Chapter 10
SAXON
The weight room at the Long Island facility always smelled like the ghost of yesterday’s sweat had baked into the racks. Music thumped from a speaker Brady had turned on while the HVAC pushed out air cold enough to keep us working hard.
Micah was already prowling a lane on the turf with a resistance band looped over his shoulders, driving his knees high like he meant to hurt the ground. Raiden stretched his hips against a bench and grimaced, giving away that he was still feeling his injury from the Super Bowl.
Sylas rolled a lacrosse ball under his arch with a grunt of pain, and Brady was taping his wrist and checking the clock even though no one was timing anything. Probably watching to make sure he left in time to help his wife put their six-month-old to bed.
Ames lumbered in a few minutes late, carrying a gallon of water and a look that said he planned to hate every second of his workout but would do it anyway.
Even though it technically wasn’t required since preseason workouts hadn’t begun.
A few other guys lingered around the weights or sweated on the cardio equipment.
Our dedication to the game was why we were champions.
I warmed up with bar work—empty steel sliding smooth in my hands, my muscles waking up one groove at a time. We usually didn’t set up workouts for the evening, but I’d cajoled the guys into it so I'd have something to do until it was time to pick up Ivy.
The bar caught the light when I popped it to a front rack and sank into a power clean, my elbows high and feet steady on the platform.
Second set, then third, plates added, my breath tight, drive through.
I felt the week in my legs—the extra miles and the weariness from restless nights.
Since the first time I kissed Ivy, I hadn’t been able to sleep the night through without being woken up from dreams that left me hard and aching.
My phone buzzed on the top of my gym bag. One glance at the name on the screen, and heat moved through my chest that had nothing to do with the workout.
Ivy
Missy tried to ban me from men named “Ethan” and “Todd” because apparently they’re statistically more likely to ask for perms. This is not peer-reviewed.
I didn’t mean to smile, but my mouth cracked into an unfamiliar curve without any effort. I thumbed a reply between sets, my forearms tight and lungs still working.
Me
Tell her I’m starting a petition to ban dudes who say “chop a little off” and then measure the clippings. ?
Another buzz made the corners of my eyes crinkle as I set the bar again.
Ivy
Oh, I already threw a man out of my chair for saying “surprise me.” He looked… surprised.
A huff of a laugh slipped out. I tucked the phone back and loaded the bar again because the plates weren’t going to move themselves.
“Am I hallucinating?" Brady asked from a bench behind me, his voice dry. “Did I just hear Sax laugh?”
Micah looked up like a hunting dog catching a scent and smirked. “Swear to fuck I saw teeth.”
I ignored them and racked the weight.
Sylas was grinning at me like he’d just discovered a new species.
“Someone grab a cross,” he told Micah. “He might be possessed.”
The phone buzzed again while I shook out my hands. I told myself not to look…and looked anyway.
Ivy
Client just asked if I could give him “a Tom Brady.” I told him that style requires a ridiculous jawline, a twelve-step skincare regimen, and a ring collection.
Ivy
He asked if we carried rings.
This one pulled a low chuckle straight out of me. Brady heard it and looked offended on principle as he wiped down the bench. “What are we laughing at? Is it me? It’s me, isn’t it?”
“Always is,” Raiden joked, sliding plates onto a trap bar. “But seriously, the dude smiled twice today. I concur. Must’ve gotten laid.”
Sylas didn’t even look up when he drawled, “How would you know? Last time you had a woman around you, skinny jeans were still socially acceptable. I’m starting to wonder if your virginity grew back like a lizard tail.”
Raiden scowled. “Remind me to truck you in nine-on-seven.”
“Please do,” Sylas replied. “I like it when my cardio happens by accident.”
Micah snorted, then motioned toward the sled. “Powell. You pushing or posing?”
I shot him a glare that could strip paint, set my phone face down, and got behind the slanted handles.
The rest of the workout was just as brutal as the beginning, but it was also invigorating and distracted me from thoughts of Ivy. Not completely, but it helped.
The phone lit again just as I returned a weight to the stand after my last rep. Sweat was dripping from my temples and running in a line down between my shoulder blades, soaking the band of my shirt. I wiped my head, then my palm, on a towel before I picked it up.
Ivy
Lorna says thanks again for lunch the other day. Also, she found my secret stash holding your salted caramel interest over me like blackmail. She keeps humming the Willy Wonka song. I may have to quit.
Me
I can bribe her with brownies next time. Consider your contraband safe.
The heat in my chest moved lower. I saw her smile in my head, imagining it when she read my reply—the way it started in her mouth and finally reached her eyes when she couldn’t hold the reserve anymore.
My body reacted like it always did when I let myself go there, a hard line of want.
It took a lot of effort to put a leash on it because this wasn’t the time or the place.
I stuffed the phone under the strap on my bag and went back to cleaning up.
Once we finished setting everything right, we hit the locker room to shower and change. It hummed with bad jokes and steam that fogged mirrors even though the fans were doing their best to clear the air.
Metal lockers slammed. Tape ripped. Water hammered tile. This was the soundtrack of my life. Or it was before I met Ivy. Now, I couldn’t wait for the sound of her voice to wrap around me.
I toweled off, pulled on a black tee that stuck to my damp shoulders, and scraped my hair back with my fingers until it settled where it belonged.
Another buzz. Anticipation lifted one corner of my lips as I eagerly unlocked the screen. One line this time. But it pushed a bark of laughter out of my mouth, stunning everyone who heard it.
Ivy
Reminder, you promised not to glare at innocent men today. I have witnesses.
I felt my mouth curve even more. It was a good sign when a woman knew your bad habits and teased you about them like she owned the right. I typed back, leaned against the cool locker, and tuned out the noise in the room.
Me
First, I don’t remember making that promise. It doesn’t sound like me. Also…
Me
Define innocent.
Her dots blinked, paused, then blinked again.
Ivy
Men who ask for “just the tips” are fair game. The rest are innocent bystanders.
I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep in another laugh. Apparently, I failed.
“What the fuck?” Cole’s voice suddenly exclaimed. I glanced up to see him walking in the room, his eyes glued to my face. “I’m almost certain I just heard Saxon laugh.”
Raiden smirked from a bench, wrist-deep in his gym bag. “I’ve concluded that he got laid.”
“Bullshit.” Sylas didn’t miss a beat. “Raiden wouldn’t recognize the signs unless they came with a Yelp review.”
Ames grunted from behind his locker door. “Some of us are just here to lift heavy things, children.”
“Definitely about a woman, though,” Brady murmured.
Ames nodded while Cole studied me a little too closely, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. I figured Lorna had spilled the beans to her husband. I just hoped he read the warning in my expression. Ivy was not up for discussion with these idiots. I wasn’t ready to share her yet.
He inclined his head just the tiniest bit, and I released a relieved breath.
“Who is she?” Ames asked.
“Nope,” I muttered. “Not talking about that.”
Micah shut his own locker with his hip and eyed me like a man appreciating a rare astronomical event. “Well, whoever she is, keep her. You’re almost human these days.”
“Fuck off,” I grunted, my typical scowl back in place. “And stay out of my business.”
Raiden shot a glare at Micah, but it was clearly in fun. “Thanks a lot, Micah. You broke him again. Back to the beast.”
Brady zipped his backpack and slung it over one shoulder, looking at me curiously. “You coming to study film tomorrow?”
“I have PR shit to do.” I pulled on a hoodie, the fabric cool against my warm skin. “And a life.”
Cole raised his eyebrows in mock offense. “So this woman you’re obsessed with. Isn’t she—”
My dark, warning glare cut him off mid-sentence, but he grinned, clearly not intimidated.
A couple of the guys made a few more cracks, obviously fishing for information.
I rolled my eyes and grabbed my bag. “You’re worse than a pack of gossiping grandmas,” I told them, my tone even, not unamused.
“We’ll get you put back together again one of these days,” Raiden quipped confidently.
I waved a lazy middle finger over my shoulder, cut through the steam and noise, and pushed out into the corridor. My phone was already in my hand before the door shut behind me.
Me
I’m heading out. You need anything before I swing by?
The reply came quickly enough that I knew she’d been holding the phone.
Ivy
Just your good behavior.
Me
No promises.
Ivy
I’ll allow one glare. Two if he deserves it.
Me
And how do I know what your criteria are?
Ivy
You’ll know.
I slid the phone into my pocket and let the smile sit where no one could see it. I didn’t think about the guys anymore. My mind was filled with Ivy.
It didn’t matter what she was doing. I wanted to be with her.