Unwrapping Holly

“The gym, yes,” said Lincoln. “The lease doesn’t get signed until Thursday, but the preliminaries are all taken care of and the building is ours.” He cleared his throat. “I mean… yours.”

I was enraptured, watching it all sink in. Seeing the expressions on all three of their faces as reality took hold.

“Is—”

“Yes, this is the place on 5th street. Yes, Holly told me about it. And yes, I’m doing it no matter what you say, so don’t even tell me you don’t want in.”

Lincoln reached out and slipped an arm around me. It felt amazing as he pulled me close. “Beats the shit out of a laundromat or a car wash,” he said. “Doesn’t it?”

I nodded happily, but my eyes were locked on Donovan. He was still looking at the key. Turning it over and over in his hand.

“I have three different equipment vendors coming in next week,” said Lincoln. “Architect is Monday, builders after the New Year. You can sink whatever you have into this, I’ll take care of the rest of the initial investment.”

Donovan finally looked up. His expression was one of total and complete disbelief.

“P—Partners?”

“For now,” Lincoln shrugged. “Until you buy me out, at least. Shouldn’t be too long, considering the location and the space. Personally, I think it’s going to be wildly successful. Between you bringing in your client base, my marketing skills… maybe some Crossfit or spin classes or—”

Donovan shot forward, and

Lincoln was knocked backward by his sudden embrace. They hugged for a long time, a really long time, while Brody and I just grinned at each other.

“You have no idea what this means to me,” Donovan said at last. His voice was heavy, and shaking with emotion. “I’m going to— I mean, we’re going to do the most fantastic—”

“I know bro,” Lincoln interjected, ending the hug with two bear-sized pats on the back. “I know.”

Suddenly something flashed through the air, and landed in Brody’s lap. It was another key. A set of keys, on a small ring.

“Who the hell are you?” Brody gasped. “The keymaster?”

“Those are for your new place,” Lincoln said, as if it were nothing. He jerked his head at Donovan. “Both of you, if you want to risk living together.”

I’d known about the gym. It was all Lincoln’s idea, based on what I’d told him about Donovan, and his need for investments anyway.

But this… this I hadn’t known about.

“I’m not taking a new apartment from you,” said Brody with a hesitant laugh. “It’s just way too muc—”

“You will if it’s part of the building,” said Lincoln. “The floor above the gym is zoned residential only. And since we already have the lease… we may as well make use of it.”

For a long moment, no one spoke.

“That floor is already done,” said Lincoln. “It’s a big loft. Two baths, open kitchen.” He shrugged with one shoulder. “I figured one or both of you moves in there, and any rent you pay goes directly into the gym. You’re living above the place you work, so it cuts your commute down to about fifteen seconds.”

Brody’s face lit up. “I could work the front desk,” he smiled. “I need a job anyway!”

“You could,” said Lincoln. “And you could also get away from your psycho ex. Two birds, one stone.”

“Andrea,” he agreed. “Can’t wait. I’m on borrowed time at my place as it is.”

“About that…” I broke in, using my sing-songy voice.

Moving together, all heads turned toward me.

“You might have a little more borrowed time than you realize,” I said. “Andrea and I… well, we sort of worked some things out.”

Brody’s face drained to a sickly shade of pale white. It was all I could do not to laugh.