Chapter 6
CHASE WALKED ON EGGSHELLS as he entered Gym Rat Fitness two days later.
He was already nervous because he was meeting his brother after class for a coffee, but he also wasn’t sure how Tobias would act after he fanboyed all over him on his first day of work.
The rest of the day went fine, mostly because Tobias wasn’t there.
Then yesterday, Chase had to see him again at the rock climbing gym with Madison.
It was pretty obvious Tobias was uncomfortable when Madison asked Chase to join them for Christmas, so Chase hoped he didn’t ruin everything when he gushed over his possible return to hockey.
It was important to him that Tobias considered him a professional, and not just a guy here to drool over a former pro hockey player.
As he took in the man himself, who was staring at his computer screen in the front of the gym, Chase couldn’t help but appraise him from head to toe.
His lower body was made to play hockey, with thick thighs and an ass he could probably use to play a game of quarters. Somehow, Tobias only improved as Chase’s eyes roamed higher. He was wearing a tight, long-sleeved base layer that did nothing to hide the ripple of his muscles with every move.
Chase itched to touch his dark hair, long enough to hold onto but short enough to hide under a hockey mask. Then there was his face, the pièce de résistance. It looked like it was carved from marble by ancient Greeks, his square chin graced with short stubble.
His eyes were a deep brown and there was a sadness lurking behind them that Chase was determined to get to the bottom of.
Who hurt you, Tobias?
It was hard to imagine anything being able to hurt him, since he was nearly eight inches taller than Chase. Although, the way he hunched over his computer made Chase think he wished he were smaller. But why?
A hand landed on his shoulder, making him jump from his thoughts, and he turned to find Garrett standing there smiling.
“Hey man, welcome back. You settling in okay?”
“Uh,” he started, taking a peek at Tobias to catch him watching the two of them curiously. “Yeah, so far, so good. How are you feeling after the first session?”
Garrett’s smile widened, his feathery blond hair falling over his forehead. He could have won a Chad Michael Murray lookalike contest if he wanted to.
“I feel great, thanks. I’ve been trying to get Tobias to add yoga to our workouts forever, so now you’re officially my favorite employee here.”
“Hey,” Tobias barked from across the room. Sound carried pretty easily in the gym. “Don’t make me cancel your membership.”
“Like you’d ever do such a thing,” Garrett responded. He leaned closer and whispered so Tobias couldn’t hear. “Don’t let the boss scare ya. He’s a big teddy bear underneath.”
“If you say so.”
Chase had already gotten a glimpse of that softer side with Madison, and he was dying to see more.
Garrett walked away to stretch before the workout, and Chase made his way over to Tobias, his heartbeat accelerating with each step.
“Chase, welcome back. You ready for today’s core workout?”
“Born ready,” Chase said, internally rolling his eyes at himself. “Although I’m not sure if everyone else is. I guarantee I’ll make at least one person cry this morning.”
Tobias’ lip twitched. One of these days, he’d make this man smile. It was his self-assigned mission.
“Nah, they won’t cry,” Tobias said. “But they sure will whine.”
“Do you wanna bet?”
Another lip twitch. He’d fight for each one.
“What are the stakes, Townsend?”
Chase’s mind raced with everything he wanted from this man, but nothing he could think of was appropriate. He inwardly cheered when an idea hit him.
“If I win, you have to do an acroyoga seminar with me.”
Tobias’ brow furrowed. “What’s that?”
“It’s partner-based yoga mixed with a bit of acrobatics. I’ve always wanted to try it, but I’ve never had a partner who could keep up with me,” Chase explained, using the opportunity to check out Tobias. “I think I finally found one.”
If Chase wasn’t watching Tobias so closely, he might have missed the pulse of his jaw.
“And if I win?” Tobias asked warily.
“Then, you can have whatever you want.”
Chase watched the bob of his throat as he swallowed. Tobias cleared his throat and said, “If I win, you have to help me make a plan for starting kids’ classes here.”
Thoughts of what he really wanted Tobias to ask for flew out of his mind. This was even better. Or, at least, it was just as good.
“Kids’ classes, really? I would do that for you anyway. You’re the boss, remember?”
In the gym, anyway. If he ever got this man near a bed, Chase would be in charge.
“Why don’t you think about something else you’d want while I run class this morning?” Chase asked, noticing how Tobias’ lips parted at his words. Chase wished he could read minds. He winked and then turned to the group ready to work out, leaving Tobias to think on his own.
Maybe he shouldn’t have been flirting so openly with his new boss, but he couldn’t help himself. Talking to Tobias was like interacting with a walking wet dream. How was he supposed to restrain himself?
He took one last glance at Tobias before starting the class and was delighted to catch Tobias’ eyes on his ass. It was hard for Chase to keep the smile off his face for the rest of class, and it was even harder not to laugh listening to all the whining.
Everyone’s competitive sides came out when Chase asked them to get into a V-sit pose and hold it for as long as possible.
It was basically making a V with your body while balancing on your ass, arms stretched above your head and legs straight, but the whining continued amid the trash talk.
Chase didn’t even offer anything to the winner, but bragging rights must have been enough.
“Oh my God, it burrrrns,” Josh cried.
“You can take it. Keep going,” Riley said.
“Geez, it sounds like a porno in here,” Cole shouted.
Garrett simply growled through the pain, while Carson, a quiet guy Chase hadn’t talked to much, was shaking from head to toe, his glasses sliding down his sweaty nose.
“Remember to breathe,” Chase reminded them.
Tobias was participating and his V-sit form was picture perfect. Chase bit his lip as he watched him, steady like a stone.
“It hurrrrts,” Hunter whined. He was sort of holding the pose, but his knees were bent and his arms were over his knees instead of over his head.
Chase’s classes continued to humble Hunter’s muscles.
The guy may have resembled Thor with his jacked body and long blond hair, but his whining ruined the superhero image.
Hunter quit first, and after he collapsed, everyone started dropping like dominoes. Carson fell next, then Riley, Josh and Cole. It was between Garrett and Tobias, but Garrett was struggling, and Tobias was breathing easily.
“Tobias, are you an actual robot? It’s been like ten minutes,” Cole said.
Chase checked his watch and corrected him. “Actually, we’re at two minutes and thirty seconds.”
“Aaaarrrgh,” Garrett shouted and then fell to the ground.
Tobias peered around smugly and smirked.
“Oh, are you guys done? I was taking a nap.”
“Robot!” Cole shouted, and everyone chuckled.
Chase couldn’t help the arousal pooling in his gut. He loved seeing Tobias’ personality sneaking out, and he craved more.
After the cooldown and stretch, everyone complained about how their abs were already sore and then thanked Chase for the workout in the same breath.
Gym Rats were so weird, and he loved them so much.
Eventually, it was only him and Tobias left in the gym, Tobias standing at the computer double checking the schedule for the rest of the day.
Once all of the equipment was neatly stacked on the shelves, Chase walked up to Tobias.
“You made everyone look bad today. Maybe Cole was right about you being a robot,” he joked.
Tobias smirked at him. “Don’t worry, I’m all man.”
“I can tell,” he said as he tried to give him a seductive smile, but Tobias just cleared his throat and turned back to the screen.
“So,” Chase continued, wanting to approach the topic of the NHL but unsure how Tobias would react. He figured quick questions would throw Tobias off the most. “Warmups and cooldowns the rest of the week for me?”
“Yup.”
“And same schedule next week?”
“Yes.”
“We’re off Monday for Christmas?”
“Yeah, we’re off.”
“Do you think you’ll play in the alumni game?”
“I’m not sure, I—” Tobias cut himself off and turned his gaze to Chase. “I mean, um. What?”
“I asked if you’re gonna play in the alumni game. That’s so cool they asked you.”
Chase thought over how this conversation would go and considered every direction it could take, but he never expected this.
Tobias started breathing heavily, his skin paling, his arms trembling, and Chase immediately regretted saying anything.
“Hey, hey, it’s okay, just breathe,” he said, then tried to hold onto Tobias’ arm to help settle him.
It had the opposite effect. Tobias ripped his arm away and ran out of the room, Chase trailing after him.
He wouldn’t be able to catch him if Tobias passed out and fell, but he was hoping he could push him toward a softer surface.
Chase thought Tobias was going to sprint for the parking lot, but he detoured into his office and crashed into his desk chair.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you,” Chase said as entered the office behind him.
He wasn’t sure what else to do as he watched Tobias rip open one of his desk drawers to pull out… yarn?
Tobias started working two knitting needles frantically, creating what might be a blanket.
Chase was stupefied and just stood there gaping at Tobias while he worked.
As the needles twirled in his fingers, Tobias’ stare turned glassy, and Chase heard small murmurs coming from him, too quiet to make out.
He was done standing by watching like a creep. Chase moved around the desk warily and went down on one knee so he could peer up at Tobias.