Chapter 13
Gage
I knew I should’ve been paying attention. Derek probably assumed I was right there with him- locked in, tracking every word he said, more than ready to jump in if he left something out. Like I was supposed to be some second-in-command, the golden boy who could just pick up the slack whenever it appeared. He trusted me like that.
But I couldn’t help myself.
My eyes kept drifting-drawn back to her like a goddamn magnet. There she was, front and center. Bree. Elbows on the table, notebook open, pen moving across the page like she was transcribing the Bible. Every time Derek spoke, she wrote. Every word, every tip, every little detail he threw out
there-she captured it. She wasn’t just learning; she was rewriting it in her own way, making it stick,
turning knowledge into something living inside her.
It was captivating. Beautiful, honestly. Especially compared to the rest of the group, who looked like they were counting the seconds until this lesson was over. Most of them didn’t even have a
pen out, let alone paper. Some stared blankly ahead, others fiddled with their phones under the
table or whispered to the person next to them. It was clear they didn’t care. Not really. They were
here to lift weights, flirt, party. Not to actually learn.
But Bree? She was different.
She wasn’t just playing the role of the perfect student. She was the perfect student. Every time she
raised her hand, asked a question, or jotted something down, Derek lit up like a damn glow stick.
He practically beamed with pride, soaking up her attention like it fueled him. It was obvious-he
loved having someone in the room who actually gave a s**t about what he was teaching.
Someone who saw value in it, who wasn’t just ticking a box to say they attended.
But even with that concentrated look on her face, even while she was laser-focused on the lecture
… I saw it.
She looked exhausted.
Her shoulders were hunched ever so slightly, as though the weight of the world rested there. The skin beneath her eyes was dark and puffy, like she hadn’t gotten a full night’s sleep in days. And every so often, she’d shift in her seat-not fidgety, but like she was trying to ease pain from sitting too long on sore muscles. Or maybe just sore bones. Her whole body radiated fatigue.
And I knew-it wasn’t just physical.
Something was eating at her. Something deeper. Something that made her look like she was barely holding it together, like every breath took effort, like she was here out of desperation more than choice. I had a strong feeling it wasn’t because she’d spent all night gossiping with Gabriella
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and her crew. That kind of vibe didn’t fit her at all. Bree didn’t feel like a girl who wasted her time on
shallow s**t like that. Whatever had her looking like she’d been through hell-it was personal.
Painful. Maybe even private.
“Food is always important,” Derek droned on, his voice breaking into my thoughts as he sketched a wonky circle on the whiteboard behind him. “Nutrients are what make our bodies work-especially if we want them to change.”
I slouched further into my seat, arms folded across my chest, legs stretched out in front of me like
I owned the place. The plastic chair beneath me was stiff as hell, but I barely noticed. I was too
busy watching the room. Watching her. Just keeping a quiet eye on the space around her. Making
sure nothing happened. Making sure no one got close.
Kenneth looked half-asleep, like he’d been dragged in against his will. Caleb had his eyes glued to the back of Bree’s head, which was already pissing me off. And Gabriella? She was doing her best impression of a bored influencer, filing her nails into perfect little points like she wasn’t surrounded by real people.
No one was paying attention.
Except her.
My eyes drifted back to Bree again, and there it was-my favorite sight. That hoodie. Oversized, faded, and hanging off her like it had a story. The back of it screamed U.S. Army, the letters cracked and worn like it had survived more than a few washes. I couldn’t help but wonder who it had belonged to. A dad? A brother? Someone she missed?
I was a simp. I knew it. I’d barely spoken to her outside of class, and yet here I was-madly obsessed, stomach tight every time she so much as glanced in my direction. It was like there was something magnetic between us, something unspoken and heavy and real. I didn’t know if it was just her body, or the quiet strength she carried, or the way she felt completely untouched by this whole fake camp vibe.
But I knew. Bree wasn’t just another girl. She wasn’t just another name or summer memory I’d let fade with the season. She was something else. Something that hit deep in my chest. She wasn’t a fling. She wasn’t a one-night mistake.
She was it.
The problem? I didn’t know how to reach her.
It felt impossible to get her alone. Every time I tried, someone interrupted. A counselor. A
classmate. One of Gabriella’s i***t friends. I didn’t want just casual banter between reps or half-hearted conversations about muffins during baking class.
I wanted real.
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wanted to know what she thought about when she couldn’t sleep. I wanted to know what made
her cry, what made her smile, what she hoped for when no one was watching. I wanted her to see me-really see me-and know I was safe. That I saw her too.
“Remember how important it is to balance your plate,” Derek said, wrapping up. “Always eat nutritious foods. Whether you’re losing weight, gaining weight, or maintaining-your body needs fuel. Every time you feed your body something good, it thanks you. It gives back.”
People were starting to shuffle in their seats, their bodies shifting like they were all on the edge of bolting. Everyone knew the class was almost over. They could sense it in the way Derek’s voice
slowed, in the way his arms began to relax by his sides. After nearly an hour and a half of talking about food-about nutrients, macros, balanced meals, and the benefits of eating clean-most of them looked ready to riot just for a protein bar.
I’d told him. I tried to tell Derek that doing a full session with nothing but theory, no weights, no squats, no reps, was a stretch-especially for this crowd. These were people who wanted action, not lectures. But Derek was stubborn, especially when it came to what he believed in. He insisted this was how it had to be. Because it mattered. Because if they didn’t learn the why, they’d never take the how seriously. This was more than just summer fun to him-it was a chance to change people. To build something.
“Alright,” he finally said, clapping his hands together with a firm, final smack. He shot a quick glance at me to make sure I had nothing to add. I gave a slight nod in return, staying quiet. “Class dismissed.”
The second the words left his mouth, chairs screeched across the linoleum floor like a chorus of banshees. Everyone made a break for the exit like their lives depended on it. Some didn’t even bother stacking their chairs. But not Bree.
She wasn’t in a hurry. She stayed in her seat, pen still dancing across the page. There was something mesmerizing about it-how carefully she moved, how her letters formed so neatly, how she seemed completely unaffected by the chaos of the room around her. It was like she was in her own little bubble of focus. I watched her fill up the last few lines in her notebook, her expression focused, her mouth slightly parted as she read what she’d written.
Derek noticed too. I saw the grin pull at the corners of his mouth before he walked over, crouching beside her desk like she was the only one in the room worth talking to.
“Did you learn something useful?” he asked, tilting his head slightly as he met her eyes.
She glanced up at him, the bridge of her glasses sliding a little down her nose. She pushed them back up with a finger, then smiled-really smiled. It was so bright, so genuine, I felt it twist something deep in my chest. I wanted that smile aimed at me.
“I did,” she said, her voice sweet but full of certainty. “I think this combined with the cooking class
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< Chapter 13
will give me a great overview before college.”
More Rewards >
Her words were humble, but you could hear how serious she was. She wanted this. She wanted to
do something real with what she was learning.
“And how about the morning run?” Derek asked, flashing a playful look. “Still a fan of that?”
She exhaled, a little laugh slipping out as she looked down. A soft pink rose to her cheeks, and
damn if it didn’t look perfect on her.
“It’s tough, if I’m being honest,” she said, still smiling. “And today, I’ve just had a lot of exercise
beyond that, so I’m pretty beat.”
Derek nodded, standing up again and motioning for her to do the same. “I know it’s hard on your
body, and it’ll keep complaining-trying to get you to quit. But if you stick with it, Bree, I promise it’ll
be worth it.”
#
I stepped in then, sliding up beside them like it was the most natural thing in the world. My voice came out smooth, low, and controlled. “It feels great when your body gets stronger,” I added, locking eyes with her. “I’m addicted to it myself.”
Her eyes flicked to mine, and I saw them widen slightly. Then-God help me-she looked down. Slowly. And yeah, I saw it. That quick once-over, her gaze skating down my chest, across my arms, before snapping back to my face.
I puffed out my chest just a little. Couldn’t help it.
I’d worked for this body. Years of early mornings, brutal workouts, eating clean even when all I wanted was greasy food and sugar. It hadn’t come easy. But now? Now it did whatever I asked it
- It could take hits and keep going. It didn’t quit. And maybe, just maybe, she saw that too.
“I’m looking forward to it,” she said, her voice softer now, more careful. Her smile was still there, but it was tinged with something a little shyer. Her cheeks deepened in color, her blush spreading as she realized she’d been caught checking me out in front of Derek.
I didn’t mind. Hell, I loved it. She could look all she wanted-just preferably when it was just the two of us.
“Come on, you two,” Derek chuckled, clearly picking up on the heat between us. “Let’s go get some nutrients!”
Bree’s eyes met mine again. I grinned down at her, couldn’t stop myself. She looked flustered, adorably so-caught between embarrassment and maybe a little thrill. She turned quickly, ducking her head, and followed after Derek.
I caught up easily, my hands sliding into my pockets as we walked side by side down the hallway. She held her notebook tight against her chest like it was her shield.
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* Chapter 13
“You’re coming to the bonfire Thursday, right?” I asked, trying to sound casual. Inside, I was
buzzing. I needed her to say yes.
“I think so,” she said, brows pulling together slightly like she was trying to recall the details. “Isn’t it
for everyone?”
I nodded, keeping my tone smooth. “Yeah, but some people go down to the lake instead. Looking for something a little more… romantic,” I added with a slow grin, watching her face carefully.
Her eyes flicked to mine. “You’re going to the lake then?”
I shook my head, letting a soft smile touch my lips. “Nah. I’d rather be at the bonfire.”
She nodded, but I didn’t miss it. The little smile that tugged at her lips-subtle, quiet, but there.
And it was all mine.
”
