Page 44 of Vying Girls

I roll my eyes. ‘Leave your shit at the door. Gym’s not the place.’

‘I know.’ She turns back, leaving a little kiss on my nose. ‘That’s why I’m here. Keeping out of trouble.’

‘You come to me to keep out of trouble?’ I chortle. ‘Naïve little girl.’

‘Dunno. You’ve been on your best behaviour recently.’

I nod cautiously. I know what she’s getting at. Fucking screwing me all up too. I run my hands down her hips, comforting her or me, I don’t know.

Gym’s not really the place for this, but we’re saved anyway when Elly’s ass shows up.

‘Hey, dudes.’ She peers round, fluffing out that hair of hers. ‘Packed in here today.’

I grunt. Don’t I fucking know it.

She looks cosy in joggers and a hoodie. Doesn’t even have a water bottle. Just gonna do what she usually does, I bet, spotting me or following Tilda around like a lost puppy.

Can’t lie and say I don’t appreciate the company.

Tilda stands up and kisses her. I smother a smile when I see that girl from before watching. Wonder what she thinks of that.

‘I’m getting chilly,’ Tilda says. ‘Gonna keep going.’

I watch her go, shaking my head when I catch Elly doing the same. Can literally see the love hearts haloing around our heads.

Finally had my fill of the machine, I wipe down the seat, taking my shit to a blessedly empty bench in the corner. Elly follows, flicking my towel away so she can sit.

‘You actually gonna do anything today?’

‘Dunno.’ She rests against the stone wall, spreading out her legs. ‘Haven’t decided yet.’

I shake my head as I suck down water. ‘Why do you even bother?’

‘Got FOMO, didn’t I? Was missing my pals.’

‘Missing these babies, were ya?’ I flex my aching arms. They’re looking pretty good. Like I’ve stuffed rocks in them. Veiny rocks.Roidy,like that girl said.

‘Course. You know I can’t spend an hour without them.’

She’s not even looking at them, little traitor, eyes solely on Tilda on the other side of the gym.

Nic’s over there too. For two people who hate each other so much, they sure know how to orbit each other. Except it’s not an orbit now, but an all-out collision.

They’re way too far to make out what they’re saying but Nic’s got her knickers in a twist over something. Tilda’s looking up at her, something beseeching in her gaze, but Nic’s not having any of it.

Whateveritis.

I squint my eyes, as though that might make me see the situation better. What thefuckis their deal?

Then I forget to care when Nic shoots out a hand and grabs Tilda’s wrist.

‘Nope.’ I slam my water bottle down. ‘Don’t like that.’

‘Bro, just leave them to it.’ Elly grabs my arm when I get to my feet. ‘Let them sort their shit out.’

I lower back down reluctantly. ‘Doesn’t look like they’re sorting anything. It’s like they’re having a lover’s fucking tiff.’

Elly snorts but I don’t find it funny. Pisses me off when she won’t tell me. I thought we were closer than that. Trauma dumping was how we bonded in the first place. An unbreakable type, I thought, like those contraptions that hurt if one of you tries pulling away.