I clear my throat, taking a step out of her space. “You’re doing great.”
She shakes her head at me. “And you lie,” she breathes out. “I should have known this was a bad idea. I tried to play Gladiator at the fair once, the game where you have to knock your opponent off the post, and I was knocked down before I even got my footing on the board.”
I lean forward, placing my hands on her shoulders. Her breath catches and she lets out the most adorable shiver. “You’re too tense.”
“I don’t mean to be.”
“Is it because you’re scared I’ll hurt you?” I ask. Nine times out of ten, that’s normally the reason, but Charlotte can be hard to read. She seems comfortable with me but it could all be an act.
“Of course not.”
“Okay, then what do you think the issue is? Why are you so hesitant?”
She bites her lip. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
I try to keep my expression neutral but it’s hard when she says something as adorable as that. “You aren’t going to hurt me. I promise. I’d stop before you really reached me.”
“I’ve been known to hurt people. I’m stronger than I look. Just ask Faith. I got arrested.”
My lips twitch. “I don’t doubt that,” I tell her, then pause when her words register. “Why did you get arrested?”
She waves me off, getting her feet back into the position I taught her. “It involved a bad guy, a batch of my muffins and a lot of yelling,” she tells me before exhaling. “Let me tell you, he was scared.”
I can’t imagine it, yet I believe every word. “I bet.”
“Now, where do you want me?”
I’d like her lying on her back on the mat, but the image alone could get me killed— if not by her dad, then by Landon.
“Why don’t we call it a night, and when we meet up next week, we’ll go over some more of the moves from today?”
She pouts. “But I was so close.”
I duck my head. She really wasn’t. “It’s coming to an end now anyway and your friends should be arriving soon.”
“Oh yeah,” she murmurs, grabbing the towel from the floor to wipe the sweat off the back of her neck.
The front door jingles and I turn, glancing over my shoulder. A group of four girls step inside, admiring the equipment around them.
The blonde catches sight of us first and her eyes light up.
“Charlie,” she screams, rushing over. Charlotte gets knocked back a step from the hug she gives her.
“Hey, Emily, you made it.”
“Duh, you had us at ‘space away from Trixie’. Of course we’d be here.”
“How could we refuse,” another chick murmurs, then gapes when she turns to me.
They’re gorgeous, don’t get me wrong, but the stares are becoming unnerving.
“I think I just orgasmed.”
“Harriet,” Charlotte admonishes.
“Me too,” Emily whispers.
“I don’t think I’m gay anymore,” the brunette whispers, still gawking up at me.
“This is why I’m bi. I like to keep my options open,” Olivia comments.
“Girls, he’s standing right there,” Charlotte declares, her lips twitching.
I shift awkwardly on my feet as I give them a small smile. “I’m Drew.”
They sigh dreamily, and I begin to wonder if this was a good idea.
Emily runs her finger up and down in the air, gesturing toward my body. “Do you have tattoos all over?”
“Emily,” Charlotte cries, her cheeks flaming. But when she turns to me, curiosity sparks in her eyes. “Do you?”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “Wouldn’t you like to know,” I tease.
“She really would.”
“I really would,” the girl who claimed she isn’t gay anymore states.
“Why don’t I show you guys the room?” I gesture.
“That would be fantastic,” Charlotte announces rather loudly. The sound echoes around the empty gym and she winces. “That was loud.”
“Does he work out without a top?” Harriet whispers when I continue to the room with them following behind.
“Not yet,” Charlotte whispers back.
“Will you take a picture when he does?”
Charlotte doesn’t answer at first and I can’t help but wonder why she’s hesitating. Is it because she doesn’t want to share or because she doesn’t want to take the photo?
“Okay, I wouldn’t mind one,” she answers, surprising me.
“Just send it to the group chat,” Harriet adds.
“It can go in my spank bank,” Emily announces, nearly causing me to trip over my own feet.
I never lack confidence. Haven’t my whole life. I can stand up to bullies, even my mother, and pick up girls like it’s second nature.
Now, I don’t know where to put myself or what to say.
And it’s because of her.
She’s scrambling my head.
“Speaking of spank bank, did you try the nipple tassels?”
I begin to choke on my own air, and I whack my chest to clear it.
“Gabby, don’t kill him,” Harriet scolds.
“Fucking hell,” I grumble under my breath.
“I kind of ate them. They were sweet, but not too sweet,” Charlotte admits.
“You were supposed to get someone to eat them off you,” Gabby declares.
I can’t do this anymore. I can’t hear any more.
“Here we are,” I announce rather loudly, causing them all to jump.
Harriet winces. “Sorry. We kind of forgot you were there.”
My lips twitch. “I gathered.”
She smacks her forehead. “Shit, we’ve not even introduced ourselves,” she gasps. “I’m Harriet, this is Emily, that’s Olivia, and the one still gawking at you is Gabby.”
“It’s nice to meet you all.”
“I am not gawking. You don’t gawk at fine art,” Gabby snaps.
“She’s right. And you are a piece of art,” Charlotte adds, nodding.
“Um, I… thank you?” I choke out, wondering if it would have been better to have Landon do this. I’m better with people, but even I’m fucking this up.
“Charlotte said you want one of us to teach here?” Harriet comments.
“Landon and I spoke. If we’re going to invest in this equipment, we need assurances it will be profited from. It’s good business sense. However, we can’t teach this class if you decide to drop out. We are doing this in good faith and we hope you’ll work with us.”
Harriet nods. “We appreciate this so much. You have no idea. And as much as each of us love dancing, stripping is not what we would like to do full time. I can’t speak for everyone here, but I for one, wouldn’t mind teaching the class.”
I jerk my chin in a nod. I’m glad they’re on board with the idea. It makes things easier for Landon and me. “One or more will need to do a short course. Teaching this lesson won’t just be about teaching girls to dance. It’s fitness and like any other fitness, you need to be qualified.”
“I can’t take on any more work,” Harriet explains, before chewing on her thumbnail.