Chapter 3
“HEY RI, WOULD YOU do me in this outfit?”
Josh waited patiently for Riley to look up from scrambling their eggs to give Josh a quick look. They were dressed similarly in T-shirts with the sleeves cut off and gaping holes to allow for more airflow during their workouts, along with their regular soccer shorts.
“Who wouldn’t want to do you? But why are you asking when we’re just going to the gym?”
Josh responded by pulling out his phone to show Riley another graphic design company’s social media account.
Their own company was called Jollywood Graphics, a combination of their names and their home town of Cherrywood.
“Remember these guys we met at that conference last year? They started posting personal photos along with their work and it got them so many new followers.”
The photo carousel showed three guys playing around with a football on the beach along with thousands of likes and comments.
“Maybe if we post some thirst traps like this, since we’re also hot, it will get us some new followers and maybe even more clients. I thought we could take pics of us working out and say something like, We work hard everywhere, for our clients and in the gym.”
Riley made a noncommittal noise as he pushed the scrambled eggs around a frying pan while Josh put his phone away to butter their toast.
“Thirst traps? I don’t know. Some people might think we’re unprofessional or something.”
“Maybe. Let’s take some pics during our workout and see how they come out.”
A groan was the only response Josh got as Riley plated their eggs next to the toast, and they made their way to the couch to eat.
“We already have to worry about talking to Tobias about the alumni game. Do you really want to piss him off more than we’re about to by taking pictures when we’re supposed to be working out?”
Josh shrugged while he hummed around the fluffy eggs in his mouth. Riley always made them so perfectly.
“I’ll do it. Tobias never gets mad at me,” Josh said.
A guffaw from Riley had Josh flinching from the unexpected noise.
“Oh, he gets mad. But no one can stay mad at you. It’s like a superpower you have.”
They shared a mischievous smile.
“Looks like we’re about to test that superpower!” Josh said.
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When they walked into the gym and saw Chase in Tobias’ usual spot organizing mats and foam blocks, they decided to question Tobias about the game after their workout. They’d both forgotten that their new yoga class started today, and they didn’t want to add any more distractions on top of that.
Josh pulled Riley along by the forearm and walked right up to Chase to say hello. It was only polite to say hi to the new guy, after all.
“Hi! You’re Chase, right?” he said to the man who stood to greet them. He was adorable and looked like he could be a stunt double for Spider-Man. “I’m Josh, and this is Riley.”
Josh threw his arm around Riley’s shoulders and reached out a hand to shake Chase’s, who accepted with a smile.
“Nice to meet you,” he said, a shy smile on his face. “Although, I think I caught you two at that soccer game where I met Mr. Moyer.”
“Chase, I told you to call me Tobias,” the man in question said gruffly as he passed behind the three of them.
“Right, sorry… Tobias,” he said, his cheeks turning pink as his gaze ping-ponged between Tobias and the two of them. Chase struggled with words and hurried to change the subject. “You guys are cute. How long have you been together?”
Riley tensed under Josh’s arm for some reason. Meanwhile, Josh heard laughter from everyone else in the gym, but ignored it.
“Oh, we’ve known each other since we were kids. Partners in crime, right, Ri?”
Riley opened his mouth to speak, only nothing came out.
“That’s so sweet,” Chase said.
What a nice guy!
“Actually, we’re just friends,” Riley said, and Josh finally caught up. Chase thought they were together together.
Cole swooped in and slung his arm around Chase’s shoulders.
“Don’t worry, Chase. Everyone makes that mistake,” he said. He then whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear. “They haven’t had their awakening yet.”
“Cole, take your hands off the staff, please,” Tobias barked at Cole, forcing all their gazes to snap toward Tobias.
Cole carefully pulled his arm off Chase with a bright smile. He turned toward Chase and said in a stage whisper, “I’m so glad you’re here. This is going to be so much fun.”
Tobias shouted to everyone to gather in a circle and then introduced Chase to the group, again explaining the new yoga schedule.
“On yoga days, Chase will lead the warm-up and stretch as well as the workout, so he’s now got the floor. Show us what you got, Chase.”
“Thanks, Mr.— I mean, Tobias,” he said, his cheeks turning pink once again.
“I’m going to take you all through a session I’ve created just for this group.
If there’s a move you can’t do, it’s important not to force it.
There are plenty of modified moves for everything, as well as some more advanced moves that we’ll try as you all get more comfortable with the practice.
So, do what you can, but listen to your body and don’t forget to breathe.
Now, everyone grab a yoga mat, a block and an ab mat, and spread out so you have plenty of room on all sides. ”
Everyone scattered and grabbed the necessary equipment, following Chase through what he called a warmup. It started simple, but some of the moves became more difficult to hold. Josh stumbled twice and wanted to cry when he remembered this was only the warmup.
Once they got started with the real workout, Josh couldn’t help but peer around the room to see how everyone else was doing. Hunter was the worst of the bunch, despite having the biggest muscles. Apparently, yoga took way more than just strength.
They were moving into what Chase called a cow stretch when Josh's gaze caught on Riley next to him. His back arched and his plump ass sat high in the air.
When did his ass get so plump?
That question managed to distract Josh through most of the workout, until the cooldown stretches left everyone comparing their flexibility. Chase and Tobias were the most flexible by far, reaching past their toes as they did a simple sit-and-reach.
Cole, of course, decided to make things more interesting.
“Okay, Chase, how do we see who is more flexible between you and Tobias?”
Chase smirked as he looked at Tobias, keeping his eyes on him as he responded. “We add the block.”
Tobias and Chase grabbed their blocks and sat on their mats, their legs straight out in front of them, and they placed the blocks against the bottom of their feet. Chase reached past his feet and wrapped his fingers around the block as it lay perpendicular to his legs, the wide side on the floor.
Everyone was impressed until Tobias did the same thing, except he turned it lengthwise so the rectangular block lined up with his legs. He bent completely in half and his fingers crimped against the far edge of the block.
“Holy fuck,” Chase whisper-shouted, shaking himself and trying to sound professional again. “Impressive, Mr.— Tobias.”
“Chase, will we all be able to do that when you’re done with us?” Josh asked, peeking at Riley to see him equally impressed.
It took another second until Chase pulled his eyes away from Tobias. “Going that deep,” he said before choking on his own breath. Once he could speak, he said, “That would take daily yoga practice for a long time, but we’ll do our best.”
He tensed as he took them through the rest of the cooldown, ending with something Josh couldn’t pronounce that involved them lying down for two straight minutes.
He was supposed to have his eyes closed, but he couldn’t help pulling out his phone from where it was hiding under his mat and sneaking a picture of Riley lying feet away from him, a serene smile on his face and his shirt dampened from sweat.
Josh was so lucky to have him in his life, even though he didn’t deserve him. If he ever told Riley the secret about the day he lost his parents, he might lose him, and he never wanted to face that.
Not able to help himself, he quietly rolled his body along the floor until he was lying next to Riley to take a selfie.
Riley’s eyes fluttered open and he smirked as he saw Josh’s phone above them, and Josh managed a couple photos before he dropped it.
Right onto his face.
“Ow!”
“Josh, what the hell are you doing?” Tobias snapped.
“Sorry,” he said, rolling back to his own mat, causing everyone to stir and snap out of their calm poses. “My bad, guys.”
Luckily, Chase continued to be a nice guy and didn’t yell at Josh, but gave them all instructions to make sure they hydrated the rest of the day.
They stood and disinfected their equipment, Tobias meeting Chase at the front of the room. He hoped he didn’t get Chase in trouble with Tobias, but he figured this was a great time to approach him about the alumni game for Sophie.
Sophie was like family to him, making him wish he had more actual family.
Sometimes, he wondered if he should submit his DNA to see if his parents left behind any relatives who might want to meet him.
It was a thought for later. He reached Tobias, Riley trailing after him and Chase busying himself with organizing the equipment.
“Hey, Tobias, sorry to interrupt, but I wanted to run something by you for Riley’s sister, Sophie.”
Tobias shot a confused look at Riley. “Your sister? Does she want to join the gym?”
Riley took a deep breath and rushed through an answer.
“So, my sister works in the PR department for the Inferno,” he said, speaking quickly as he watched Tobias pale, “and the current goalie for their alumni game later this season had to drop out. She hoped you’d be interested in taking his spot.”
“No way! That would be so awesome,” Chase exclaimed from behind Riley, jumping up from the rolled mats to join their conversation and looking at Tobias in awe. “I go to that game every year and it would be so cool to see you play again…”
Chase trailed off as he took in Tobias, who looked like he’d been hit by a stun gun. “I mean, not me. My dad is a big fan, and uh… I better get going and get ready for the next class. I’ll see you guys later.”
Tobias’ gaze followed Chase out the door, then it bounced between Riley and Josh.
“Um, I don’t… I don’t know.”
He looked sad, and Josh panicked at the idea he could have made anyone sad, so he flung himself toward Tobias and wrapped his arms around him, engulfing him in a big bear hug.
“What’s happening?” Tobias muttered.
Josh continued squeezing him, despite Tobias’ arms staying awkwardly by his sides.
“Think about it, okay? It could be good for you,” he said quietly before letting Tobias go.
“Okay,” Tobias said, turning toward the computer that tracked their workouts and dismissing them in the process.
“All right, we’ll see you next time, Tobias,” Riley said, pulling Josh toward the exit, where Cole waited for them.
“Uh, did I just see you try to give Tobias a hug? Are you trying to die?” Cole whispered low enough so no one else could hear. That must have meant he was actually serious.
“He wouldn’t kill me, he’d make me do burpees or something.”
Cole and Riley shared a worried look, and, once again, Josh thought he missed something.