Page 46 of Falling For You
I’m hovering outside Mike’s boot camp class like a little bitch. Mainly because I can’t concentrate on looking over the financials because I’m going out of my damn mind.
Thelma stopped taking boxing lessons with me. I got a text saying she wanted to try yoga. It fucking killed me, but I texted back the Dynamo yoga class schedule.
Renee said she took one class, made it halfway through, and bailed. That was two weeks ago. I’ve checked. She hasn’t been back to Dynamo since. Is it because she doesn’t want to see me? Has she found another gym? Is it wherever that fucker Quinn boxes? He had professional training. Maybe he’s taken her to his gym.
I haven’t seen Thelma in two weeks, I’m jonesing hard for her, and I’m going out of my mind with worry. Is she okay? Is she doing better than I am?
That’s not that hard – I haven’t been able to concentrate on much since Thelma broke things off with me. I keep going over every stupid thing I said. Like that I didn’t want to date her. I’m in love with her. Of course I want to date her. How could I have been so damn blind not to see that?
I hear Mike end the session through the open door, and chattering breaks out as people begin to grab their bags. Holly Rampwood, looking incredible in hot pink, flashes me a grin as she dashes past.
“Hi, Jimmy! Can’t stop, gotta pee!”
Shit. But also not the worst thing. I slide into the room, nodding to Mike as he glances over, speaking to some clients. I wave him off, beelining for Artie Rampwood, who is bending, collecting his and Holly’s bags.
“Hey, man.”
Artie straightens, grinning at me as he slings both bags over his shoulder.
“Hey. It’s been a while.”
“I’m sure you’re glad to have Mike back.”
Artie chuckles. “He is less of a punishing instructor, so I’m not exactly complaining.”
“Aren’t you here to be pushed hard?”
“Uh, no. I’m here because Holly wanted to do more things together, and I preferred a boot camp over cooking classes.”
Okay then. I should get to the point. Shoving my hands into my pockets, I offer Artie a smile.
“Listen, Thelma hasn’t been around recently. I wanted to check in and make sure everything is okay?”
Artie blinks in surprise, looking awkward. “Uh, yeah. She’s taking some time out of Seattle with everything going on.”
My heart sinks. Everything that’s going on? I drove her out of the city. Fuck.
“I hope she’s okay.” It’s a pathetic sentiment, but I’m unsure what else to say. Artie wrinkles his nose, shaking his head slowly.
“Well, if I were getting anonymous death threats, I wouldn’t be okay, but Thelma’s made of tougher stuff.”
Uh…what? What the fuck did he say? My heart is pounding in my chest now.
“Death threats?”
Artie blinks in surprise, his eyebrows shooting up. “Yeah. Didn’t you wonder why she suddenly had a bodyguard coming to all her sessions?”
Everything is starting to fall into place. Holy shit. I fucked things up.Bad.
“Quinn was her bodyguard?”
“Yeah. What, did Thelma tell you he was her friend? She can be weirdly private like that.” Artie rolls his eyes, shaking his head.
“She only said he was staying with her.”
“Well, the Rothwell Agency offers a 24/7 service, so yeah, he’s her shadow until the police sort all this out.”
Fuck me. Death threats. A live-in bodyguard. And she had to deal with me acting like a fucking idiot. No wonder she told me to get the hell out. I would have punched myself in the face. Squinting at Artie, I grimace. I might still get hit in the face.