the machine, feeling the burn in her shins. A punishment for her actions.
On the stationary bike next to her, Selena’s legs barely rotated as she flipped through a recent celebrity news magazine. “Do you think Brad and Jen are ever going to wake up and realize they are meant to be together?”
Leslie didn’t care, even if she knew who Brad and Jen were. She had her own issues at the moment.
“I mean the whole Angie thing was just sexual chemistry.”
More flipping. Less pedaling.
How the woman stayed in shape was a mystery. Her workout routines with her trainer were more gossip session than sweat. Had to be her young metabolism...and diet. Leslie could easily keep the weight off by eating healthy alone, but she liked to feel strong, powerful... She loved how having muscles made her feel overall.
That’s it. Think about the workout. Focus on breathing and sweating...
“Speaking of sexual chemistry...” Selena said, “there was a shit ton last night at the bar.”
Leslie tripped and grabbed the handles of the treadmill before she could fall on her face. “What are you talking about? I told you Levi and I are just old friends.” With a history, with a past, with shared trauma and now a passionate...regrettable kiss between them.
Selena looked at her like she was dense. “I was talking about me and him.”
“Oh.”
“Think he’d have dinner with me?”
“We’re not here on a vacation.” She wasn’t jealous of the idea. It was just dumb. They weren’t there to have fun, they were there to keep her alive. And if Leslie wasn’t enjoying herself, why should Selena?
“But we are stuck here, right? Might as well make the most of it.” She climbed off the bike and headed toward the sauna.
Leslie didn’t answer. It didn’t matter. Selena could ask Levi out, but he’d never say yes. Selena was too young for him and not his type.
Levi preferred strong, sturdy, practical women.
A flash of the expression on his face when he was holding her, right before she kissed him, replayed in her mind. It was that look that had ultimately gotten to her. Pure, raw attraction mixed with hurt and yearning. It had terrified her, then intrigued her, then made her jump off the deep end by throwing herself at him.
Stopping the treadmill, she got off and checked on Selena before heading to the showers. The star was asleep in the sauna.
But when Leslie reemerged ten minutes later, she heard her talking to someone. Her heart raced as she listened. Was there someone else in the workout room? She peeked around the shower room door to see Selena casually curling a two-pound dumbbell with Leslie’s cell phone to her ear.
What the...?
Damn it! She’d left her phone unattended on the treadmill. How the hell had Selena even unlocked it and who had she called? Grabbing a towel quickly, she nearly fell on the wet, slippery floor as she hurried toward her. “Who are you talking to?” she said, reaching for the phone.
Selena swiped her hand away and shot her a look. “It’s your brother,” she said.
Eddie? He must have called and Selena answered. Leslie’s shoulders sagged in relief. That was better. At least it wasn’t anyone from LA.
“Yeah, we can totally be there for then... Leslie’s just finishing a workout so hopefully runner’s high is a thing,” she said, laughing into the phone.
Seriously?
“I know, right?” she said.
“What did he just say about me?” she asked, annoyed at Selena for chumming it up with everyone and annoyed at herself for giving a shit. She reached for the phone again. “Give it to me.”
Selena pulled it away. “Okay...see you then,” she said, disconnecting the call before handing the phone to Leslie.
“What was that about?”
“We were invited to lunch,” she said, setting the two-pound weight back down in the wrong spot.
Leslie sighed. “Fine.” There were far worse ways to spend the day than hanging out with Eddie.
“It’s at your mom’s house,” Selena said.
Right there. That was the worst way.
* * *
LEVI PUNCHED THE button for the elevator and fought the feeling of drowsiness washing over him. Zero sleep the night before, his overthinking was on autopilot.
That kiss had him all kinds of messed up. He’d wanted Leslie to open up. He’d wanted his friend back. If he was being completely truthful, he wanted her. Especially after that kiss. He knew what was driving it, but what if there was more? He’d felt all her emotions spiraling out of control, but there definitely had been passion and attraction in her