5. Dexter
Chapter five
Dexter
A fter a fitful night of sleep, I gave up and came to work early. Questions I thought I had long forgotten plagued my mind.
I’m the first one here since it’s two hours before we open at eight. Turning on the lights, I take in the smell of the cleaner that we use to sanitize the equipment combined with the smell of sweat and allow it to settle over my body. That scent has a way of calming me. The gym has always been a safe place for me, even when my dad tried to ruin it.
Since I got here so early, I check to see when my first appointment is. I let out a small huff when I see that it's not until ten. I can't let this time go to waste, I'll take advantage of this time and workout.
Ever since Mateo opened his gym about six years ago, I've always trained here. I fought a lot when I was younger but thankfully, I was able to convince my dad that I was getting too old to fight as often as I had been. He agreed along with his boss at The Wolves as long as I continue to train and fight every few months. Since I stopped fighting as much, I needed more cash. Thankfully, my brother had my back and gave me a job.
After making sure the staff fridge is fully stocked, I grab myself a water and head for the treadmills. I need to get a good run in, try to extract all this turmoil from my head. I plug in my earbuds, place my cardio playlist on, and hope to get lost in the rhythm.
I’m unsuccessful at not thinking about a certain woman, who left me years ago to suddenly reappear last night. My feet pound on the treadmill as I remember Hazel finding me that night beaten and bruised in my house. The way she took care of me. I remember thinking that I was so lucky that my best friend was in love with me and the pain I would endure in my fights wouldn’t be so bad if she was by my side.
With every step I take, anger pulses through my body as I think about the letter she left me that same night. I have it memorized and even though I’ve tried to forget it, the words still stick in my head.
How dare she just show back up ten years later without a word or an explanation. I’ve heard in passing through town members that she’s been home a few times, but I’ve always been able to avoid her.
I made sure to keep my distance from her family too. I didn’t want anything to remind me of her. That all ended though about a year ago, when her sister Ashley insisted that I train her. “Dexter, you are the best and I want the best.”
I gave in after her arguing with me for a few weeks. I couldn’t take it anymore. Thankfully, Ashely only wants to train and doesn’t push me to talk about Hazel. Suddenly, a large hand hits the big red button on the treadmill, and it automatically starts to slow down.
I pull out my earbuds. “What the hell?”
Mateo’s stoic face is staring back at me as I get off the treadmill. “What did you do that for?”
“What are you doing here so early?” He avoids the question like a pro.
I take a sip of my water. “I couldn’t sleep so I decided to come in early to work out.”
“Does this have to do with someone we saw last night?” He growls out as he crosses his arms over his chest.
I narrow my eyes at my older brother as rage courses through my veins. I shove it way down. I don't want him to know how much she affected me.
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“I said no. I don’t want to talk about it,” I growl as I push past him.
“Dexter. What are you going to do?”
“It’s none of your business,” I yell back at him over my shoulder, moving to clean off the treadmill.
“Fine. Don't tell me. Just make sure you know what you're doing if you let her back into your life." He huffs out with exasperation, turns and walks away.
Not wanting to deal, I head back to the locker room to wipe off the sweat from my run and take a moment to breathe. When I return to the main gym area, Mateo has retreated to his office. I busy myself with finishing getting the gym ready to open.
Right at eight our first client walks in, and I greet him as he scans his gym card. “Hey, Taylor.”
“Hey, man. How are you today?”
“Tired.” It's not really a lie, but Taylor and I aren't close enough for me to lay all my problems on him.
“I hear you. I worked late shift last night,” he says as he yawns.
“Was it at least a calm night?"
He chuckles. "Yeah, it was. Perks of being a cop in a small town."
"Trying to get a workout in before you get some sleep?"
“Yeah, if I don’t get it in now, I won’t.”
“Well, I won’t keep you.”
He nods as he walks off to the locker room to change. More people come in and I greet every one of them, answering any questions about the equipment. After a steady stream of gym goers, it’s almost time for my first client to come in. I walk around and make sure everything is cleaned up before I start my appointment.
Right on cue, I hear the door ring telling me it’s time. I head to the front desk to greet my client and Hazel is standing there. She’s dressed in black camo leggings that cling to her as if they’re a second skin. On top she’s just wearing a sports bra that smashes her breasts together and you can’t help but see the perfect swell of them. She is showing off her flat stomach, leaving nothing to the imagination. I hate how good she looks. I hate how she looks like she belongs here.
I round the counter and rush toward her. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to talk to you.”
“Well, I don’t. Leave.” I sidestep her and move toward the computer. I need to check who this appointment is for, there’s no way it’s her.
A determined look comes over her face when she says, “No. I’m here to train with you.”
As she says it, I pull up the schedule and see that it’s for Ashley. Hazel’s sister. Fuck, I knew training her was going to bite me in the ass at some point. I stand up to my full height and slowly walk over to her. She gives an audible gulp as I give her a menacing look. I don’t say anything. What I have to say shouldn’t be heard in public. I grab her arm and drag her to the back room.
“What are you doing?”
I just grunt, because if I start talking to her, I’ll yell, and this is nobody else’s business. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the people who are in the gym staring at us. Nosy bastards. Mateo even steps out of his office and shakes his head at me, before returning.
I push Hazel through the door of the staff room, and she stumbles. “What the fuck, Dexter?”
I grab her by the throat and pin her against the wall right inside the room. “Why are you here, Hazel?”
Her body softens under my touch, and she hangs her head with her next words. “Dexter, I wanted to talk with you. I wanted to explain.”
My body heats with every second we touch. Even though it’s been five years, I can’t help but still feel the draw that has always been there. And even though my brain is telling me that I need to get away from her and that I shouldn’t do anything crazy, my body seems to have other ideas.
Hazel's voice draws me back from my thoughts. “Dex. I’m sorry I didn’t warn you that I was returning home. But my mom needs me.”
A faint thought to ask her why her mom needs her runs through my mind, but all I can really concentrate on is the blood rushing to my cock. The longer I stand here listening to her talk, the more her luscious pink lips call to me.
I can’t stand it anymore. I need to feel her again. I lean down and crash my lips to hers. I try really hard not to think about how she feels so good in my arms.