Page 122 of Guys Can't Write Romance
Was it possible that Chad McKenzie, with all his jokes and pranks and apparent carelessness, was actually afraid? And if so, of what?
Chapter thirty-two
Chloe Reeves and the Riot Act
“That’s it, Marcus,” Rhino said, holding his hands close to the bar as he spotted his client on a bench press. “Keep it tight.”
Marcus, easily the skinniest guy in the gym at the moment, lowered the bar to his chest, then struggled to extend his arms fully and put it on the rack.
“Nope,” Rhino said, nudging the bar back over Marcus’s chest. “Three more reps before you tap out.”
From the corner of his eye, Rhino spotted a flash of pink hair cutting his way across the gym floor like a shark through water. Chloe, of course.
“Tell your client that’s the saddest bench press I’ve ever seen,” Chloe said as she walked up.
“What’s up, crazy roommate?” Rhino said, taking his eyes off Marcos as he turned to Chloe. “Come to take me up on that workout I designed for you and your roommate?”
“Next time,” she said. “But only if you promise to ogle me in my new yoga pants.”
“You don’t want to be offended first?”
“Naw. They forgot to install my offended filter at the factory. I got the shamelessly flirtatious install instead.”
As with his previous encounters with Hurricane Chloe, Rhino didn’t know what to make of her. But he couldn’t help from grinning. “I like that in a girl.”
“Can we talk about your idiot roommate and why he’s blowing it with Daisy.”
Behind them, Marcus began his rep, lowering the bar slowly to his chest, and then... it stuck.
“How much time have you got?” Rhino said, walking over to a nearby bench. “’Cause there’s a lot to unpack there.”
As he sat down, Rhino was completely oblivious to Marcus, who kicked his legs as the bar wobbled back and forth, refusing to go any higher.
“I’ve got till four, when my pottery class starts,” Chloe said, sitting down beside Rhino. “So, am I crazy, or does he like her?”
“That’s a two-part question,” Rhino said, while the bar dropped onto Marcus’s chest behind him again. “Yes, you’re certifiably crazy. I kinda like that in you. And yes, Chad likes Daisy. A lot. Googly eyes and all.”
“And she has the whole dreamy eyes thing going herself. So where’s the disconnect?”
“It’s with Chad,” Rhino said. “Sob story. You wanna hear it?”
“I’m all ears.”
Rhino took a breath. “You know that actor, Jason Manning?”
“The guy in ‘Fastest and Furiestest?’ Probably makes more in a day than my entire apartment complex makes in ten years?”
“That’s the one. You ever see his girlfriend?”
“Yep. Ashley Thompson. Ridiculously hot blond Pilates instructor with legs for days. Bane of every girl who’s not a swimsuit goddess. Hadn’t noticed.”
“She’s Chad’s ex.”
Behind them, Marcus’s legs squirmed in the air as he struggled to get out from beneath the bar.
“Get out!” Chloe exclaimed. “Seriously?”
“Yup. They dated for two years in college. Everything was going great, then she dumps him two days after he got his coaching job.”
