Page 38 of Playing to Win

“If you knew how, you could have started correctly in the first place and saved me having to tell you.”

Something that sounds very much like bugger off leaves her mouth. I’m beginning to think of it as a term of endearment.

Once we’re done with weights, I set her off running sprint intervals on the treadmill. By the time I’m done, she’s slumped on the end of the tread belt, her head between her legs.

“Are you all right? Izzy?”

“Yes. I’m good.”

“If I push you too hard, you have to tell me.”

“I said I’m fine, Brooks,” she snaps.

I hold up my hands. “Let’s stretch, then. Do you need my help?”

She shakes her head and rises to her feet. I leave her to stretch but keep an eye on her. I know I pushed her hard but right until the last, she seemed to be able to take it.

When she’s done, I leave her wiping down her face and topping off her water bottle, and I make my way up to my office. I’m starving and the worst part is that I have vegetables and more vegetables to look forward to for dinner.

I flick on the light as I step into my office and do a double take. My desk has been moved to one side of the room, flush up against the wall. A new, second desk, with that goddamn pink laptop and a new box of pink tissues, takes up the other half of the office space.

“Izzy!” I shout, moving out to the balcony. She’s not tired anymore; she’s laughing hysterically, bent over her knees. “You think this is funny?”

She holds up a hand as she tries to speak. “I ca…I can’t…I can’t even…”

“It’s not staying.”

Everyone in the gym has turned to look from me to Izzy; even those wearing headphones are taking them out. “I need somewhere to work, Brooks.”

“Where did it come from?”

“I bought it online and had it delivered.”

“Well, have them collect it again because it is not staying.”

I storm into my office and pace the floor until she comes upstairs. “What a stupid waste of money,” I snap.

She’s not laughing anymore. “It’s not a waste. I’ll use it while I’m here. Plus, it’s my money to do what I like with.”

“You know, I had you pegged from the moment I saw you. You think the world owes you some kind of favor because you have money.”

“Excuse me. You know nothing about me. Don’t lay into me over a bloody desk. What about you? Mr. Fucking Miserable Obnoxious Twat. Who made you hate the world, huh?”

“You need to get out. I’m hungry. I have a raging headache. And you…you are just not my kind of person.”

“Bloody ditto, Brooks. But we’re in this thing together so you need to just suck it up.” She opens the drawer of her new desk and pulls out a hardback book. “Here. If you’re hungry you can pick one of the main courses from my book. Those are your options for tonight. And I will know if you cheat.”

I snatch the book from her hand. “More rabbit food. Fantastic.”

She turns on her heel to leave. “Grow up, Brooks.”

“Me grow up? Me? Enjoy your steak tonight, princess.”

“Oh, I will. Enjoy your tofu.”

“I definitely will!”

“Fine!”

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