Royce plants a kiss on my cheek. “Saturday, I won’t forget.”
I can’t help but blush as his lips brush across my skin. I’ve got to talk
to Tiffany, before I make a mistake like calling Royce back over here before he walks out of the garage and back into my heart.
I go to work unable to concentrate.
Inside, Royce is working out and keeps smiling at me. I have to keep avoiding his eyes. In recent months he’s been avoiding me too. I don’t get why there is a sudden change in him.
I check the dance studio and make sure all the yoga mats are rolled up and out of way for the next class. As I work, I can’t stop thinking about Royce and what he said. I don’t know if I am ready to take him back. It’s so sudden and we’ve not talked about anything. I do know that I don’t want anyone else on the receiving end of his smiles though. I see that whore Sash trying to talk to him, but he is walking away from her. Good.
The thought of the women he’s been with since we split pisses me off and ruins my good mood. Why am I good enough for him now, is it because I’m skinny, and will look good on his arm? Is it because I am making a name for myself online? Or could it be that he truly misses me, and loves me still after all this time?
I am dragged from my thoughts by Jay’s wife, Christi.
“Things are pretty slow, why don’t you go stock the locker rooms. Make sure there are plenty of towels. We ran out the other day,” she says with a smirk.
“Sure thing.”
What was that look all about? I brush it off and start stocking the lady’s locker room. I fill the baskets with towels. Checking to make sure the complimentary soap is stocked as well before moving on to the men’s room next. I knock loudly and ask if anyone is in there. Definitely don’t want to get my eyes full. I hate walking into the men’s locker room here, it reeks of dirty socks. No matter what the cleaning service Jay hired does to the room, it has that soured sweat smell.
I proceed in stocking the baskets near the showers, and that’s when I hear a shower cut off. Shit! Someone is in here, they must not have been able to hear me, and I didn’t hear the water over the radio. Turning to run out, I end up hitting the metal baskets, knocking all of the towels onto the floor with a loud clang as the containers follow.
“Bloody hell!” I say a little too loudly. I bend down to pick the towels and the baskets up, when I am met by bare feet right under my nose. I am afraid to look up, never know what member might be staring back at me from this height.
“Brandi, you okay? What are you doing in here?”
My cheeks must be beet red, and it just has to be Royce standing before me. I slowly stand trying to look anywhere but at him or his crotch, where my eyes want to travel at their own free will.
I am going to kill Christi! I get the feeling that this is exactly what that look was about. That bitch has got to stop trying to play matchmaker.
She’s always pulling little stunts trying to fix me up with one of the members. I guess she thinks I should give Royce another shot.
He’s dripping wet. My eyes land on his naked chest. Heat pools between my thighs. Why does he have to look so damn good in his towel? If the cotton was another inch or two shorter I could see everything. Everything I remember being mine, once upon a time.
He even tattooed my name on his chest. Who does that unless they are serious about a person?
My fingers trace the intricate pattern of the star tattoos that cover his upper torso. I never noticed before but on the inside of the first is my name. A tear slips from my eye as I wonder when he did such a thing. He inches down closer to me on the bed and lies down next to me. He takes over guiding my fingers to the next star, “One day these will bear our children’s names.” My fingers are brought to his mouth and the promise of his words sealed by his lips.
I close my eyes attempting to shut out the past, and answer with a clipped “fine!” It comes out a little harsher than I had anticipated, but damn it, I still want to be mad at him. I’m entitled to be. Damn him. I spin on the heels of my feet, darting out the door.
One question still lingers in my mind. Why now?
When I get back to my desk, Chris is grinning ear to ear. I point my accusing finger at her annoying smile. “You!” I shake my head.
“Hey, I don’t know what you are talking about.” She holds up her hands, and flashes a guilty grin at me. To be in her thirties Christi looks like a teenager still. She has pixie cut blonde hair with some low lights. She’s slim, tall, with a nice tan, and blue eyes.
Casually strolling out of the locker room, Royce waves briefly before exiting the building. I flip him the middle finger when he isn’t looking.
Chapter 3
“Come on slacker show me what you got.” Kline dances around me hitting me with playful jabs to the gut.
“Kline, I’m not in the mood to spar with you today. I have a hair appointment and I am getting my nails done before auditions. Do you want to grab lunch with me real quick?”
“Can’t I’ve got another fight this weekend, gotta stay in tip top condition.” He flexes his biceps and kisses one of them after taking a bite off of his banana.
“Suit yourself, I’m starving. What night is the fight again?” A part of me hopes he says it’s been moved so I can get out of Saturday with Royce. Wishful thinking anyway. I would like to talk to him even though I shouldn’t. I know if I’m around him long enough, his sweet words and familiar touch will have me at his mercy. I’m nearly squirming now thinking about his hands on me. It’s been so long since we were last intimate. I guess I should have seen the breakup coming, but I was smitten. He began cutting back on the time he was spending with me. Extended practices. Taking fights outside of Vegas. Phone calls and text messages going ignored for hours sometimes a day.