Page 37 of Gigi and the Gym Rats

“Look, Ruby is here. Ruby!” June waves both her hands and jumps around in her chair. “Over here!”

“She’s not blind,” I grumble. Great, now I’ve turned into the Grinch.

“Hey, girls.” Ruby seems distracted. “What’s up?”

“You look preoccupied,” Coco says.

“I should rejoin the gym.” Ruby sits down with us. She’s looking at something on her phone and is distracted. Her dark hair is in her eyes and she’s lost inside an oversized sweater and leggings. “I need to retake control of my life.”

“Again, weirdly specific,” June says.

But Ruby’s statement echoes my current masterplan, sort of, so I lean toward her, interested. “That’s a good idea. You spend too much time at the shelter, Rubes.”

“You gonna tell me I need to get out more and meet guys, like my mom does?” She flicks me a smile, to show she’s not upset. “That dogs are fine, but they won’t give her grandchildren?”

“I’ve been to that gym where Gigi goes,” June says. “Not that I’m into exercise myself, but one day I decided to see what the fuss is about andwhew. I’m telling you. Hot. So I visit from time to time, just to check that the hunks I saw are still perfecting their bodies for my viewing pleasure.”

“You go as a visitor? Repeatedly?” Coco cackles, then high-fives June. “That’s my girl. Do you do guided tours?”

“Girls,” I say faintly. “You should?—”

“Sure!” June says. “Come with me. We can wander the halls of the gym together and ogle the half-naked, sweaty male bodies in?—”

“Girls,” I say, making my voice stronger. “Enough?—”

“Deal. You had me at sweaty male bodies.” Coco fans herself. “Why didn’t I think of going there for a fine afternoon? I feel I’m behind in my game.”

“So…” a soft masculine voice says. “You like sweaty male bodies, huh?”

The girls jerk. Ruby smiles, though it’s obvious her mind is still a thousand miles away.

“Let me introduce you,” I say brightly. “This is my trainer’s son, Zach.”

“Well, I’ll say,” Coco says after that first, stunned moment. “I see now why you like that gym so much. Sign me up!”

* * *

“You’re Gigi, right?” Zach asks and I nod. I had wondered why he was here, but I thought he knew one of the girls.

“How do you know me?” I glance around wildly for Zayne, but I don’t see him. “Your dad…”

“He’s not here,” he confirms.

“Then how…?”

“He tends to gaze at you when you’re at the gym, you know? It’s been going on for so long, I decided to ask him who you are.”

Coco wolf-whistles.

I blink. “Hegazesat me?”

“Nothing creepy.” He grins. “Ithink. It made me curious, is all.”

“He just… gazes at her.” Coco waves a hand. “With longing in his eyes?”

“Coco!” I hiss.

“What? Zach came here to talk to you. I have questions.”

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