Page 58 of Best Kept Secret

“Sorry about that,” he said.

“You have absolutely nothing to apologize for,” she said. “I should have shown better self-control.”

“I think it was me that time.”

She stepped into him and placed her palms on his chest. “It wasn’t just you,” she insisted, smiling up at him.

Planting his hands on her hips, he said, “I can’t wait for the weekend.”

“Me too.”

“Jared’s taking a half-day Friday so they can leave to go Up North. Why don’t you come over right after work?”

She nodded enthusiastically.

“And bring an overnight bag.”

“Are you sure you want me for the whole weekend?” she teased.

“God, yes.” I want you for the weekend and a whole lot more.

Seventeen

The holiday weekend was almost upon them, and Jared still hadn’t returned Kelsey’s phone calls. Finally, she decided to track him down in person, and she knew exactly where to find him.

She waited in the parking lot outside the gym and observed people as they came and went. She’d always been an avid people-watcher, and she liked to make up stories about them based on what she saw. She fell into the habit while she waited for Jared to emerge.

A man came outside in a sleeveless T-shirt and shorts, hefting a large gym bag. His arm muscles bulged, and his hair looked damp around the edges. She guessed him to be in his mid-twenties, and he was good looking, but he knew it, which detracted from his appeal. He opened the back door of his big, black pick-up truck and threw his bag inside before climbing in. Then he slipped on a pair of aviator sunglasses and flipped down the visor to admire himself in the mirror.

She guessed that his big muscles and bigger truck made him feel good about himself and masked his insecurities. He used external things to attract women, as if that were all he had to offer. It worked, of course, but he didn’t have much to show for it other than a string of meaningless dalliances.

Of course, she might have read him wrong, and he was a successful businessman with a wife and kids. It was all a mystery, which was why she enjoyed this game.

Then a woman stepped out, looking sweaty and worn out. She might have been in her mid to late thirties, but it was hard to tell. Her midsection had some extra padding, and she tugged on her top self-consciously, glancing around to see if anyone had noticed.

Perhaps she was a single mom, like Emily and Sonia. Maybe she had multiple children and worked full time, and that was why she looked so weary. Despite her busy schedule, she was committed to getting into shape, not just for her husband or significant other but for herself. Whatever the circumstances, Kelsey admired her dedication, especially as she sat there munching on potato chips that she’d picked up at the gas station.

She set down the bag of chips, rolled down her window, and brushed the crumbs off her hands. When she looked at the door again, out sauntered Jared. Unlike the man and woman who’d exited before him, he looked neither self-satisfied nor exhausted. In fact, he looked like he’d hardly broken a sweat, though she knew he had. He carried himself with a quiet confidence that she’d always admired. Even when he was being a pain in the ass, she still loved and respected him, which was why she was here.

“Jared,” she called out the window.

He looked surprised to see her there, and it was no wonder. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been to a gym, since she tended to avoid them. She preferred accidental versus deliberate exercise. If it was fun, like bike riding or ice skating, that was fine, but if it felt too much like exercise, she avoided it.

He walked up to her car and said, “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you since you’ve been ignoring my calls.”

“I’ve been busy.”

That might be true, but in the past, he’d always made time for her. She hated this rift between them.

“Can we talk for a few minutes?”

He glanced at his sports watch and sighed. “I’m meeting Amanda soon…”

“I won’t take too much of your time,” she promised.

“Fine. Let’s go to the smoothie shop,” he said, pointing at the health food store two doors down from the gym.