Page 96 of Exchange of Heart

‘A compliment,’ I yelled right before the door closed.

I climbed off the floor and opened the door to the steaming bathroom. Nora spun to face me, her lips sending prickles across my body and down my groin. Her confident shoulders, her optimistic smile, her soul shining through the body I’d come to know so well.

‘How long ’til you need to be at Pilates?’ My voice dropped an octave or two.

‘An hour, I think.’

I stepped into the shower under the hot water, my arm encircling Nora’s tiny waist.

‘I can work with that.’

Nora still hadn’t arrived home from having drinks with Hayley after Pilates by the time I left for Muay Thai, and I missed her face already. My arms stretched over my head with a familiar pull of muscles. Each movement smooth and comforting, motions I’d never take for granted again. I joined everyone on the mat and enjoyed the adrenaline of my first class in weeks, each muscle in my body begging to be put to use. I stood in the attack line and lifted my hands in front of my opponent; a brunette I hadn’t seen before.

‘You new?’ I asked.

‘First class. Moved here from Victoria not long ago.’

I grinned at him and threw my arms into it. Each fist of mine that flew forward was blocked by his arms, the two of us falling into an easy rhythm.

‘Swap,’ the instructor ordered.

Now his fists flew to my face, blocked by my own arms. Sweat dripped from my temples by the time the class ended, and my opponent slapped my back in acknowledgement.

‘You’re good,’ he panted.

‘Thanks. You’ve got a good rhythm.’

After we bowed our goodbye and pulled our water bottles from the shelf, he asked for my name.

‘Corey,’ I replied.

‘I’m Thomas.’ He reached out and shook my hand. ‘New to the area. Bought an apartment with my inheritance, now I just need a closer job to go with it.’

‘What do you do for work?’

‘Finance.’

My stomach tensed as an idea came into mind. ‘Let me find you a business card so you can send me a résumé. I might have a job if you’re interesting in applying?’

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Nora

Quick consistent beeps shot through the air with the same effect of pinpricks to the brain. My symbolic early Monday morning jog was off to a great start, simply because I had my own body again. I slipped my feet into my lightning-bolt joggers and crept out the door, Corey’s snores confirming he’d fallen back to sleep after protesting the noise with a floppy hand. The morning breeze and sunlight worked together, both cooling and warming my skin at the same time. I was energised, refreshed, ready to seize the day and make it my own.

By the time I returned to the apartment, Corey hadn’t budged. It almost hurt my heart to wake him, but I didn’t spend two weeks repairing his reputation at work only for him to fall back into his shitty habits. He’d wanted more from life than living in his father’s shadows, and now was his chance. I crossed my fingers and hoped that today he’d reach whatever goal he stretched for.

‘Corey,’ I whispered.

I wasn’t sure if he groaned or farted, but he rolled away from me pulling the covers over his head. Reading What a Man Wants was about to pay off, because I slid my hand under the cover, brushed my fingers down his side, and gripped the erotically large bulge between his legs. What a Man Wants should be relabelled What Everyone Wants because this was going to be the greatest pre-work ritual for both of us.

‘Don’t forget to smile.’ I handed him a travel mug of coffee while he glared at me.

‘Did you want to lick your finger and wipe a smudge off my face, too?’ he grumbled. ‘I’m not a child leaving for school photos.’

I took a step back, smoothing my creased forehead. He was right, I was mothering him. Meddling and planning his life after two measly days.

‘I’m so sorry, you’re right.’ I tried for an apologetic smile.