That last one was crucial because Marti hated to be late. Itcompletely stressed her out, therefore, it completely stressed Spencer out. Sheslammed her locker and headed for the exit as quickly as she could withoutactually running.
The sight that greeted her in the parking lot nearly made her stopdead in her tracks. It was only by sheer force of self-preservation that herfeet kept moving, because Marti was out of the car, standing at the open cardoor, her forearms braced across the top of it. She was grinning as she talkedto none other than Rebecca McCall.
“There she is,” Marti said as she saw Spencer. “About time.”
“Sorry,” Spencer said, as Rebecca turned and their eyes locked. “Igot distracted.”
“What else is new?” Marti asked, her tone light. But Spencer knewshe was irritated. “I was just about to come in and get you when Rebecca herecame out. I asked her if she knew you. She said she did, very well.”
Spencer didn’t dare look at Rebecca.
“She’s my star pupil,” Rebecca said, surprising Spencer.
“Yeah? Well, that’s quite a surprise,” Marti said.
Spencer opened the back door to the car and tossed her thingsinside, slammed the door and stood beside Marti.
Every single thing about this situation felt weird to her. Every.Single. Thing.
“Why a surprise?” Rebecca asked, and Spencer did look at her then.Her gaze was riveted on Marti, and Spencer was pretty sure she saw the quickflash of an angry nostril flare.
“Spencer isn’t exactly the most athletic of women,” Marti saidwith a chuckle, and there was something about the way she said it, as if it wasthe most obvious fact in the world, that set Spencer’s teeth on edge.
“I guess you’ve never seen her in the gym,” Rebecca said, her voicevery, very low.
Marti’s grin didn’t reach her eyes, and that did nothing to helpSpencer’s discomfort. “I haven’t. You’re right. But she’s always been alittle…soft.” Marti put her arm around Spencer’s shoulder and squeezed hercloser. “Don’t get me wrong. I like her that way.”
Rebecca’s eyes never left Marti, and Spencer could all but see thestorm brewing in them. “She’s anything but soft. She works really hard in classand she’s getting results. Visible results.”
The way Rebecca emphasized the word “visible” sent a flood ofwarmth rushing through Spencer. The how, the why, thewhat-the-hell-is-going-on, all of it shot through her like fast-moving water,and she had such a barrage of mixed feelings hit that she worried for a splitsecond she might faint.
“If you say so,” Marti said, that same chilly smile on her face asshe shrugged.
“We should get going,” Spencer finally managed to make herselfsay, and ducked out from under Marti’s arm. Her eyes met Rebecca’s as shepassed, the storm clouds still gathering in them, and she gave Rebecca’s arm aquick squeeze as she continued by and around the car. “Have a great weekend,Rebecca. See you Monday.” A little wave later, she got into the passenger seatand emptied her lungs in a whoosh.
Marti slammed her door shut and keyed the ignition. “Jesus, she’suptight, huh?” She shook her head as she shifted the car and drove them out ofthe parking lot.
So many things flew through Spencer’s mind at the moment. So manypossible replies, most of which were not gentle or kind or happy. But they wereon their way to meet people, and the last thing Spencer wanted to do was walkinto the restaurant in a fight with Marti. Nothing would make the evening dragon more.
She kept quiet.
In her sideview mirror, she could still see Rebecca. Standing talllike a sentry. Standing up for Spencer.
A small smile crept its way onto Spencer’s face.
* * *
“Ugh. She was just…smarmy. You know what I mean?” Rebecca shookher head in disgust and sipped her club soda. “So fucking smarmy.”
“I like that word.” Zoe swigged her beer as she leaned an elbow onthe bar and regarded Rebecca. “Smarmy. It’s a good word.”
“I mean, Spencer was standingrightthere. Right next to her. Who does that? Who calls their partnersoft and unathletic in front of somebody they just met?” Rebecca had hoped theboiling of her blood would ease a bit once she got to the bar and met Zoe, onceshe had some nice, icy cold club soda in her system, but no such luck. She wasjust as annoyed as she had been an hour ago as she’d watched Spencer sitsilently next to her fiancée and drive away. “For Christ’s sake,” she muttered,turning to face the bar and bracing her forearms on it like a regular. Sheglanced up at Zoe, who was looking at her with what Rebecca could only labelamusement, but she couldn’t seem to stop. “I mean, she obviously hasn’t lookedat Spencer at all lately. Like,atall.”
“No? What makes you say that?”
“Because she’s got muscles!” Rebecca’s voice was louder than she’dintended, and she sank her head down into her shoulders a bit and lowered thevolume. “Because she’s been working hard and she’s getting results, and howdoes the person who loves her not even notice that?”
“Yeah.” It was all Zoe said and when Rebecca glanced her way, shewas shaking her head, eyebrows raised as she took a swig of her beer.
