Even if their relationship had made her life more complicated. She felt more alive. Damon had thawed her out and taught her to surrender to passion and impulse. He’d reminded her of what it was like to live and breathe and touch.
She’d give her notice when she went back to work on Monday.
Haley turned to unlock the security door, knowing that she’d made a hard choice but the right one. It still left her feeling as if she’d pulled up her anchor and was adrift, but that was just change.
It wasn’t about Garrett. It was about taking a good job. She’d start fresh.
Maybe she’d bring her child to meet his or her grandfather in a year.
Maybe she’d check in on Damon then.
It sounded like a million years in the future.
Fourteen
Nate planned his day at F5F with the precision of an invasion.
This was his best foreseeable chance to meet women and he was going to make it count.
He reasoned that women of his age would have jobs, so he chose a Saturday.
He thought about going when Damon was back from Boston, but couldn’t wait that long. He’d go in alone and it would be fine.
He pored over the class descriptions posted on the F5F website, seeking the ones most likely to have women enrolled. Pilates. Zumba. Spin. Aquafit. Yoga in all its variations: hatha, ashtanga, moksha, anusara, kundalini, bikram, and more. Maybe beginner would be better for him. He was drawn to the lap swim and the rock climbing wall, but figured it would be hard to talk to women in either. He was sure the weight rooms would be so well equipped that he’d think he’d died and gone to heaven, but they were divided by gender at F5F. He debated the merit of running the track. He studied the schedule of classes on the app, determined to make the most of every moment at the club.
It hadn’t been easy to get a Saturday off at the store, but his uncle finally relented.
Nate was still adjusting his plan for the day as he rode the subway downtown. He was wearing the prosthesis that people found less troubling, the one that looked like the hand of a window mannequin. He didn’t find it as useful as would be ideal, so he’d packed the one he called The Hook. He’d need it if he wanted to do any serious work-out, but Nate knew from experience that it terrified women.
Trish hadn’t been able to run fast enough.
Cassie was teaching the first yoga class that Nate took and she greeted him warmly.
“First time?” asked the cute little redhead beside him.
“Yes. I thought it would be good for me.”
“It is great though seems impossible at first. Don’t get discouraged,” she said and gave him a smile of encouragement. That worked for Nate in a big way.
When Cassie realized it was his first time, she invited him up to the front to help him with his poses. Nate had the undivided attention of twenty-five women, but it would have been better if he’d aced even one pose.
“A big hand of applause for my teaching assistant,” Cassie said at the end of the class and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“You were great,” the little redhead said as they were leaving the class. “It’ll be easier next time.”
“Thanks!” Nate said, but she was hurrying away. She waved at him, then ducked into the women’s change room.
“Melanie swims laps next,” someone said and Nate turned to find Kyle beside him. The other man grinned. “They all have their routines.”
“Maybe I need to swim some laps,” Nate said but Kyle stepped into his path.
“I know that look,” he said, his voice a low murmur and his gaze steady.
“What look?”
“Women,” Kyle said, then made a purring sound beneath his breath. He watched two women go into the yoga room and Nate did the same. They sighed simultaneously in admiration and the women giggled.
“Women,” Nate agreed, knowing that he’d found a kindred spirit. “I don’t meet a lot of them at work.”
“What do you do?”
“I help out in my uncle’s hunting goods store.” He raised a hand. “It’s a good job. Pays well enough. Lots of hours.”
“But no eye candy.”
Nate shook his head.
Kyle nodded in sympathy. “So, you want to make your day here count in a big way.”
“Well, that was the plan.”
“You really want to be the clown in the yoga class who doesn’t have the moves?”
“It’s better than pity.”
Kyle nodded, then indicated Nate’s prosthesis. “How strong is that thing?”
“It’s not. I need The Hook to really get stuff done.”
Kyle lifted a brow. “Does it look the way I think it does?”
Nate sighed and nodded. “Sent my fiancé running for the hills.”
“Well, you didn’t need her, then,” Kyle said, his tone dismissive. “Look. I’m thinking about the rock climbing wall.”
“So am I!” Nate admitted. “It looks awesome.”
“Could you do it?”
“Of course.” He winced. “With The Hook.”
Kyle nodded, some decision made. “Okay. I’ll race you to the top. Meet me there at 10:45. We’ll get rigged up and race at 11.”
“But I’ll need The Hook.”
Kyle looked at his watch. “Does it take you longer than that to gear up?”
“No, but...”
Kyle leaned closer. “Sort the wheat from the chaff in one go, Nate. The women who matter will be more interested that you kicked my ass than that you did it with The Hook.”
Nate smiled. “All right. You’re on. Get ready to lose.”
Nate didn’t expect an audience but they had one. By the time he walked to the base of the wall, there was a crowd gathered to watch. Kyle was beckoning to more members as they passed and Nate realized he’d been telling everyone about their challenge.
He had The Hook locked on and he thought it looked pretty boss. Nate knew that opinion wasn’t universal, though.
The guy supervising the wall got them both rigged up, and showed Nate how each handhold had a little depression in it. His name was Thom and he was really built. There was a black woman dressed in pink with a camera and another woman with short dark hair taking a zillion pictures.
So, there would be evidence. He was good with that.
Nate was glad that The Hook had a textured grip on the inside. He stood at the bottom and looked up the wall, amazed to find such a tall one in the city.
“Okay?” Kyle asked in an undertone.
“Your ass is going to get kicked so bad,” Nate said and Kyle laughed.
He turned to the crowd. “Did you hear that? Nate thinks he’s going to beat me!” There was laughter and cheering. “Choose your climber: Kyle or Nate.” People started to chant names, most of them chanting for Kyle. Nate heard a few people saying his name and glanced over his shoulder.
The cute redhead was in front. She gave him a thumbs-up.
She must not have noticed The Hook.
Nate turned his attention to the wall, choosing his course even before they started. Thom did a countdown, then blew a whistle, and they were off.
He took to the wall like a spider, almost catapulting up the height of it. He knew his next three moves at any point in time, but was surprised that Kyle fell behind. He heard Kyle swear and knew that the partner had no intention of losing. This wasn’t about pity. It was a clean fight, and Nate was going to win it.