“How bad is it?” Jasper asked.
“Bad. The realtor handed me the keys and bolted. He said he had another appointment, but I have a feeling he was leaving before I could pummel him. Those pictures he sent were bullshit.”
“What are you going to do?”
I sighed and dragged a hand through my hair. “Get to work. I’ve got to get this usable.”
At this point, I didn’t have a lot of other options. This building was just going to have to work temporarily.
With Christmas in five days, I doubted I’d be able to find another place to live until after New Year’s. The hotel was booked—ten minutes after I’d walked through the gym’s door, I’d called The Eloise Inn and asked to extend my reservation. But the hotel was booked through the holidays. I had two nights left before my room would go to the next guest. And every motel, VRBO and Airbnb within fifty miles was taken.
After the holidays, I could search for a nicer home. But I needed a gym. My training had been delayed enough these past few weeks dealing with everything in Vegas.
Eventually, I could get this place remodeled. Or I could tear it down and build from scratch. But that would take months. I didn’t have months. So I’d settle for this place. I’d make the gym’s small, one-bedroom apartment livable. And meanwhile, I’d convince Talia to listen to what I had to say.
If there was one thing going for me, it was the element of surprise. Part of the reason I’d bought this shithole was because it was vacant. I’d been able to pay cash with a quick close. That had been only a week ago. Talia had been surprised by the address I’d given her last night, which meant she hadn’t gotten wind of me moving to Quincy.
I was banking on Talia’s natural curiosity to bring her here today. I needed to see her again. I needed to see her a hundred times. Maybe then I’d realize this wasn’t a dream.
Seven years I’d waited for this chance. Seven goddamn years and I couldn’t risk fucking it up.
“Have you talked to Kadence?” Jasper asked.
“Last night.” I walked toward the door open to the apartment.
It was in just as bad of shape as the gym. The bedroom was empty. I counted myself lucky that an animal hadn’t decided to take shelter from the winter weather in the closet. But the carpet was stained and the scent of cat piss clung to the air.
I surveyed the cramped living space and attached kitchen. I hadn’t had the guts to open the fridge yet and see what was growing inside. The bathroom would need a few gallons of bleach before my skin came in contact with the shower or toilet.
On the list of renovations, this apartment was at the top.
“It’s temporary,” I told Jasper. And myself.
“You sure about this?”
“I’m finally free.” I’d been trapped for so long I wasn’t even sure how to act of my own free will. But it was time to build the life I’d missed. The life I’d held in my grasp before I’d fucked it all up.
“I hear you,” Jasper said. “What can I do?”
“Nothing. I’ll figure it out.”
“Do me a favor? Fit in a workout today.”
“Does cleaning count?” To get this place ready, I’d be busting my ass.
“That works,” he said. “How’s your head?”
“Not great,” I admitted.
This was the first time in my life I had no motivation to train. To fight. Now that Arlo was dead and no longer pushing me to win, win, win, I just . . . didn’t care.
I needed to find that motivation because I had a fight the first weekend in March. Maybe Talia could help. If I could get her to listen.
“Don’t worry,” I told Jasper. “I’ll be ready.”
“When should I come?”
I sighed and walked back to the gym, following my own footprints in the dust. “Give me some time.”
“You don’t have time.”
“I know,” I muttered. I didn’t have time to waste cleaning up an old gym and making a crappy apartment livable. Yet here I was.
For Talia.
“Call me soon,” Jasper said.
“If I don’t talk to you, Merry Christmas.”
“Same to you.”
I ended the call and tucked my phone into my jeans pocket. Then I walked toward the ugly-as-fuck orange wall. The color was giving me a migraine but it would have to wait. The first order of business was cleaning the apartment.
I’d made arrangements to have furniture delivered on Friday. There were carpets to rip out and rooms to scour. Then I’d tackle the gym.
My stomach was in a knot as I paced to the opposite end of the space, peering out one of the grimy windows. Would she come today? Had that ring piqued her interest enough?
My palms sweated as I paced the length of the building again. I hadn’t been this nervous in years. My phone rang in my pocket. Vivienne’s ringtone. Jasper had probably called and told her to check in.
“Hey,” I answered. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” she said. “How about you?”
“I’m all right. It’s . . . weird.”
“I know. I was thinking that earlier when I was walking around the house.” Vivienne was the only one in the world who’d understand. Because I wasn’t the only one who’d just been set free. She had too. “But a good weird, you know?”
“Yeah, Vivi. It’s a good weird.”
“How’s Montana?”
“Cold, but I’m glad to be here. I’ll be busy getting the place set up.”
“How is it?”
Awful. “Fine.” I wouldn’t tell her about the actual state of the gym. She’d see it eventually, and if she knew it was bad, she’d worry.
“Will you call later?”
“You bet. Have a nice day.”
“You too. Good luck.”
Next to Jasper, Vivienne was my best friend. She knew why I was in Montana. She knew that Talia had always been in my heart.
Over the years, she’d been the one to keep tabs on Talia. Mostly, Vivienne had done it to save me the heartbreak of seeing photos of Talia with another man. So she’d randomly check Talia’s social media posts. She’d google Talia’s name and see if it had ever changed from Eden.
The fact that Talia wasn’t married had been a miracle. My miracle.
The day Vivienne and I had signed our divorce papers, she’d encouraged me to take this risk. She’d done everything in her power to help me get to Montana.
Here I was. Time to get to work.
“Okay.” I clapped my hands, the sound filling the gym. I’d stopped at the hardware store this morning for a few cleaning supplies, knowing I’d have to do some work. I hadn’t expected this much work and my stash wouldn’t last long, but it would get me started.
I took one step for the door, but it opened. And there she was.
“Talia.” My voice sounded hoarse. “You came.”
She nodded, looking me up and down. Then she held up her hand, the velvet pouch dangling from her fingers. “You knew I would.”
“Hoped.” Yes, I’d baited her with that ring. And I’d do it again.
She tore her gaze away and let the door swing closed behind her. Then she stepped inside and tucked a lock of her dark, silky hair behind an ear. Last night, she’d had it up in a knot. Today, it was curled in waves that hung nearly to her waist.