Page 15 of See Me

Her face falls at first until she narrows her eyes at me. I hit her with a harder look than she has aimed at me. There’s no doubt in my mind she isn’t as upset as she’s making out. She’s probably more worried about her job than anything. I’ll admit she's a pretty convincing empath when you aren’t looking at her. Her face can’t lie, though. She isn’t at all upset how this played out.

Enzo tugs his hair in his fists as she walks out. “What do you need?”

I shake my head. “I just feel like he’s still on me. I can still smell his hot breath on my face.”

He walks over to his locker and pulls out a black bag. He comes to stand in front of me and puts out his hand for me to take. He leads me around the row of lockers to an alcove I didn’t know existed. There are two doors hidden behind the lockers that I assumed were up against a wall. We walk into ashower room. Three full showers with frosted doors and a vanity with double sinks line the back wall.

I spin and look around the room. “I didn’t know this was here.”

“There’s a gym behind the other door. Old fighting equipment. This used to be a training gym. When things fell apart, Luca bought it from his old coach. He tried to keep as much of it original as he could and still make it a successful business.”

I turn to Enzo but he doesn’t meet my eyes. “What happened?”

“Not my story to tell, Blaze. Here’s my shower bag and clean towels are in this door here. Take as much time as you need.”

Enzo leaves and I take my time walking around. I leave the shower room and go through the other door to the gym. Punching bags, treadmills, and free weights line the walls, while taped floor mats make a mock ring in the center of the room. Mirrors take up the leftover wall space making the place appear larger than it really is.

There’s a small door hidden in the corner. Probably a closet with cleaning equipment. I walk over to try the door handle. I feel around on the wall for the light switch. My fingers find the switch and my eyes light up. I would like to tell you that I didn’t jump up and down and do a little happy dance when the lights bounced off the walls of that room, but that would be a lie.

Thank you baby Jeebus.

FIVE

DOWN KITTY

Just one more inch.I bounce on the top of my suitcase trying to squeeze it shut while my fingers ache gripping the zipper.

“C’mon, you bitch.” I hear Jess curse from the other room.

I throw my head back and laugh. “You too? Maybe we need to tag team this crap.” I abandon my efforts and walk through Jess’s door to see her splayed across the bed in defeat.

She gestures to the mess on the floor. “How did we get so much stuff?”

“I know right? I mean, do I need seventeen miniskirts to teach high schoolers?”

“You’re going to be the star of every teenage boy’s fantasy with or without the skirts.”

I roll my eyes and she laughs. “Eh, maybe for a few years.”

“Then you’ll be every man-boy on campus's wet dream.”

I shove her shoulder. “Oh, shut up. Any job prospects?”

“No, not yet. I have several resumes floating around out there, but no word yet.”

I plop down on the bed next to her. “So, what’s the plan?”

“I’m going to drop this stuff off at my new place and I think I might take a week at the cabin. Rest, recharge. Refresh my phone every three minutes for any new emails.” She attempts a smile but I know she’s bummed she hasn’t gotten a job yet.

I rub her shoulder and she squeezes my hand. “That sounds amazing. Don’t forget you owe me a week for that karaoke stunt.”

She sits up and grabs my hand. “Why don’t you come with me?”

Ugh, I wish.

“I can’t. I have more packets to put together, plans to finalize.”

Tips to stock up on.

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