Page 98 of Because of Blake
“What?” she asks.
I blink repeatedly at her. “Wondering to what I owe the pleasure of your company?”
With an eye roll and exasperated sigh, she crosses the kitchen to the fridge. “Do we have any Coke?”
“I think there’s a couple in the back. How was school?”
“Fine. No major news. When’s Blake coming over?”
My breath catches, and I chew on the inside of my cheek. “After he gets done with work. He’s bringing pizza.”
“Of course he is.” Sydney turns around and pops the soda can open. “You okay, Mom?”
No.“Yeah, I’m fine, sweetheart.”
Sydney eyeballs me with suspicion. “Are you sure?”
Who needs a lie detector with a thirteen-year-old like this? “I’m fine.”
“If you don’t want Blake to come over, you need to tell him.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “When did I say I don’t want him coming over?”
“You may not have said the words, but your body language is obvs. Tell him now, but explain why, too.” She takes a sip of her Coke and leaves the room.
She’s right. I should tell Blake what’s going on. He’ll understand, I know it. I pull my phone out to call him, but stop before my fingers tap the screen.
No.I ball my fist, my nails pressing into my palm. If I call him, he’ll want to know why I’ve changed my mind. Then, I’ll either be lying to him or having a heavy conversation, which really needs to be done in person.
But am I ready for this conversation? If he comes over, I’ll no doubt have to have it.
What I need is some space to figure this out on my own, but I can’t with Blake always around. If I tell him all this, though, he’ll want to help. It’s admirable of him, but it’s my baggage, not his.
Rule number two, Maggie,Blake’s deep voices echoes in my mind.
With a frustrated groan, I run my hands over my hair. This isn’t getting me anywhere. I need to clear my head.
I change into my workout clothes, lace up my shoes, and go to the basement. Dylan isn’t happy about me kicking him and his friend out, but they agree to find something else to do until I’m done. I open up my exercise streaming app and skip the yoga videos.
I need something more intense.
Yoga is great for releasing tension, but I have a cannonball of stress sitting in my gut and I need it gone. I choose a workout combining cardio and weights. It’s a forty-five-minute video, and at the thirty-five minute mark, the trainer has us do what they call “man-makers.” It’s a combination of a push-up and burpee with a renegade row and an overhead weighted press. Normally, I use ten-pound weights, but the fifteens call my name.
As I finish the final rep, my shoulders killing me, the trainer goes into the cool-down. I hear a noise on the stairs. Assuming it’s Dylan, I go into the cool-down without looking.
“Holy shit, that was intense.” Blake’s deep voice startles me.
I whip my head up to meet his wide eyes. “Blake? What are you doing here?” I ask, breathlessly. “And how did you get in?”
“It’s Friday. I left my assistant manager in charge so I could take off early. One of the perks of owning the company.” He shrugs and steps closer. “Sydney let me in. I thought you did yoga?”
“I do. When I need to clear my head.” I step back into the cool-down move. “Yoga is good for relaxation.”
“And what was the crazy shit you were just doing for?”
I grit my teeth. “For releasing stress.”
Blake takes a seat on the couch behind me. “What are you stressed about?”