified?” Renthrow clarifies.
“Shocked-shocked. She seemed to have a hard time processing what I told her, so I gave her time to think about it.”
Groans of disapproval break out.
“You never give them time to think,” Renthrow says knowingly. “Or else they start over-thinking.”
Kinsey nods.
Chance picks up his water bottle. “You should bring Riley to my proposal tonight. Even without doves and fireworks, it’s going to be extremely romantic. You can take her for a walk around the property and have a nice, long chat with her.”
It’s a great idea and I plan on taking him up on that.
“Enough chit-chat,” Renthrow grumbles. “If Max finds us shooting the breeze like this, he’s going to revoke our private training privileges and force us to run drills like the newbs.” Renthrow’s eyes slide to me. “No offense, Campbell.”
“None taken.”
We end our water break and get back to pumping iron.
As I focus on lifting weights, my mind returns to my relationship. Riley and I didn’t ‘fake a relationship’ but being her brother’s best friend made me extra careful with sharing my feelings. I’ve been holding back for fear of making her uncomfortable.
Now that the truth is out there, I don’t want to restrain myself anymore.
I want Riley Carter to fall for me as certainly as I’ve fallen for her.