Chapter 1
The hot water sprayed against Francesca’s body, easing her aches. She’d just put in an intense workout with weights. As the warmth engulfed her, she wasn’t sure she ever wanted to get out of the shower.
It was Friday evening, and she had absolutely no plans. Once again she would be going home alone to her apartment. But that was how things had been recently. Sure, there was probably someone she could call up to take her out for the evening, but it was all so meaningless. Everyone she knew was getting married and starting lives with babies and all that mushy stuff. And all she did was bounce from one rich guy to the next, hoping that maybe one would fall in love with her and not just want her for arm candy.
Turning off the shower, Francesca stepped onto the cool tile floor. She wrapped a big, white, fluffy towel around her and made her way through the Hot Bods locker room. After opening her locker, she dug through her bag. Of course she had designer clothes packed, but today she just didn’t feel like it. Why get glammed up just to go home alone? As she dug deeper in her bag, she saw an extra set of gym clothes. And they were her loose ones for when it was that time of the month. Could she do it? Wear these clothes out of the gym?
Letting the soft cotton fabric skim across her fingers, she decided, hell yeah she could. People left the gym all the time without even showering and no one seemed to care. So surely she could do this. Taking the bag, she slammed her locker shut and went toward the dressing stalls.
After getting dressed she went to the vanity area where she usually spent much of her time doing her hair and makeup until it looked perfect. As she stared at herself, she decided to just pull her hair up into a high ponytail. She then applied a light layer of makeup. There was no way in hell she was going to leave this place without that.
After she was finished, Francesca made her way to the front of the gym. Maybe she could get out of there before anyone she knew saw her.
“Francesca,” a familiar voice called.
Damn. Francesca turned to see Skylar. These days they were sort of getting along. Skylar was a gym instructor at Hot Bods, and at one point they had been involved with the same guy. And to make matters worse, Francesca’s brother was getting married in a few weeks to Amy, who just happened to be Skylar’s best friend. So they were having to put the harsh feelings behind them and find a way to get along.
“Hi, Skylar. I was just leaving.”
“I’m glad I caught you then. The gym is putting together an event next week to show our customers our appreciation. I wanted to make sure you knew, and I hope you stop in. Here’s a flyer with all the details.” Skylar shoved a neon orange paper in Francesca’s hand.
“Thanks, I’ll be sure to come by.”
“Is everything okay? You don’t look like yourself.” Skylar looked Francesca up and down.
“I’m fine.”
“Are you sick?” Skylar asked.
“No, I’m not sick.” Geesh, did she look that bad?
“Okay. Well, I’m here if you need to chat.”
Sure she was. She could be her new best friend. Yeah, right. “Thanks, but I’m just going to go home. Have a good evening.”
Francesca didn’t even give her time to speak again, she headed out the door as quickly as possible. A glance up at the sky showed the clouds looked as though they were ready to open up with a nasty storm. She hoped she made it home before it happened. She hated driving in the rain.
Climbing into her white Lexus, she started it up and left in a hurry. As she drove, her car wasn’t handling the way it usually did. She pressed her foot on the gas a little more and gazed up at the sky again. She really wanted to get home. The sky was getting awfully dark, and she knew the storm was going to hit at any moment and this stupid car just wouldn’t go as she accelerated.
Francesca took a left at the stop sign and was now on the homestretch to her
The hot water sprayed against Francesca’s body, easing her aches. She’d just put in an intense workout with weights. As the warmth engulfed her, she wasn’t sure she ever wanted to get out of the shower.
It was Friday evening, and she had absolutely no plans. Once again she would be going home alone to her apartment. But that was how things had been recently. Sure, there was probably someone she could call up to take her out for the evening, but it was all so meaningless. Everyone she knew was getting married and starting lives with babies and all that mushy stuff. And all she did was bounce from one rich guy to the next, hoping that maybe one would fall in love with her and not just want her for arm candy.
Turning off the shower, Francesca stepped onto the cool tile floor. She wrapped a big, white, fluffy towel around her and made her way through the Hot Bods locker room. After opening her locker, she dug through her bag. Of course she had designer clothes packed, but today she just didn’t feel like it. Why get glammed up just to go home alone? As she dug deeper in her bag, she saw an extra set of gym clothes. And they were her loose ones for when it was that time of the month. Could she do it? Wear these clothes out of the gym?
Letting the soft cotton fabric skim across her fingers, she decided, hell yeah she could. People left the gym all the time without even showering and no one seemed to care. So surely she could do this. Taking the bag, she slammed her locker shut and went toward the dressing stalls.
After getting dressed she went to the vanity area where she usually spent much of her time doing her hair and makeup until it looked perfect. As she stared at herself, she decided to just pull her hair up into a high ponytail. She then applied a light layer of makeup. There was no way in hell she was going to leave this place without that.
After she was finished, Francesca made her way to the front of the gym. Maybe she could get out of there before anyone she knew saw her.
“Francesca,” a familiar voice called.
Damn. Francesca turned to see Skylar. These days they were sort of getting along. Skylar was a gym instructor at Hot Bods, and at one point they had been involved with the same guy. And to make matters worse, Francesca’s brother was getting married in a few weeks to Amy, who just happened to be Skylar’s best friend. So they were having to put the harsh feelings behind them and find a way to get along.
“Hi, Skylar. I was just leaving.”
“I’m glad I caught you then. The gym is putting together an event next week to show our customers our appreciation. I wanted to make sure you knew, and I hope you stop in. Here’s a flyer with all the details.” Skylar shoved a neon orange paper in Francesca’s hand.
“Thanks, I’ll be sure to come by.”
“Is everything okay? You don’t look like yourself.” Skylar looked Francesca up and down.
“I’m fine.”
“Are you sick?” Skylar asked.
“No, I’m not sick.” Geesh, did she look that bad?
“Okay. Well, I’m here if you need to chat.”
Sure she was. She could be her new best friend. Yeah, right. “Thanks, but I’m just going to go home. Have a good evening.”
Francesca didn’t even give her time to speak again, she headed out the door as quickly as possible. A glance up at the sky showed the clouds looked as though they were ready to open up with a nasty storm. She hoped she made it home before it happened. She hated driving in the rain.
Climbing into her white Lexus, she started it up and left in a hurry. As she drove, her car wasn’t handling the way it usually did. She pressed her foot on the gas a little more and gazed up at the sky again. She really wanted to get home. The sky was getting awfully dark, and she knew the storm was going to hit at any moment and this stupid car just wouldn’t go as she accelerated.
Francesca took a left at the stop sign and was now on the homestretch to her
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