Chapter 2
Jarvis
"Holy fucking shit." I crane my neck, squint against the sun, and only barely make out the top of the residential skyscraper. My destination for today. "It's huge."
I step into the air-conditioned lobby and approach the front desk. "Hi. Jarvis Small. I'm here to see Anson Palmer."
The middle-aged attendant eyes me up and down, and a shiver of self-consciousness rolls through me. I've lost over a hundred pounds, but I still feel fat whenever people pay close attention to me.
Weight has always been an issue in my family. Growing up, Robbie and I were bullied mercilessly at school because of our mom. She had a number of health issues that resulted in her being overweight. She was closing in on 500 pounds when she passed away.
I've always struggled with my weight, too.
I've come to accept that I'll always be beefy, even though I've got my act together and am healthy today.
Taking Robbie's advice and becoming a personal trainer has done wonders for my self-esteem.
I'll never have abs or a trim waist like so many other guys, and I'm finally okay with that.
One big lesson being a PT has taught me is that healthy bodies come in various shapes and sizes.
I love working with people, helping them to achieve their fitness goals. When Robbie told me Anson hasn't been doing well and is too self-conscious to train in public, I jumped at the chance to offer some private one-on-one sessions.
The Palmers have been so good to us—Dunlop built an aged care facility so Gramps had somewhere to live, for crying out loud—so it's the least I can do.
My brother and I are different in a lot of ways, but one quality we share is we love a challenge. And I am determined to help Anson get back in shape, even though Robbie warned me he might be hesitant at first.
The attendant lets me through, and I ride the elevator all the way to the top floor. When the doors ping open, I step out into the fancy marble-floored hallway and ring the doorbell.
A few seconds later, the door swings open, and holy fucking meatballs, the man who answers is a god.
I'm not talking old man in a white robe.
I mean of the bronzed Greek variety. Anson's face is long, angular with a jawline so sharp it looks lethal.
His dark eyes only add to the intensity, but the effect is tempered by the disarray of his hair, a cute dip in his chin, and the solid mound of his full lips.
He stands in the doorway wearing a fitted black dress shirt, sleeves rolled to his forearms, tucked neatly into dark, fitted jeans, the denim clinging in all the right places. Not exactly workout attire, sure, but what the hell was Robbie talking about? This guy isn't out of shape at all.
"Hi, I'm Jarvis Small. You must be Anson?"
His brown eyes briefly drop to the two insulated food bags I'm carrying. "That's right. Come on in, Jarvis."
The door opens to sweeping panoramic views of the entire Gold Coast skyline. The glass towers, the beach, the ocean. I drop the bags on the marbled floor and rush over to the floor-to-ceiling windows to get a better look.
"Holy fucking shit. This is so rad."
Anson sidles up beside me. "It is pretty spectacular."
"And you live here?"
I tear my eyes away from the breathtaking view and take in the equally impressive surroundings. The living room alone is twice the size of my apartment, and holy shit, there's a sparkling blue infinity pool out on the balcony that's also twice the size of my apartment.
He chuckles, just once, but it's enough. The low, grumbly sound vibrates straight through my chest. "I do. What's with the bags?"
"Oh, these." I walk back to retrieve them. "Thought we could watch something and have some food."
He frowns. Likely confused.
Good.
My plan is working.
Robbie said it might take a few attempts to actually get Anson into the gym. That he's a little out of shape and self-conscious about it while also too proud to admit it out loud.
I need to earn Anson's trust. So that's exactly what I intend on doing.
"I'm not sure I follow."
I lift the bag in my left hand. "KFC." Next, my right. "Killer Thai. If you choose the food, I have to warn you you'll forfeit remote control rights, and I am obsessed with this amazing anime series."