Page 69 of Sticky Fingers
Chapter Twenty-Three
Ashley
Colt Academy.
The premier gym in New York City. It’s not cheap. In fact, it’s pretty expensive.
But only the best come here.
The fittest people who are serious about their bodies. It’s luxurious. But it’s also dedicated with one goal in mind—to create perfectly proportioned physical specimens.
That’s what gets me on the treadmill here seven days a week. An hour of running followed by twenty minutes of strength training and then a shower before having a drink at the bar next to the lobby.
It’s my ritual to end the day. And trust me, after the days I have at work, I need a way to decompress.
I get that you’ve probably been talking to Malcolm and Sonia, and probably have no idea who I am. So let me go ahead and introduce myself.
My name is Ashley Abbot. I run a law firm here in New York City on 53rd and 3rd. If you’re thinking that 53rd and 3rd is in the Citigroup Center building, you’re absolutely right. My law firm takes up the 43rd and 44th floor of the CGC.
What else? Let’s see. I’m currently single.
I know, I know. I’ve just been so focused on my career all this time, you know? I mean, I like men. I love men. But I don’t love them more than I love my job. So I never really keep them around.
I mean, I know one of these days I’ll probably need to settle down. But for now, I’m just enjoying being single in the city.
Oh, right. The reason you’re probably even talking to me right now is because I know Colt McCoy. We dated briefly. Well, briefly is kind of stretching it. We went out for one drink with friends. Anyways, because I lived in his building—Clarendon Towers—he sold me on the idea of using his gym.
I was having a drink with my friend from law school, Daphne Abbot. We both went to Yale together. A year after she moved to Clarendon Tower she told me to check it out.
Well, I had to afford the $1.2 million first for my one bedroom apartment but ever since I’ve moved in it’s been fantastic. Daphne and Dominic – her neighbor – are in this crazy sort of game where I think they’re in love and they seem to act really lovey dovey in public but they’re both trying to get each other’s apartment. Its insane and no one really knows what’s going on with them. It’s so crazy that Tara Starr—the romantic comedy author—has even started to chronicle it daily. I read sections out to Daphne every night and we just spend hours laughing about it over cosmos.
Anyways, so that’s me.
This is where you’re going to start to think it’s weird because while I was talking to you I was checking out this guy who was bench pressing next to me while I was on the stairclimber to cool down.
He’s still there and I can totally tell he’s checking me out.
I’m not opposed to anything, but I doubt with my crazy work schedule he’d even be interested. Plus, I’m a smart, successful woman that doesn’t bow down to anyone. Most guys can’t handle that.
Because Colt Academy is so close to Clarendon Tower, I decide to forego the shower at the gym and just go shower at my apartment.
But the problem here is that cute gym guy is leaving too.
Great. Now I’m stuck walking behind him staring at his deliciously firm ass and toned legs.
Gym Guy is roughly 6 foot 3 inches. He’s got brown hair and he’s well built. He looks lean and the kind of man that would like to take control both in and out of the bedroom.
So that means while he might be nice eye candy, he probably wouldn’t be able to stand a strong, independent woman like myself.
I’m purposely walking slow so I don’t end up walking side by side next to Gym Guy. I don’t know. It’s kind of nice staring at his backside as he crosses the street. I cross the street to. Colt Academy is on 53rd and 5th Avenue so it’s only 4 blocks and 2 avenues away from Clarendon Tower on 57th and 7th.
Gym Guy starts walking up 5th Avenue and I’m thinking this is my lucky day because I get to follow him for a little bit longer.
The lucky feeling starts to get weird when we get to 57th Street and Gym Guy hangs a left. I’m making a left too and now I can see the gleaming visage of Clarendon Tower. Does Gym Guy live in my neighborhood? I notice that he hasn’t showered either. So he must be close.
Is this some sort of sign from above?
We get to 6th Avenue and he’s still walking.
