Page 15 of Not That Ridiculous

“Can you stop that?”

“Sorry. It’s funny.”

I huffed at him but he looked…ugh, he lookedsosweet when he smiled, I didn’t have the heart to tell him off.

“Give it back here,” Kevin said, easing the dumbbell out of my grip. He took the lighter one off Jasper, who was being uncharacteristically quiet, and passed it to me. “Now you do it, and I’ll check you’re using your muscles right.” He put one hand on my waist and the other on my arm, exactly as I had done to him. He squeezed. “Go on, then.”

I did a few sulky reps, and scowled when they both made a big fuss.

“Yes, Charlie!” Jasper said. “ You nailed it.Woo!”

“If you’re going to startwooingat me,” I told him, “I’m leaving and I’m never coming back.”

He and Kevin laughed.

They thought I was joking.

“Don’t go,” Kevin said. I nearly swallowed my tongue when he hooked an arm around my neck, turned me, and hauled me in the direction of the squat rack. “We’ve got to work on your flat little butt next.”

“It isnotflat.” And what was all thiswebusiness?

Kevin released my neck, but only to grab my hips and push me ahead a step to get a good look.

“Do you mind?” I reached behind me and swatted at him.

He paid no attention, his big hands on my hips holding me firmly in place. “Yeah, I reckon you can lift it with a good squatting routine,” he said confidently.

“Liftit? I?—”

I did not need a butt lift.

“What d’you think, Jasper?” Kevin said.

“Good strong legs and glutes are definitely a priority,” Jasper said.

“I have perfectly efficient legs and an absolutely adequate arse, thank you very much. They’ve served me well enough for thirty-one years and I’m sure will continue to do so for another thirty-one. And weren’t there other exercises I was supposed to do first?” For some reason it seemed imperative to stop Kevin thinking about my arse. “Deadlifts and Russian twists or whatever? Actually, you know what? I’ve got plenty of other things I should be doing. Time is ticking on. I should probably call it a day.”

“Oh.” Kevin was still holding me. In the mirror, I saw his smile fade.

Wow. You could see the happiness drain away.

My god. I was a monster.

I just didn’t think I could keep it together if Kevin dropped into a squat and Jasper made me get in close to feel up his bum and really get an idea of the muscle groups. I wouldn’t have even considered it a possibility before I set foot in the gym, but having spent the last ten minutes dutifully feeling up his arm and his abs as he did bicep curls, who knew?

“Or…” I said reluctantly. Kevin brightened. Shit. “Or I could probably fit in a few more minutes.”

“You can?” Jasper said.

I chewed my lip, not at all sure I was making the right decision here. “Mm-hmm.”

“Great! If you’re a bit tight for time, we can save the squats for another day.”

“Aw,” Kevin said.

Yes. Squats were his favourite. I had a feeling they would be my undoing.

I jumped on it. “Yes, I can go for another ten minutes. Show me the moves, and then I can buy some weights of my own, and do it at home.”

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