Wrapped Up in You - Jill Shalvis Page 0,28
encouragements at them.
“If you want to see results, you’ve got to stay with me!”
Kick-kick-punch.
“If you’re not turning up the tension, you’re only cheating yourself! I promised sweat, let’s see it!”
Kick-kick-punch.
“This is what you came for! The range makes the change!”
Ugh. Kick-kick-punch.
“Make this the best one yet!” Tina hurtled this last comment at Haley, who was drenched in sweat and looking worse for wear.
Haley gave Tina an I’m-trying smile.
“Sugar, hold up a minute.”
Haley stopped and sagged against one of the hanging bags with gratitude.
“You’re wearing a certain . . . glow,” Tina noted.
“It’s dehydration.”
Tina shook her head, studying Haley closely. “No, that’s not it.”
“I’m working my ass off?”
“Still not it.” Tina walked in a slow circle around everyone’s favorite nerdy optometrist. Suddenly, Tina smiled. “You got some.”
Haley opened her mouth and then shut it, her face much redder now. “Um . . .”
Tina grinned and high-fived her.
Then she turned on everyone else. “Okay, your girl here’s slacking cuz she used up all of her good energy in bed last night. You guys are going to pick up her slack. Kick-kick-punch!”
They all groaned and went back to burning calories.
“You slept with Dee?” Ivy whispered to Haley as she punched her bag. “The night of the hike.”
“And the two nights since.” Haley bit her lower lip. “But there’s been very little sleeping involved.”
They all laughed, genuinely thrilled for Haley, who’d had a tough time in the love department. And Ivy loved how blissful Haley looked. She’d never begrudge anyone finding some holiday cheer, never would, but she sure wouldn’t mind some of her own.
With Kel, the guy she’d told they weren’t a “we.”
And she meant it, she reminded herself. You need to let go of the idea of having him in your life.
“Make this your best one yet,” Tina yelled at them. “Especially you, Ivy Snow, you’re slacking.”
She was. Because while Haley had been getting lucky since the hike, all Ivy had been doing was thinking about getting lucky. It was all Kel’s fault. He’d kissed her, really kissed her, and apparently all her brain cells had leaked out.
It was the only explanation she could come up with for why she couldn’t stop thinking about him.
Or the kiss.
She hadn’t seen him since. The night before last she’d taught her once a month cooking class at the rec center, which she did for extra cash. Last night she’d had dinner with Sadie, who’d said Caleb and Kel were up north in Sonoma on a friend’s horse ranch.
Just as well.
She’d lied to him and he’d caught her at it, and while he’d said he understood, she knew he couldn’t really understand at all.
Or forgive.
He wasn’t that guy.
So it was for the best that she not see him again. She just wished . . . hell. She wished it wasn’t for the best.
“Hands up!” Tina yelled. “Bust it out with every ounce you’ve got left, and you’d better have lots of ounces left since we’ve still got twenty more minutes to go.”
Oh goodie. Twenty more minutes. Ivy tried to concentrate, but there was a lot tumbling around in her head, and though she always, always had reasons for doing the things she did, this time she was having trouble remembering why she’d ever thought letting Kel get close was a good idea.
And that kiss . . .
She sighed. Yeah, it’d been her idea, but when he’d teasingly boasted about his skills, she’d dismissed his promises as pure—and stupid—male ego. And then one touch of his mouth and she’d just about forgotten her own name. He’d truly dazzled her.
Only she hadn’t dazzled him quite as much if he’d still been able to keep his wits, enough to call her out on her lies about Brandon.
It was second nature, making up stories. Hiding in plain sight was what had always kept her safe, like when they’d been living just outside of Atlanta through one very hot, humid summer. Her brother—charismatic, charming, and actually very sweet—had been chasing one get-rich scheme or another as always. He had the best of intentions—or he tried anyway—if not a gray moral code. So mostly when Ivy would get home from school, her mom would still be sleeping and she’d be on her own. Truth was, she liked those hours alone best. But that day in particular, being alone had worked against her because when Brandon screwed over his new—and scary—associates, they’d of course come looking for him.
They’d been conning drunks at the pool for weeks. But Brandon had gotten greedy and stupid