Reese

“Go. But after, I want to ask you something, okay?”

He looks serious for a minute, so I rub his arm to reassure him.

“Nothing bad. Promise.”

“Alright.” He pecks my lips and heads back to the ring as I wander to the other side of the gym, where there is a small group of kids being ushered in by the receptionist.

“Hey, Becky, who have you got here?”

“Oh hey, Mal. These guys are from Aconbury House. This is their second time here. Wally was supposed to take them, but his car broke down, so I’m gonna see if Blink is free.”

“That’s okay. I can take them.”

“Really? That would be perfect. Room three is free right now and for the next two hours. Do you need any equipment?”

“Depends. What did Wally cover last time?”

“Breathing techniques.” A pretty girl with dark braids rolls her eyes. She mumbles something else, but I miss it.

“In that case, no props for now.”

“Cool. Just dial if you change your mind, and I’ll bring them to you.”

“Thank you. Oh, could you please tell Blink, that I’ll be late meeting him and Vega? He’s supposed to be grabbing pizza after he showers.”

“You’ve got it.”

I’ve only known Becky a week, but she is one of those people you just can’t help but like. She’s so effortlessly nice, she doesn’t even have to try. It comes naturally to her, unlike me, who has to work on it.

“Have I told you how awesome you are?”

“Not today.” She grins as she walks away.

“Okay, everyone, follow me.”

“Oh, Mamacita, I’ll follow you anywhere.”

I look over my shoulder at the handsome face of a boy on the cusp of becoming a man. God, help the female population when he fills out properly.

“You act like a man, but you’d better be prepared for the consequences.”

“Oh, I’m prepared, baby.” He grabs his junk, making his two friends laugh.

I spin and whip his legs out from under him before bending over and tapping his cheek.

“First rule of being a man. Don’t write checks you can’t cash.”

“I think I’m in love,” he moans.

I laugh. I can’t help it. The kid is nuts. I hold my hand out for him and help him up before carrying on down the hallway to the last room on the left.

“Okay, everyone spread out and find a spot. I want you to be far enough away from each other that you can spin in a circle with your arms out and not touch anyone.”

They all do as I ask, some with more enthusiasm than others, as I watch them from the front of the room.

Taking the hair tie off my wrist, I tug my hair up into a messy ponytail before addressing the room.

“So, my name is Mal. I’d ask you all yours, but I’m horrible at remembering names, so I won’t. Today, I want to check out what your fitness levels are. I don’t want to give you a task only for you to keel over and die. It’s brutal on the insurance.