Say what now?
“Oh no. Whatever you’re thinking, you can just stop it, girl. Max and I will never be a thing. I’m good with that. I’ve come to terms with it. Don’t you be getting involved. We don’t need interference, thank you very much.” I end on a regal nod.
But her smile turns into a grin. “Who said anything about interfering? I was thinking more of showing him what’s been in his face the entire time.”
I grunt and roll my eyes. “He doesn’t care. That’s the point. He doesn’t want me, Flick.”
Her smile doesn’t falter as she utters, “We’ll see about that.”
If the sinking feeling in my gut is anything to go by, I’m in serious trouble.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Helena
“Okay,” I huff and puff alongside Ceecee, “tug-of-war is a hardcore workout.” Wiping sweat from my brow, I mutter, “We’ll only do it every now and again.”
Ceecee slumps in her chair, equally as sweaty as I am. “I thought you said we were doing light sessions?”
I place my fingers on my pulse to measure out my heart rate and pant, “This was light.”
She mock-sobs. “I feel like I’m dying.”
How adorable is this child? A laugh is forced from my throat as I throw her a towel and hand her a bottle of water. “You know why it feels like you’re dying, young grasshopper?”
Opening her water, she mumbles an annoyed, “Why?”
Needing to make a point, I kneel in front of her, hold out my hands, and near-yell, “Because you stopped exercising!” As she pouts, I explain, “Your body is in shock right now, because you haven’t done this for months. Do you remember how you used to feel after you exercised? I’ll bet you barely broke a sweat.”
Looking at my face, she eyes my sweatiness and retorts, “Oh yeah? What’s your excuse?”
Secretly loving the smartass side of her, I don’t skip a beat. “A love of cupcakes and a sofa that is way too comfy for my own good.” Standing, I smile down at her and hold out my hand. She slaps her hand over mine in a weak high-five and I gloat, “I’m proud of you. You pushed yourself today. I saw it. I felt it. You’re ready to get back into this.” As we walk side-by-side, I warn her, “Just so you know, you’re going to be sore tomorrow.” She groans, but I speak over her, “Which is why we’re doing another session tomorrow. Lighter than today, but we have to push past that barrier.” She looks up at me like I have to be joking, but I shake my head. “Sorry, angel face. You can give me those pretty eyes as much as you like, but this is happening. We made a deal.”
She wheels herself along and mutters under her breath, “Is it too late to take it back?”
Smiling, I wrap an arm around her shoulders and pull her close. “Sure is, honey pie. We’re in this for the long haul.”
I am.
I definitely am.
***
Helena
I knew I was in trouble the second Felicity invited herself over to my place to get ready for our Saturday night out. So when she showed up with a suitcase, I probably shouldn’t have been surprised.
I mean, I was. But I shouldn’t have been.
With Tedwood attacking my ankle, I held the door open for her. As she made her way in, she looked around my apartment and whistled long and low. “Shit. You’ve been holding out on me, girl. I didn’t know you had money.”
Looking around my apartment in confusion, I asked, “I’m broke as a joke. Why the heck would you think I’ve got money?”
Eyes narrowed, she asked, “How’d you get this place?”
“My sister and her husband own the building.”
An ah-now-I-get-it expression hits her face. Eyeing my bookcase, she asked cautiously, “How much are you paying rent?”