Page 30 of Safe Hands

Encouraged, Lauren pushed on. “Jenna mentioned the football club the other day. It might be worth doing some sport-specific videos if this goes well. Injury prevention for players, maybe.”

Carly stopped writing and looked up. For once, there was no suspicion in her eyes. Just focus.

“I’ve been thinking about that too,” she said. “I’m planning a discount membership scheme for local sports teams. Let me know if that’s something you’d want to link in with the clinic.”

“Definitely.”

“I’ll offer it to the PTs as well.”

“Naturally.”

They were speaking the same language now, and Lauren felt something settle.

Carly checked her phone. “For the initial shoot, would Friday evening work? We’re closing early to move in new equipment, so the gym will be empty. Unless you have plans?”

Friday nights used to mean shots and chaos. Those days felt a lifetime ago.

“Good with me,” Lauren said.

“Me too,” Paige added.

Carly stood. “Great. See you both here around seven?”

“Perfect.”

Lauren held the door as Carly left. Carly gave Paige a final nod before disappearing down the corridor.

Lauren closed the door and dropped into the chair Carly had just vacated, feeling as if she’d been holding her breath since the engagement party. Her hands were doing the post-save shake, adrenaline with nowhere left to go.

Paige laughed. “Well done. Handled like a pro.”

“I was sweating the whole time.”

“But you did it.”

Paige shifted forward, gearing up to stand. “So… lasagne?”

Lauren leaned back, fingers still tingling. She hadn’t spiralled.

“I did do it, didn’t I?”

Her confidence rose slowly, then all at once.

“Forget the lasagne. I’m buying us burgers.”

Paige was on her feet in seconds. “You? Buying me dinner?” She grabbed the carrier bag and thrust it into Lauren’s hand. “Now there’s an offer I can’t refuse. Get moving before you come to your senses.”

12

Carly

The bench was heavier than Carly remembered, or maybe she was just tired from another run-in with Samantha. Either way, her grip was slipping, and the guy at the other end had been puffing and wheezing for the last ten feet.

“Almost there,” she muttered, nudging open the weights room door with her foot.

They backed through and lowered the bench with a thud.

“Need a break?” Beth called from across the room, her clipboard purely decorative.