Page 26 of Marc

Now, I could be making it up in my mind, but it seems like she always spends more time when it is just me.

Looking to the side towards the couches, I see there are a couple of other models ready to take my place- Kelly being one of them. It looks like Staci will be here for a while.

Disappointment takes over as I realize I have no reason to stay late today. If I go home, I will just be reminded of last night.

Following Staci back to her computer, I whisper to her, “Call me later.”

She gives me a slight nod before grinning. I don’t want to monopolize her time, but I do want to make sure she is safe.

Adam walks out of the shower as I walk into theone next to him. Not caring that the water is cooler than I prefer, I step under the stream and stretch my neck from side to side.

A very loud and satisfying crack echoes off the wall.

I squirt some of the body wash that Staci provides into the palm of my hand and wash off the oil. It takes two full washes to get it all off, but eventually I am oil free and smelling like the mango body wash.

If I take a longer than usual shower and spend a few extra minutes getting dressed, then Staci will be closer to getting off work.

What is wrong with me?

Why am I suddenly wanting to spend all my time with Staci?

Is it because I’m worried about her ex-husband showing up again or because we kissed last night?

Maybe it’s because we are in a fake relationship and I want to play the part.

I dry off and change into my gym clothes. It will be good to get in an extra workout and burn some of this emotion off.

Staci is still photographing Kelly when I come out of the shower.

“Lean back a hair and raise your chin.”

Kelly is lucky he got Staci as his first photographer because anyone else would say he’s a lost cause and never give him another chance.

He reminds me a lot of myself when I first got into bulking up. He needs to put on a good fifteento twenty pounds of pure muscle if he wants to get more gigs.

I could offer to help, but I don’t think I’ll have much down time in the upcoming weeks with Staci’s ex-husband poking his nose around here.

If I knew Staci wouldn’t feel betrayed, I’d file a complaint to the police, but she’s an independent woman and I don’t want her to feel like I am making choices for her.

Especially if those choices make things with her ex-husband worse.

The only thing I can do is to hang around here as much as possible and to continue supporting her in any way that she will allow.

Turning around, I walk over to the racks of swim suits and hang up my swim trunks and the matching button-up shirt.

When Staci takes a break to look at Kelly’s pictures on her computer, she glances my way and waves.

“Bye, Marc. Enjoy your weekend.”

Am I not going to see Staci this weekend?

Does she have plans?

Confused by her statement, I give Kelly a small head nod and yell, “See you guys later.”

I wave bye to Kat and head out the back door to the parking lot.

Sitting in my car, I blast the air conditioning and wait for the hot air to turn cool as I debate if I really want to go to the gym right now.

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