After taking the walk or rather dance of shame and sneaking out the back door of the thankfully large workout room, Vannah sniggered once outside despite having a hard time catching her breath.
“Oh. My. God!” Xochitl gasped collapsing against the wall and holding her red sweaty face against it. “What in fucking hell?”
That only made Vannah laugh even more as she bent over and held her hands to her knees for support. “That . . .” She sucked in chunks of air as she glanced up at Xochitl who was still holding on to that wall for dear life. “Was not easy.”
“Yeah, I’m calling BS on that.” Xochitl finally pulled away from the wall and took a long swig of her water bottle. “There is no way that was the beginner class and that instructor.” She stopped to catch her breath again shaking her head. “She’s gotta be on crack or steroids. No way can someone just keep going like that nonstop and not even seem winded.”
They started through the gym, still trying to calm their breathing, and feeling like epic failures, though Vannah couldn’t stop giggling. Vannah wasn’t even surprised. Her athletic aptitude was her weakest strength and she’d never even denied it. It was funny that they’d both walked into that class feeling and acting like it would be a breeze and they’d gotten their asses handed to them. Xochitl pulled out the brochure they’d been given when they signed up for their free week pass.
“Beginner class, my ass,” Xochitl huffed. “Someone’s getting a strongly worded letter!”
“Hey.” Vannah smiled big, bringing her hand onto her annoyed friend’s shoulder. “We didn’t fail too bad. We almost held out the whole way.” She took the brochure from Xochitl knowing full well their Zumba days were over, but still laughed as she flipped through it anyway. “Look, ten more minutes and we would’ve done it.”
Xochitl didn’t respond and after looking through the brochure for a few seconds more, Vannah glanced up at her friend smiling again because the girl had gone uncharacteristically quiet. Vannah had a feeling why. She fully expected Xochitl to be playfully sulking and make the situation even funnier.
“Don’t—” Xochitl started to say but then went quiet, and when Vannah followed her roommate’s eyes she knew why.
Just like the other times Vannah had made unexpected eye contact with Byron, she nearly choked on her own chuckling now. He and another guy were walking in their direction. They were on their way into the gym in the same pathway she and Xochitl were taking on their way out. If it weren’t for her friend nudging her along Vannah almost stopped in her tracks. But her reaction to those piercing eyes locking onto hers was hopelessly the same as the previous times.
Like the other times, Vannah practically held her breath. The way he peered into her eyes was also the same—minus the beautiful smile he’d worn the other times. The moment was over a few seconds later as he looked away and stalked past her without a word.
“Breathe and keep walking.”
Xochitl’s words barely registered as Vannah continued to trek her weakened legs along despite being unaware, she was still holding her breath. She exhaled as instructed but couldn’t understand why her heart was racing like it did.
“Jesus Christ, have you ever witnessed such intensity?” Xochitl spoke under her breath. “Maybe we missed something. Maybe he is a boxer and he’s on his way this very minute into the ring ready to beat someone senseless? He sure as heck looks like he’s ready to.”
Vannah shook her head because she was at a loss herself, but then she knew so little about him. His brother was known as Beast and as far as Xochitl had filled her in from all her research, it was for good reason. The man had been as intimidating in the boxing ring as he was to just stand next to. But from what Xochitl had read, he had quite the dark past before his days of reigning in the ring. According to Xochitl he’d even killed a man with his bare hands. Though admittedly when Xochitl went on about everything she’d dredged up about Byron and his family Vannah only really paid attention to anything that applied directly to Byron.
Turning her head to Xochitl who was still going on about how much bigger he seemed this time seeing him this close.
“He didn’t smile.” It was the first words out of Vannah’s mouth after this most recent yet equally breathtaking encounter with the guy. “For someone who could look so intense—like you said—he has one of the most beautiful smiles I’ve ever witnessed. It’s such a contrast to his otherwise hardened expressions.”
“He does have a nice smile.” Xochitl agreed glancing back in his direction. “And hair. Totally love the fade and longer on top look.”
“But he didn’t smile this time.”
Xochitl turned back and peered at her then smirked. “It’s not like you two know each other or anything, Vannah. You’re really gonna get all butt hurt—”
“No,” Vannah said feeling her face warm. “Not butt hurt.” She shrugged feeling stupid for thinking out loud. “I’m just . . . I don’t know, wondering if it has anything to do with me looking like a sweaty pig this time as opposed to the first two times.”
Now Xochitl scoffed. “Girl, sweaty or not you’re killing that workout outfit. If not a fight, we caught Mr. Duplicity readying himself for an intense workout. Did you get a load of the muscle on the guy? You don’t get muscle like that unless you work out hard.”
Xochitl pointing out Byron’s impressive muscle only warmed Vannah’s face further. Despite having clammed up and having only kept her eyes on his, again, she’d seen plenty of photos of him online to know he had a body most women would salivate over. But clearly, he was way out of her league and her reaction to him each time was further proof of that. Besides, she had no business even thinking of getting her hopes up about him or any guy for that matter. Reminding herself what her real focus should be on—her grades while still enjoying her time in college—she attempted to change the subject.
“So, what did we decide? Yay or nay on Frat Row Friday?”
“What?” Xochitl turned to her. “How can you even think of that when what just happened, happened?”
“What happened?” Vannah asked nervously knowing full well her friend would be calling her out on her indifference about seeing Byron again.
Xochitl rolled her eyes shaking her head. “Oh, cut the crap, Vannah. He may not have smiled this time, but he’s obviously drawn to you. I may as well be invisible for all the attention I’ve gotten from him in each instance that we’ve seen him. His eyes have zoomed in directly at you each time, and he’s never the least bit subtle about it, either.”
Attempting to make less of it because her belly was tightening now that Xochitl was saying out loud, the very thing Vannah had begun to think, she shrugged. “If there was really any interest don’t you think he would’ve approached me by now?” Before her friend could argue Vannah went on quickly. “Besides.” She lifted her chin. “He’s older and likely not into college freshman who are just looking to have some no-strings-attached fun.”
“Oh, my God. What planet have you been living on?” Her friend scoffed as they walked out the front doors of the gym. “Any man, no matter what age, would be into a sexy college freshman. Especially if they’re looking for a no-strings-attached, hot and sweaty fling.” Xochitl turned to Vannah, eyes wide open. “But come to think of it. You were with Matt that day at Starbucks. Maybe he thinks you’re unavailable.”