“The gym offers a ninety-minute parkour course. Teddy and Grace call it ninja training, but I’m all for whatever gets their energy out. I figure if you’re anything like me and mine, having a few minutes to think is a blessing in disguise.” Maddy smiles warmly, and I force myself to react.
My smile doesn’t shine as bright—more of a grimace, I’m sure. Spending any time away from my kid feels like a death sentence, but I can appreciate her trying to connect. She’s been doing it since I met her that first day. Pretty sure she has enoughfriends of her own, and it gets me thinking that this is all for her son. Which I respect on a whole other level. She’d do anything for her children, just like I’ll do anything for mine.
“Um, yeah.” I clear my throat and finally give in, not wanting to hurt my kid. Me? Jury is still out on that, but I can deal with this. “Sounds good for him. Does he need anything?”
Maddy straightens as the weight of my words seems to physically release off her. The pressure she must have put on herself to find her son a friend makes me almost feel sad for her. Not that I know her story or anything, so I keep my thoughts to myself. The last thing I want to do is get a sob story and feel guilty when I have to pull us out of this. I’m already regretting the effect it’ll have on my kid, but I really can’t deny him a friend, even for a short time. He rarely gets to stay in one place long enough to become known, much less gain a friend in return.
“Just a water bottle. They have the kids take off their socks and shoes before getting on the equipment for the indoor course. It’s too hot for the outside one today, which they would wear shoes for.”
As Maddy talks, Bass opens his bag and pulls out a water bottle. He calls out to Ollie and tosses it to him. Not sure if the fact he caught it or that Bass gave him something is why he’s smiling and looking like a lost puppy getting found.
Jesus. This kid is getting attached to more than one of them. Damnit.One I can handle. Two might be a bit of a strain. But if they keep treating him like he’s always wanted—a person to be seen and not to hide in the shadows—then I’m going to be in trouble when this all ends. I know I should bethe one giving him everything, but a girl on the run can only do so much. A mantra I tell myself several times a day. Keeping him alive is more important than friendship.
“Come on,” Teddy calls out before he runs a few feet away.
Ollie is quick to turn, but a second later, he’s looking back at me. Always the smart kid. Friend or not, we don’t take risks if we can help it. And looking around, I don’t see a threat. My eyes are roaming the place, and I can see almost everything from the front entrance where we’re standing. I even see the other kids at the back in what’s probably the parkour area.
I give him a chin lift and get a smile that makes my heart sprout wings and fly in return. It’s one of true happiness that I see so rarely. He doesn’t notice that I almost feel like a damn girl about to bawl my eyes out as he turns and follows his friend.
“Izzy is at the coffee bar watching Wyatt for me if you want to join. Her Princess and my Gracey are already over there with the boys, so we should be kid free. Well, as much as we can be with a one-year-old.”
She’s trying, she really is. But I think I’ve hit my max at being friendly today. At least when there are about fifty people between me and my kid, and I already know my cover in this location is blown, no matter that the club thinks they can keep us safe. It’s only a matter of time before we get found again.
“Think I’ll just look around,” Bass grunts at my back, and I realize I’m not even looking at Maddy as I continue to monitor everything around me.
The noise draws me back in time to watch the happiness drain a bit from Maddy’s face. Something that makes me feelbad, but not enough to change my mind. Still, Ma always told me not to act like a bitch to everyone, especially if they might be in a position to help you later. And sheishelping. She’s giving my kid something I’ve not been able to provide. So I throw her a bone.
“Maybe next time. Who knows, maybe I’ll find a few machines to work out some of my issues on. Apparently, I have a temper.”
Bass laughs outright, and I find my own lips twitching at my words. Maddy just smiles and walks away.
I look back to the door and see no club brother there guarding it. It would be pointless if they did. Bass already knows I’m not leaving without Ollie, so there’s nothing to do but look around. I’ve got the time, and I really do have some pent-up energy to get out. I might not be dressed for using some of the machines, but I’ve got no problem hitting a bag in shorts.
And as luck would have it, Bass is heading that way himself, and it’s closer to where my kid is laughing away with his friend.
Despite the look he gives me as I walk past, Bass says nothing. But that doesn’t mean I don’t feel his eyes on me the entire time as I go to one of the unused speed bags and start a smooth rhythm my brother Danny taught me at a young age.
I get lost in the familiarity of it. It’s been longer than I can remember that I could just enjoy a moment without having to look over my shoulder. Of course, it helps that I picked the spot with a wall behind me and angled myself in a way that I can catch anyone who comes close but still keep an eye on Ollie. Till my view’s blocked.
“You’re not so bad at this,” Bass says as he crosses his arms, watching me work the bag.
I snort. Obviously, the fish boy has never seen someone actually work one of these things before, ’cause I’m killing it.
“Yo, Bass.” A guy with the gym logo on his shirt walks over and pulls Bass in for one of those half hugs men do. I try to ignore them, but a girl can only ignore a Shemar Moore look-alike for so long.
“Glad to have you back. We missed you around here.”
“Thanks, Meekail. Good to be back. And you only missed me because you know it takes more than just you to corral your husband. Tell me, how many brothers did he piss off while I was gone?”
The guy laughs, and it’s a sound that doesn’t grate on my nerves. Hell, I’ve got half a mind to ask him to do it again, as it’s almost lyrical. “More than I care to count. If we didn’t give the club a discount on membership, I doubt I’d still have a man left. Guy has no filter and loves to get under someone’s skin. Reminds me of you, actually.”
“Ha, yeah, but we both know my bark is worse,” Bass says easily as he looks back to the bag that I haven’t stopped hitting.
“Nice. See you’ve done this before,” Meekail says.
I shrug, not feeling the need to voice anything that I’m obviously good at. I also never feel the need to agree or say “I told you so.” Just a waste of breath.
“If you’re interested, we’ve got a few programs that offer a bit more structure and they involve speed bag and sparring. Nothing too crazy, but we can match them to the parkour time if you’re wanting to go the solo route.”
