"Brody, I can't do this." I stop him outside. I'm nervous and I don't want to go inside.
He grabs my hand.
"They're going to love you." He kisses my forehead.
I love this affection. I love it.
We go wandering inside.
There's a young blonde girl crying and arguing with an older woman.
"Whoa, Mom, what's wrong?" he asks.
The girl buries her face in her hands and runs off.
"Nothing." She says. She looks at me. "You must be Danielle!"
His family starts to greet me with handshakes and hugs. Brody is clearly upset, trying to figure out what's wrong with the blonde girl.
He gives up and we all start talking.
"Did I tell you that my sister is going into level six for gymnastics?" Brody asks.
"Really?" I ask.
"Not anymore." Mrs. Barker says. "She's dropping out."
"Aww." I frown. "Why?"
"Because she's upset and her coach won't spend one on one time with her. There's two things she can't nail."
"What are they? Do you know?"
"I don't know their names. Do you know anything about gymnastics?" she asks.
"She's a level ten." Brody says.
"Wow." She says. "But yeah, she has to run towards that thing, I think it's the fault, and do a little flip or something, and then she has to jump from one bar to another."
"It's called a front handspring, Mom." The blonde girl comes walking out. She's pretty. She greets me with a hug.
"Do you want help?" I ask.
She hesitates.
"I'm pretty hopeless." She grumbles.
I frown. "You made it this far." I say.
"Well where are we gonna get bars and vault?"
I hesitate. "I have connections." I say.
"On Christmas Eve?" she asks.
"We can do it after tomorrow, but I can get in the gym now."
"I say let's do it. We'll have lunch after." Mr. Barker says.
Everyone starts agreeing. I text my old coach.
Me: hey sorry to bother you on Christmas eve but my boyfriends sister needs some help in the gym. Let me in?
Mr. Marshall: doors locked. I'll bring the key by. Im leaving now.
I tell everyone and we leave.
"Can you help me in that?" his sister, who I've just learned her name is Courtney.
"I have stuff at the gym." I say.
We all go to the gym on foot because it's close enough.
Mrs. Marshall wasn't here when I came in.
"Oh look at you!" she says. "You're all grown up!"
I smile.
We
Go inside.
She hands me the key.
"You know how I am about my gym." She says. "And I never trust anyone, not even my own husband, with my gym." She says. "I'm trusting you, Dani." She says.
YOU ARE READING
Lovebeam
أدب المراهقينDanielle is the type of Manager you'd be scared at. She's constantly yelling at employee's that upset her. Her job stresses her out, and she can't take it. Well, one day, Brody, one of her workers, gives her a call saying he left his notes. Of cours...
