3. Sam
Sam
“Some splashes of color would do wonders in this place,” I tell Captain Pike as he leads me to the workout area. Everywhere you look is either black or gray. Not in a cozy way either, but very depressing. I follow behind him like a pesky shadow, never straying more than a step behind him.
“It’s a police department, Miss Rivers, not a spa,” he replies with a hint of sarcasm.
“Your point? You deal with enough gloom throughout the day, why also have a gigantic rain cloud hovering over everyone’s head at the office as well?
And what about the civilians and victims who have to come in here?
Even the air feels heavy and suffocating,” I complain, scrunching my nose before I realize I’m doing it and quickly fix my face, replacing it with a warm smile.
The yoga mat under my arm is starting to feel like a weight, and nerves are making my stomach swish.
I am beyond out of place here. All just to avoid an ex, if you would even consider him that, and so I’m not a liar.
That’s it. From here on out, I need to just tell people to fuck off.
He opens a door, and the smell of rubber and sweat punches me in the nostrils. “Let me know if you need anything.”
My eyes shoot to his. “You’re just going to shove me into this dungeon and leave?” My voice comes out higher than I intended.
“I assure you there will be no shoving involved.” He smirks, putting his hands in the air.
“You really should lead by example, Captain. You expect everyone else to just do this willingly, but you won’t even be there to watch?
” I shake my head and tsk as I walk past him into the dimly lit gym.
I’m used to being in low lighting, but at least I have beauty surrounding me, not concrete and despair.
“Fine,” he grumbles as he steps inside next to me. A smile tugs at my lips. I win. “I can’t stay long, though,” he adds.
A friendly face in the crowd always provides a sense of comfort.
To my surprise, there are quite a few people waiting on me, already laying out mats in front of them.
I let out a breath of relief that I won’t be doing this for nothing in front of a nonexistent crowd or with a group of people who want to strangle me for suggesting this to their boss.
When they all look at me expectantly, my confidence and experience push their way front and center. I stride to the area left empty for me.
“Everyone, this is Miss Rivers,” Pike announces, gesturing to me. “She’s in charge. Listen to her and behave.”
I unroll my mat and grab an extra one from the small pile.
They’re all brand new. He must have bought them today after our session.
I position it next to mine and raise my brow in a challenge.
He slowly walks towards me with his arms crossed.
I sit, cross my legs, and pat the mat next to me until he plops down.
I have to force myself to swallow a laugh.
He’s so large that the mat underneath him practically disappears.
“We’ll start with breathing exercises and then warm up with some simple stretches.
Don’t worry. I will go easy on you since this is our first time.
” I speak loud but calmly. A snicker comes from one of the people who just walked in.
They both look at me over their shoulder, something playful washing over their features as they both appear to study me before disappearing around the wall.
“Should we wait for them?” I look to Pike, who looks less than thrilled to be sitting crisscross applesauce next to me in front of all his officers.
“No. I highly doubt Ki and Ryker will be participating. Although if you can somehow manage to convince them, a raise would most definitely be in your future.”
I’m not even sure what I’m getting paid, but it’s a challenge.
When they reappear, they no longer have their uniforms on, and all of a sudden it is scorching hot in here, and I’m a little insecure.
I’m assuming Ki is the one with caramel-kissed skin, chocolate-brown curly hair in a pile on top of her head, and a pair of white headphones hanging around her neck.
Her physique is a stark contrast to mine.
Where I have lean, hidden muscle from years of yoga and occasional Pilates, hers is defined.
I can count each one of her abs from here.
I don’t think I’ve ever come close to having abs.
My stomach size fluctuates based on how much food I eat that week and how many times I make it to the studio.
There’s about five pounds that come and go, never fully disappearing, much like certain exes.
It’s quite annoying, if you ask me. The black waistband of her undershorts sits above the gray sweats resting low on her hips.
She’s…she makes my pulse quicken, and a blush heats my cheeks when she catches me admiring her.
Ryker is equally gorgeous. They look incredible together, and I wonder if they are partners off-duty as well.
His frame is obviously bulkier and more masculine than hers, and he has tattoos covering both arms and across his chest. His espresso-brown hair, almost black under the low lighting, is messy, with pieces falling across his forehead.
He looks cocky and a little intimidating.
But so does she. Her warm brown eyes catch me staring at her again, and she smirks… yeah, she’s definitely cocky too.
“Would you like to join us?” I ask, and a flicker of amusement flashes across Ryker’s face.
“Not a chance in hell,” he laughs, his eyes skimming over his coworkers currently engaged in the seated windshield wiper exercise, their knees rotating side to side.
“Don’t be afraid,” I tease, taking a stab at his ego.
“It’s okay if you aren’t good at it. You’ll learn.
” Muffled laughter escapes from Pike and a few others.
Ryker shakes his head, a devilish smirk never leaving his lips as he walks towards the bench.
Ki grins at me, her eyes roaming over my face for a moment before standing behind her partner to spot him.
When we get to the cat-cow pose, Pike decides that was when his time was up and he had to take off.
It was going well; the noises coming from those who chose not to join weren’t too bothersome.
Occasional grunts and clangs of weights I can ignore.
When Ryker decides to put his headphones on and run full tilt on the treadmill was where I drew the line.
Challenge accepted. He thinks he is getting back at me, but he’s just being rude to everyone else.
I’m a very nice woman. Too nice sometimes.
Which reminds me that I still need to break up with Xan when I leave here.
But one thing I can’t hold my tongue with is when someone is blatantly being rude for no other reason than to be an asshole.
I fix the position of one of the ladies and then walk straight over to the treadmill, smacking the red lever.
The belt stops abruptly, causing Ryker to fling forward, lose his balance, and have to grab the rails to stop himself from falling.
He yanks his headphones off, but I speak before he has a chance to yell at me.
“Just because your fragile masculinity can’t handle putting your ass in the air to do downward dog doesn’t mean you have to be an asshole and ruin it for everyone else,” I snap at him.
His glare is molten towards me and then his partner, who is dying in a fit of laughter behind me.
I turn around and she is snapping a yoga mat out in front of her dramatically. “You were so close to wiping out,” she pokes fun at him before joining the others, her body still vibrating with laughter.
He shows zero enthusiasm as he walks over to snatch a mat of his own and reluctantly spreads it out next to Ki’s. “You’re such a fucking dick,” he mumbles to her.
Well, that was the strangest way I’ve ever received a raise.