Page 27 of The Wedding Situation Romance

Reid

“Alright,run me through it one more time,” Drew says as beads of sweat fall from his temples to the floor. “I don’t think I got it the first time.”

“Feet flat on the floor, keep your ass on the bench, and if you’re lucky, I’ll make sure the bar doesn’t crush your pretty face,” I say, and Drew glares at me.

“Not the bench press. The situation with Quinn,” he grits out as he goes into another set.

I knew what he meant; I just like giving him shit.

“I asked her if she wanted to be my date to the upcoming weddings,”

“She turned you down. Flat if I remember,” he grits out.

“And then she came crawling back when she needed a favor. A much larger favor,” I say, and after three more reps, Drew gives, and I take the bar from him. He sits up, and another wave of sweat drips down his body.

“Just how big is this favor?” he asks, grunting as he reaches for his water bottle. “Like, how much money are we talking? What’s it take to run a place like that?”

“Well, the building is more or less paid for. But there are employees who do have a few advertising, accounting, and counselors they partner with.”

“So a decent amount,” he says and I give a more-or-less nod.

“Alright. And you’re okay with that?” he asks.

“I’m indifferent,” I answer as we make our way to the sauna. It’s always the last thing we hit up on a gym trip and low-key my favorite. It’s a lot of work not looking fifty when you’re forty eight but I like to think Drew and I do a good job of it. It also helps that work is as stressful as it is. Men need a place to take out their stress, and considering murder is frowned upon, the gym is a good alternative. I’m kidding. Sort of.

“Indifferent to throwing away your money at a cause you don’t support?” he asks. “There must be something else going on.”

“Like what?” I ask as we sit down on the wooden steps of the sauna.

“Well, think about it. It seems counterproductive for you,”

“Not really,” I say, resting my elbows on my knees and craning my neck from side to side to release tension. “People can’t get divorced if they don’t get married first. And considering all the people Quinn works with are considering divorce if the therapy doesn’t work out, I’m technically creating future clients.”

I grin and Drew does too, but he’s also rolling his eyes.

“Seriously though,” I go on. “It’s all a bit triggering for me,”

“I was wondering about that,” Drew says.

“Just the word therapy…or marriage counseling. If that had been an option…” I trail off, biting my tongue because I don’t know if I want to go there. Inevergo there. Even if it is just with Drew and we are in a wooden box, that is most likely soundproof.

“You tried,” he says.

“I know I did,” I say, head hanging, my gaze on the steaming rocks below us. “More than I should have.”

“Love can’t be one-way,” he says.

“No,” I say. “It cannot.” With that, I take in a slow breath and let it out again. “It’s also no fairy tale. And people should know that. Quinn needs to know that.”

“Spending enough time with you should help with that,” he chuckles, and despite the mood the current conversation has me in, I crack a smile. “I really do drive her nuts,” I say with my eyes shut and my head back against the wall.

“I bet,” Drew says.

“I can’t help it. It’s just so easy. I’ve never had a woman dish it so hard.”

“Well, you know what they say. If they can dish it, they can eat it.”

And she does. The tennis match conversations Quinn and I have leave me winded with a sore arm.