to win over, so, you know… you’re kind of busy.”
“I’m never too busy for my lil bro.”
I snicker. “Your younger bro.”
“Whatever, man. I’ll always be older.”
“I’ll always be taller.”
“Not if I wear heels.”
I crack up laughing, picturing Jake tottering around in heels. “Later, brother. Study hard.”
“See ya.”
Grabbing my keys and water bottle, I head out the door, trying to ignore the pigsty my roommates left the kitchen in last night.
A little mess doesn’t bother me—I can leave rinsed dishes on the counter for a few days—but these guys are gross.
Slamming the door behind me, I head to the gym, figuring I’ll give my body the workout of its life. Anything to help my stupid, dumb-ass brain, right?
Fifteen minutes later I’m walking through the door. Hearing the sounds of people working out always improves my mood. The clang of weights, the grunts of hard-fought sets, the whir of the treadmill; it’s like the endorphins kick in just being here.
The gym I picked is a bit of a dump. Its chipped concrete walls and banged-up equipment would probably put some people off. But everything works, and I don’t need high class to lift weights. The people who come here aren’t interested in a fashion show or trying to get fit to look good. They’re here because they want to get strong and be healthy.
It’s pretty packed at this time of day, people getting in a workout before their day begins. I dump my stuff in an open locker space and smile at a few regulars I know.
Walking past the chest press, I grin. “Hey, Roni. How’s it hanging? Still busting balls in that executive office you call home?”
He finishes his set, then laughs. “You know it, dude.”
I don’t actually know what he does. I just know he walks out of here in a suit and tie. I figure his job is pretty high power since he always has one of those Bluetooth phone things in his ear and he’ll sometimes be having conversations even when he’s working out.
Not sure I’d like anything that intense.
But man, I bet it pays well.
“Hey, if you want to jump in the ring after you’ve warmed up”—he wiggles his eyebrows at me—“I wouldn’t mind finishing with a couple quick rounds. You up for it?”
I glance at the boxing ring in the corner and grin. “You’re on, old man.”
He’s not that old. At least I don’t think he is. I don’t actually know. His short black curls are starting to gray just a little above his ears. That tells me something, but he’s fit and strong and agile, so that tells me something too.
I jump on the treadmill to start my warm-up.
The steady rhythm makes the rock in my stomach feel a little lighter. With each stride, I get one step further away from my problems.
If only I could keep running on this damn treadmill for the rest of the day.
5
An Undercover Solution
The treadmill hums beneath me as I increase my speed one more notch and then turn up the music with the remote.
The little gym on the bottom story of the house is reverberating with music, and I try my best to run off the angst of my shitty day.
I can’t believe Daddy still hasn’t relented. What the hell is his problem?
It’s one stupid letter. The police were here most of yesterday evening going over it. Security will be doubled and everything will be fine. It’s not like the media knows I’m off to college. We’ve managed to keep that very much under wraps. For some reason, Daddy was actually happy to go along with that request. I thought he’d be boasting about how his daughter is going off to get a college degree, but I think he’s a little embarrassed by the university I’ve chosen, so he’s staying quiet.
I roll my eyes. I should be grateful, but I just wish…
Dammit! I hate that my family is famous. Why couldn’t we just be normal?
Why couldn’t my parents have normal jobs and be like all proud that their daughter is heading off to better her life?
But no, nothing I choose is ever good enough, because I’m not interested in becoming rich and being in the spotlight all the time.
They just don’t get it.
But I had zero chance of my dreams coming true, didn’t I?
By the time I was born, my father was already producing movies and my mother was an up-and-coming actress—Nova Abebe. The glamorous Indian/African goddess who was taking Hollywood by storm. Well, she didn’t really storm