Page 31 of Gigi and the Gym Rats

“Do you believe in second chances?” God, his grin is sweet and those dimples are to die for.

I open my mouth to say,Hell yeah to second chances,when a shadow falls over us.

“And back to squats!” Zayne barks. “Less talking, more sweating!” He claps his hands practically in my face. “Squats!”

Ow.What’s his problem?

“Talk to you later,” nice-ass guy says—I still don’t know his name!—and I have a good vantage point of Zayne’s purpling face.

“Gigi—” he starts, in that barking voice.

“No more talking. Okay, got it. Sheesh, relax.” I throw him a glare. “Heard you the first time.”

He looks like he wants to say more, his jaw working, but instead, he storms away to resume the class.

What’s his problem? Honestly. He’s never acted like this before. What’s all that rage about?

Men. Alphas. Males. Y-chromosomes. I don’t understand them. I think I’ll need a manual…

* * *

Zayne doesn’t approach me again during the class, but he seems to maintain a constant glare aimed at my second-chance guy. What the what, right?

He can’t be jealous. There hasn’t been anything between Zayne and me since that fling long ago. Unless he has a beef with my new guy? I hope not. It would make things awkward.

More awkward.

Was I wrong about Zayne? Is he a crazy guy? Is it maybe time to choose another gym, another class?

I don’t know. Put a pin in that. Like I said, the location is convenient and I know the people here. Not ready to move gym just yet. My schedule is too full to fit in a gym further away from the apartment. Time is of the essence, you know?

At least, that’s how it feels sometimes. Like time is running out. I’m too young to feel that way, I know it. But if I’ve learned anything these past two years, it’s that time can be cut short, no matter your age. You need to rush and grab the bull by the horns.

Find that beta. Start a family.

Although it clashes with thecarpe diemphilosophy.

The masterplan says, finish your studies first, while dating a nice man. Then tie the knot and have a family.

My panicky brain says,sex. Have sex with all the hunks now because who knows if you’ll live tomorrow?

Pulled into two different directions. No wonder I’m losing my ever-loving mind.

After the class is over, I turn to look for the nice-ass guy—I really have to find out his name—but he’s already gone.

Huh.Strange. What about that second chance he mentioned? Unless Zayne’s glare scared him off.

Speaking of whom… Zayne follows me as I head toward the changing rooms. Not sure I want to face him, I walk faster but these alphas are huge and he easily overtakes me.

“Gigi… wait.”

I take a step back. “What is it?”

He has the grace to look sheepish. “Look… can we talk?”

I want to say no. I want to stay away from him, because from up close, he’s even more attractive than ever. It’s different when he’s striding about the room, shouting instructions at us.

He’s towering over me now, a hulking, hot presence, his scent of pine resin and cinnamon wrapping around me. He makes me feel like a child at the Christmas market.

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