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“Let’s end this workout for the day. It’s not beneficial to either of us. You’re
not completely here.” He takes a deep breath and punches the air a little. It would
be funny if I weren’t confused.
“Look, I just have a lot on my mind. Can we just run?” I acquiesce and resume
running. We get a mile and a half into the run, and he starts sprinting like he’s trying
to win a race. By the time I make it to the end, Henry is doing pull-ups at a crazy
speed. What’s wrong with him? I cool down and take a sip of water. “Sanya, do you
have time to go to breakfast? I’m ready to talk.”
Breakfast? We never have breakfast together. My mind screams, but my head
nods. Maybe he is going to drop me as a “client.” I know for a fact that Cassie
doesn’t like me; maybe she used va-jay-jay power to get him to drop me. I pull into
the spot next to him and walk to my impending doom. Maybe Tony and I will get
to know each other better.
I slide across from him in the booth. The scent of coffee and bacon overpowers
everything else. The server blasts past with a huge plate of pancakes. They look like
heaven, but that could be the Keto diet talking. We both order water, and I ask for
hot tea; he gets coffee. I look around to see everything but Henry. I am nervous and
don’t want to react like a spoiled child if he tells me he can no longer help me.
The server arrives with our drinks. I squeeze lemon into my tea with far more
attention and diligence than necessary. I chastise myself to be an adult and move
my focus from his fingers then up his long-sleeved arms to his face. I am surprised
to see him studying my face as if he is trying to pinpoint every nuance that makes
up my complexion. I wonder if he can hear my heart beating. I reorganize the sugar
packets. First, I have them all grouped by color. Then, I decide to be different and
rotate them – pink, blue, yellow, white, but there are more white packets than the
others. I’m starting my new pattern pink, white, blue, white, yellow, white…when
he places his hand over mine. We hardly ever touch each other, so his hand covering
mine is somewhat of a thrill.
My shocked eyes search his. He smirks; some of the Henry charm is back.
“What are you doing?” he asks. “If I didn’t know better, I would think I make you
nervous.”
Yes. “No.” I half shrug. “This whole morning has been weird.” He rubs his
beard and sighs hard.