A Break Apart

Chapter 12. Man Cave

I walked into the gym, thankful to find William in the midst of his queen bees, as that would keep him as far away from me as necessary. Forget the last time we were together. I regained my senses.

We both glanced at each other before I got on the thread mill, and from the corner of my eye, I caught him walking towards me.

"Ugh..." I started to wish that I could actually move on the thread mill.

He appeared in my corner with a lofty smirk, and just then I noticed one of his queen bees glaring at me as if I had just snatched her husband.

"Hey, sweetheart." He perched his forearm on the head of the workout machine that I was using, shoving his other hand in the pocket of his jersey shorts.

I rolled my eyes. "It's rude enough that you left them just to come here and say, 'Hey, sweetheart,'" I mimicked his voice with an exaggerated tone. "And please for the last time, call me by my name!" My eyes widened in warning.

He chuckled. "I didn't just leave them, I excused myself. And I don't need permission from anyone to socialize with people." He gestured with the hand he removed out of his pocket, as if that would make me take him seriously.

"Not when it will lead to trouble." I raised my eyebrows.

"Trouble? What are you talking about?" he asked, confused.

"I'm talking about that lady who won't stop glaring at me." I threw a glance in her direction.

He followed my lead, turning around slowly, and then he turned back to me, scoffed, and said, "Don't tell me you feel intimidated by her?"

I almost lost my footing as I stared at him in utter disbelieve. "Just get out of my sight," I said and focused on my workout, looking away from his provocative face that burned my energy way more than the steps I was taking on the machine.

I heard him laugh. "Serious as always. I was only joking with you."

"Well, your jokes are terrible."

After my session in the gym, he followed me out again, like a bodyguard who was paid to watch over me against my will.

"So, what other plans do you have scheduled for today? The day is still early."

"Uhm..." I tried to formulate a lie.

"It's obvious you have nothing planned out. Let me take you to my place," he interrupted, again putting me in a tight spot without at least a window to try and escape from.

Walking with him was a lot dreadful than walking alone in a desert. He kept looking for trouble, saying I needed to lift more dumbbells because I had no muscles. He compared my look to a squid and called me Squidward, and I did feel like Squidward who needed a moment of solitude so far away from an annoying Spongebob!

We arrived at a small flat and cornered into the front yard. The compound looked similar to mine, with the brick floor and flower beds around it. The mowed lawn before the flowers looked inviting for a picnic. And a dark blue, Toyota Camry XLE faced the building.

"You have a car," I subconciously let my thoughts out as I stopped walking.

"And why do you sound so surprised?" He stopped by my side and looked at me with a puzzled face.

"Because you walk more than the Israelites."

"Oh, so then... that makes you a true Israelite because you don't have a car," he said in mock thought.

I pressed my lips tight, holding back a blush, and it felt worse that he knew that I knew he got me with his comeback.

He chuckled and stepped ahead. "Let's go in."