Milo
I’d told him they could be left there for Ray, since he’s adamant that nobody besides him can touch the dishwasher. He forgets that it’s my home, and I only broke the dishwasher once. It wasn’t my fault the machine had all these fancy buttons I’ve never seen before.
Once is enough for him to hold it over my head for the rest of my life, apparently, and it seems Rowan is already terrified of Ray’s threats—although I’m pretty sure Ray’s use of nobody is only relevant to me—which is why he’s currently washing the dishes by hand, and I’m currently watching him wash said dishes.
I’m sitting on the barstool across from him on the island with my head propped on my hands as I contemplate the rest of my day.
“Well, I need to burn off all the carbs we had last night. That’s first on the agenda, or else I’ll never end up getting to it. Then maybe visit Ethel.”
“Your other BFF.”
He says it as a statement. A fact that he knows to be true, and it catches me off guard.
“Yes, I didn’t expect you to remember that,” I tell him honestly.
“It’s my job to know things about you,” he says gruffly.
I can’t push down the disappointment I feel from his words. Of course, I’m his job, but I thought we were getting closer on a level that is beyond boss and his employee. Something akin to friends, BFFs—fake it until you make it, you know?—or maybe even more.
“Yes, anyway, that’s the plan. Exercise, visit my BFF Ethel, and then let the rest of the evening lead me by the toes,” I say with fake cheer.
I push myself to my feet and play off the cloudy haze of confusing emotions.
I’m used to rejection.
I feel close to people I spend time with and consider them friends, when in reality, we’re just forced together because we’re part of something bigger. Like with the members of MYTHS. Like what I’m doing now with Rowan.
The rejection hurts more coming from Rowan, for some reason.
“Well, let’s go,” Rowan says suddenly.
“Go where?” I ask, genuinely confused.
“To the gym? I thought we were going to exercise?”
I stare at him. “You mean you’re going too? You’re going to exercise with me?”
“Oh, sorry. Am I overstepping? I guess it is a little too much.”
“No, no! I just don’t want to force you to hang out with me more than you already need to. Exercising with me isn’t part of your job, after all,” I mutter.
He shrugs. “I like spending time with you. And I need to hit the gym too, so it’s killing two birds at once.”
I take a moment to let his words sink in. “Say that again.”
“That I need to hit the gym?”
“No, what you said before that,” I urge, happiness already blooming inside of me.
“I like hanging out with you?” he repeats, then clears his throat. “Is that weird?”
“No! Why would it be weird to enjoy hanging out with your BFF?”
Rowan shakes his head, but he’s smiling and looking at me with this soft expression that does something to my insides.
“Well, shall we, then?” he asks and waves in the direction of my gym.
I bounce on my feet as I lead the way to my home gym.
It’s got floor-to-ceiling mirrors on two sides, a giant TV on one wall, and all sorts of gym equipment that Ray had picked out scattered through the room.
Ray is mainly in charge of procuring the equipment because I have no real interest in working out.
This room wouldn’t even exist if I didn’t need to keep in shape for my job, and I refuse to set foot in an actual gym.
“Is this the bike that caused Ray’s unfortunate tumble?” Rowan asks with a smirk.
“Is that another joke? Two in twenty-four hours? This is a miracle!”
Rowan snorts. “Miracle indeed. Or you’re just rubbing off on me.”
I think, for once in my life, I’m left speechless and blushing because now I’m thinking about all the kinds of rubbing I’d love to do to him.
Rowan coughs awkwardly. Either he can read my naughty thoughts, or he realizes how his words could be taken; hopefully, it’s the latter. I mean, people with supernatural powers don’t exist just yet, right?
RIGHT?
“I mean your goblin energy, you being the king of chaos and all,” he clarifies.
“Oh, right,” I reply lamely. I can feel my cheeks heat, but I totally ignore that and add, “Now Ray’s the one rubbing off on you! Better be careful you don’t mention the bike incident around him. He may not look like it, but he has a black belt in Taekwondo.”
“Duly noted,” Rowan replies, amusement flashing in his eyes. “So, what’s on the workout plan for today?”
“There’s an exercise channel I like to follow along with. I’ve been enjoying their jump-rope-focused videos. Oh, you should totally do it with me! Wouldn’t that be fun?”
I fetch the jump ropes hanging from the wall. I’d purchased a set of five the other week, and this will be the first time more than one will be utilized. It’s the first time I’ll have someone besides the virtual person in the video to jump rope with me, and it’ll be Rowan.
I’m excited on all fronts. Rowan must be able to tell, since he silently accepts the jump rope and follows me to the wide-open space in the middle of the room.
“I got you the longest one,” I tell him, then add, “Do you know how to jump rope? Should I show you?”
The idea of teaching and sharing something I enjoy with him is getting me super pumped about this activity.
Rowan meets my eye for a second, then breaks our gaze and clears his throat. “I’ve never really had to before,” he admits, then adds, “I’m not exactly light on my feet.”
“There’s a first time for everything,” I say with a laugh and examine his giant form. “Here, you want to hold the rope like this, then stand up straight with your elbows tucked near your ribs.”
I demonstrate the correct posture, then, with a flick of my wrist, the rope loops around, and I execute what I consider a perfect jump.
Rowan claps, and I take a deep bow with a hand over my chest. “The trick is to keep on the balls of your feet and jump when the rope is in front of you. The best way to learn is to try it, c’mon!”
Rowan looks unsure as he positions the rope around him. He fixes his posture and whips the rope over himself, only for the rope to get tangled in his feet.
“It’s normal to fail the first time. It’s all about timing your jumps, and you’ll get used to that with more practice,” I encourage and demonstrate a few more jumps.
Rowan furrows his brow but gets into the ready position again. He twists his wrists, and this time, successfully manages one jump. I clap hard and cheer him on as he continues to do it twice in a row.
Each jump only has him elevating a couple of inches in the air, but his height and large mass probably don’t help matters. “You ready to try out the workout video? It’s a beginner one, so I think we got this!”
“Sure,” he says, though he doesn’t sound certain at all. I grin, then turn on the video and press play. The man in the video is very excited to be there, probably as excited as I am to be doing this workout with Rowan.
Everything is just more fun when you’re doing it with someone else.
The man does the introduction to his HIIT workout and explains the first cycle, which is just basic jump rope. The timer appears in the corner of the screen, and we both start jumping when the countdown starts.
For it being his first time, Rowan does a good job keeping up.
I’m skipping with ease and watching him out of the corner of my eye.
He’s sexy, that’s undeniable, but I don’t think I fully prepared myself to see him working out.
To see those giant muscles of his strain with each action…
even his long-sleeved shirt can’t hide the sheer power of him.
By the time the alarm sounds, ending the first round, I’m feeling downright warm. Whether it’s from the workout or from watching Rowan is still undecided.
“You’re doing great!” I say when it’s time for the mini break.
“Thanks, I think I’m getting it,” Rowan says with a huge grin, like he’s proud of mastering a skill as inconsequential as this.
He’s adorable, and I’m saved from accidentally blurting that out when the dude on the screen explains our next move. We’re supposed to do some kind of foot tap with each jump. It’s more advanced than basic jump roping.
“You think you can handle some footwork?” I tease Rowan, grinning at him. He grins in response with a determined look in his eyes and nods.
“Should we bet on who can do the most combos? Loser gets lunch.”
A corner of Rowan’s mouth turns up in an uneven smile that’s more perfect than any I’ve seen on the runway.
“You’re on,” he agrees right when the countdown starts again, and we both follow our virtual leader.
We both know I have the advantage, since this is his first time jumping rope, but to be fair, Rowan is clearly more athletic than I am in all sense of the word, so it’s a toss-up on who will actually win the bet.
I quickly get used to the action and glance at my competition. Rowan is completely focused on his moves. His head is down, and he’s watching his feet with the same intensity I’m watching him.
Which is why I don’t realize that with each foot tap, my body is turning and getting closer to where I’m looking: Rowan.
Then it happens. I whip the rope around me one more time, and instead of gliding under my feet like it should have, it tangles with Rowan’s rope. He’s still focused on his feet and doesn’t realize our ropes have caught together until I trip over my feet and fall his way.
“Whoa, there!” he calls and catches me with his large body, but in doing so, our ropes whip together in a tangled mess around us. They tighten around our legs and have Rowan tripping backward.
I instinctively shut my eyes and press my face into his chest. A hint of leather and mint—probably from my body wash—hits my nose, invading my senses as strong arms wrap around me and cushion the fall.
For a second, the world is nothing but leather and the man who has me safely in his arms. It’s so warm and comfortable that I would be okay staying here forever if not for the groans of pain hitting my ears.