His reply makes me smile. Pretty sure I’ll never forget it as long as I live.
Wish I could slip out and meet you there now.
Tonight. It’s a date. We can reenact.
At that moment, Jim walks behind the counter and pulls out the canisters of protein mix. He always eats when he’s bored.
“Dude, it’s supposed to be a big, full harvest moon tonight. Want to meet up with Sally and me and watch it?”
Chewing my lip, I realize I’ve lost track of the moon these past few days. “I don’t know…”
“That’s okay. I’m sure you and Koa have plans.”
“Actually, it’s Thursday night.” I look down at my phone. “Dylan’s back, and you know. Dinner.”
“With that Hayden guy?” He’s all wide-eyed confusion. “I thought that now… well… You know, with Koa and all. You’re not still dating that guy?”
“We were never dating,” I snap. “Still, what Dylan wants, Dylan gets.”
Not that I like it at all.
I realize Koa’s waiting for my answer, and I quickly text, Rain check until tomorrow night. Okay?
He doesn’t answer right away, and the bell over the door rings. The young mother I’ve been training the last month enters pushing a stroller. Her hair is flying out around her face, and she seems overwhelmed.
“I’m sorry, Mercy,” she says, leaning down to pull her baby out of the stroller. The little girl is screaming, and a bad smell wafts toward us from her. “It must be a full moon or something because Tanya has been especially active today.”
“Dude, that baby pooped.” Jim’s holding his nose, and I fight back my gag reflex.
“It’s okay,” I say, waving to her from behind the bar. “We can reschedule your session.”
“You won’t charge me?” She looks like she might cry. “Thank you so much! The sitter didn’t show up, and Tanya wouldn’t go down for a nap. I think she’s getting sick. If she has another ear infection—”
“Of course I won’t charge you.” Rounding the bar, I touch her arm, guiding her to the door. “Head on home and try to nap with her. Isn’t that what they say? Nap when the baby naps?”
“Oh my god, that’s the only time I can get anything done!”
No wonder she’s always exhausted. “Just do what you can and call me when you’re ready.”
She’s out the door, and I internally shiver. Thank goodness shifters don’t get pregnant so easily. Walking back to Jim, I can tell he’s onto me.
“Some babies are really tough,” he says. I don’t answer, and he keeps going. “Then others are really easy. I guess you never can tell what kind you’ll get.”
“The best thing is to make sure you’re ready before getting pregnant.”
It isn’t long before my next client shows up to train, and the remainder of the day passes pretty quickly. I’m in the weight room, restacking the dumbbells when large hands span my waist from behind.
“I’ve been thinking about that damn meadow all day thanks to you.” The low voice behind me tightens every muscle in my core. Turning, I’m captured by his green eyes. Dammit, Koa is so sexy. He lights me up in all the right places.
I smile and put the dumbbells I’m holding on the rack before returning to him. “It was slow earlier this afternoon.”
“So we meeting up later in the forest?” That grin on his lips makes my knees weak, but I fight it.
“Something came up,” I lie. I hate lying to him, but I can’t tell him the real reason I need to postpone. It feels too presumptuous. “You didn’t see my text?”
His brow knits, and he pulls out the small black phone. “Shit. I didn’t see that. Rain check? Really?”
We’re heading back to the front when I hear the little bell above the door ring. Jim’s behind the juice bar, and his comment makes my stomach sink.