Page 116 of Perfect Satisfaction

“You’re not the only one,” Dani mutters.

I’m on FaceTime with Dani, who is ridiculously in shape after giving birth to my newest nephew, Zane, a few weeks ago. The two of us go head-to-head to push each other through our workouts. I can’t get my breath while we subject ourselves to torture on the elliptical.

I barely manage to ream out our instructor, “Listen, you leggy bitch, slow down!”

“Don’t work harder! Work smarter!” The online trainer taunts as she increases the intensity.

Dani curses before flipping her iPhone around to show me she’s keeping up.

I snag the water bottle and take a glug before I do the same. I let out a heartfelt groan. “Fuck both of you.”

That’s when the gym doors open. Arek strolls in looking like sex on a stick in a pair of basketball shorts and tank that’s been eaten by too many games on the court, chlorine bleach, or both. Either way, I can see enough of his body to remind myself of what I used to lick, suck, and fuck on a regular basis.

Not like I don’t see it in bed each night, but it’s different. I stumble on the elliptical when he moves to the rack and begins to lift some free weights.

“Unless a hot man just appeared in front of you, I’ll spank your ass for making me suffer through this hell alone,” Dani threatens.

“Shut the hell up, Danielle,” I hiss, but I immediately get my ass back in gear. As surreptitiously as I can, I flip the phone around so she can see why I paused.

“In that case, you have no excuse. The only wet between your legs should be sweat, sister.”

Arek’s eyes meet mine in the mirror, and he quirks a brow as if asking a silent question.Are you wet?

I pant harder as I paddle faster, making certain that sweatisthe only thing dripping between my thighs. “You realize you’re completely sacrificing your good girl image to a reporter.”

“Workouts like these should be a mulligan. Fucking hell, not another hill,” she groans.

“We’re going to die,” I whine.

“Me first. I’m older.”

“Who bought this for us as a Christmas gift?” I bitch.

“Jenna.”

“We’ll kill her together. Carys might find a loophole for justifiable homicide if we put the jury through this workout.”

At this point, Arek isn’t even pretending to work out. He’s straddling the weight bench and watching me with open amusement. He asks, “Is this a regular occurrence between you two, and can I video it?”

“No!” is shouted by both me and Dani.

“Okay, I swear I won’t video it, but can I watch? This is better than any comedy show I’ve been to in years. You two are a riot.”

My eyes become slits and I’m about to verbally fillet him with what little breath I have left, but the instructor begins our cool down. “Sweet baby Jesus, Dani. We survived.”

“It was close this time.” Her pigtails are lopsided and her face is flushed.

“I’d rather be running on the beach.”

“Same, sister. Same. Though the last time you tried that, you almost broke your ankle. I thought your whining would put a crimp in your beach time.” She winks at me to let me know she’s joking.

I blow her a kiss before informing her, “Kiss my ass.”

“Just think that due to Jenna’s gift, it’s that much firmer.”

“I hate you,” I tell her.

“No, you love me.”