Gym Junkie

“But you’re not travelling, Tully,” she interrupts.

“I’ve done four trips.”

“That you could have done with Simon.”

“I didn’t want to lose my job.” I frown.

“Bullshit. You didn’t want to be with Simon. You’re just too fucking gutless to admit it to yourself and break up with him.”

My mouth falls open. “I am not.” I glance at Rourke. “Am I, Rourke?”

He winces again. “Having lunch with you two today was a bad idea.” He gestures between Callie and I. “Too much progesterone or some shit going on here. It’s like a fucking Tampax ad.”

“I love Simon,” I declare. “I’ve loved Simon since I was fifteen years old.”

“I’m not saying you don’t. But you’re not in love with him anymore, are you?”

I narrow my eyes. “Don’t take your PMT out on me.”

“You know what?” Callie snaps. “You piss me off. Stop playing the victim here. What did you expect Brock to say when you told him you were going back to another man?”

“He said we were casual,” I say defensively.

“Well, it’s obviously not, is it? Because he would have stayed and had sex with you if he didn’t have feelings with you. The fact that he left angry means that you hurt his feelings.”

Shit.

I sit back in my chair, annoyed as our lunch arrives at the table.

“You know, Tully, as I see it, you have two choices. You can be with a man because you feel like it’s expected of you, or you can be with another man because you want to actually be with him.”

I stare at her flatly as her words roll around in my head.

“I know you always thought you were going to end up with Simon, Tully. Everybody did.”

My eyes tear up. “Simon is perfect,” I whisper.

“I know, but you need to listen to your gut when it comes to love. Everything is not black and white. Simon is perfect on paper but is he perfect for you?”

I drop my head. “I just don’t know anymore.”

Callie throws the first of her greasy chips in her mouth. “Well, you better work it out quick or you’re going to fuck up any chance you ever had with Brock… or Simon, for that matter.”

I shrug and look over to Rourke who has choosen to stay silent. Wise man.

Callie continues on her rant. “How do we even know that Simon is going to come back the same Simon? He’s sleeping with other people, too. He’s going to be different, Tully.”

I stare at her. I hadn’t even thought of that.

“You’re different now, and whether you choose to believe it or not, sleeping with Brock has changed you. Simon might not like the new you, either.”

God, this really is a mess.

“You and Simon together just has too many ‘what ifs’, if you ask me.” She shrugs casually and pops another fry in her mouth.

I exhale heavily and pick up my knife and fork. “This lunch date is depressing.” I sigh.

“I second that notion,” Rourke mutters as he chews his food. “It’s given me fucking PMT, too.”

BROCK

“Got a minute?” Ben asks with a knock on the door.

I look up from what I’m doing. “What’s up?”

“We’ve done a complete search of all bank accounts of Chancellor.”

“What did you find?”

“There is a lot more money missing than we first thought.”

“How much?”

“Three million over the last eight months seems to have mysteriously gone walkabout.”

“What do you mean? How does that much money go missing and nobody has picked it up before?” I scowl. That doesn’t seem right.

“He’s been selling stocks and shares that were in his company’s name, and then he withdrew the funds but never deposited them anywhere.”

I swing on my chair, my eyes hold Ben’s. “The plot thickens.”

“I know.”

“Let’s see what Jes comes up with today.” I turn back to my computer. Ben remains in the chair, forcing me to glance up. “What?”

“Nothing.”

I turn back to my computer and get to work, but I can feel him watching me still, so I lift my eyes to him again. “What?”

He shrugs.

My phone begins to dance across my desk, the name Tully Pocket lighting up the screen. I push reject and push the phone back across the desk.

“You’re not taking her calls?” He frowns.

I keep my eyes on my monitor and type. “Yeah, that’s done with.”

“Why?”

“She’s got a boyfriend.”

Ben stares at me. I glance back up.

“So, she was fucking you behind her boyfriend’s back?” he asks.

“No. She has an ex who she’s already told me she is is going back to,” I tell him, sounding bored as I keep typing.

“And you’re going to just let her go?” He frowns.

“Yeah, I am actually.”

Ben raises his eyebrows.

“What?” I snap.

“You like this girl, Brock. Why don’t you fight for her? You fight for fucking everything else. I’ve seen you want blood over a fucking parking space.”

“Because I don’t want to promise her something I can’t deliver.” I exhale heavily as I swivel on my chair. “I’m letting her go because I do like her.”