Page 17 of Not That Ridiculous

I admired that.

It seemed like a valuable life skill.

And then other times, like right now, I got suspicious.

He wasn’t innocently asking the wrong thing, blundering his way through a social situation and oblivious to it. He was doing it on purpose. He was perfectly aware of the fact I was trying to ignore his question, and he wasn’t having it.

“Yes,” I said. “You were wonderful. Tender yet firm. Next time you come into The Chipped Cup, I’ll give you an extra cookie as a little thank you.”

“Ooh. Oatmeal and cranberry, please. The kind where half of it is dipped in chocolate.” He set the weight down and rose lithely to his feet. He stuck out a hand.

I took it and he tugged me up, laughing and catching my hips to steady me when I stumbled against him.

Jasper cleared his throat. “Um. Charlie. Don’t be mad. That scheduling issue? I have to cover Mel’s yoga class this morning because she needs to take her little boy to the doctor’s. It starts in about ten minutes, and I have a class of my own scheduled right after. I’m sorry, but I can’t drive you home.”

I knew I should have driven myself and not fallen into old habits of letting Jasper get his way with a bit of wheedling and a big smile.

“It’s fine,” I said. “I’ll catch the bus. Or walk. It’s a nice day.”

Not quite nice enough for an hour and a half’s impromptu hike, which is how long it would probably take me. The gym was outside Chipping Fairford and I lived on the other side of town.

“Nah,” Kevin said. “I’ll drive you.”

“Oh. No. I couldn’t possibly ask?—”

“S’all right, Charlie. You didn’t ask. I’m offering.”

Of course he was.

“Okay,” I said, because I couldn’t think how to say no without offending him. And, sure. Kevin probably wouldn’t be all that offended. Unfortunately for me, while I had zero problem saying no to everyone else in the world—very much enjoyed it, in fact—when it came to the men I loved, I was a complete pushover. “Thanks, Kevin. That’d be so great.”

He puffed up, looking pleased with himself as he racked the weights.

I took the opportunity to glare at Jasper, who had the nerve to wink.

“I’m never coming here again,” I said.

“Oh, you’ll be back. You won’t be able to stay away.”

“I’ve managed blindingly well up to this point, Jasper, I can’t see why?—”

“Kev,” Jasper said. “On the way home, convince Charlie that coming to the gym is good for him and he needs to do it regularly.”

“Yup,” Kevin said, concentrating on getting the weights in the right spaces.

I was doomed.

“You fucker,” I mouthed at Jasper.

“You’re welcome,” he mouthed nonsensically back, and strode off.

I turned to Kevin, who had finished juggling the dumbbells and was giving the squat rack a wistful look. “You want to do some squats before we go?” I asked.

“Yes, I really do. I have my routine, you know. I like to stick to it. It’s good for me. Keeps me calm.”

“I can’t imagine you not being calm. You’re the calmest guy I know.”

“Oh, yeah,” he said. “But I’m talking, like, sexually.”

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