Over the Edge (Bridge #3)(55)

“Consider it done.”

OLIVIA



I stepped through the doors of the gym, which still smelled new. Regret mixed with pride. Today could have been different, but dwelling on the past wasn’t getting me anywhere. We needed to move forward. All of us.

I hadn’t heard from Darren since the ribbon-cutting, and despite Maya’s efforts to keep tabs on my delicate emotional state, Cameron had managed to carefully avoid running into me.

For me, the initial shock of them knowing the truth about my relationship with Will and Ian had worn off. The spontaneous bouts of crying had stopped. The future seemed manageable, if a bit messier than I would have ideally wished for. But I felt secure in my choice. Both Ian and Will had secured a place in my heart. Nothing could change that.

I’d lived my whole life with convenient, proper, and socially acceptable behavior. I’d never burned the way these two men made me burn. I wasn’t ready to give up.

Having a break from their intensity, however, had given me the clarity I needed to feel secure in that choice. Too easily I became a slave to their passion and possessiveness. Owning my choice was more important than the comfort they would have given me after falling out of favor with my brothers.

I held my head high as I approached the front desk. Tori, the college-aged girl who normally manned the front of the gym, waved when she noticed me. Other patrons meandered in, sliding their passes through the scanner that confirmed their membership with a pleasant beep.

“How’s it going?”

She beamed. “It’s going great. Still getting things organized here and there, but so far no glitches. Everyone’s happy.”

“Has it been busy?”

“Swamped. Local members seem psyched about the extra location, and the marketing push you organized for the new member promotion seems to have worked. We’ve had a bunch of new sign-ups since the opening.”

“That’s awesome. Have you seen Cam?”

She glanced over her shoulder. “Yeah, he’s been around. Maya was here earlier, harassing him to talk to new members and schmooze a bit, so he’s either in the gym following instructions or hiding out in the office.”

I laughed and thanked her.

I found Cameron talking to a member I didn’t recognize. I approached slowly so I didn’t interrupt them, but Cameron noticed me immediately.

“Hi,” he said, but the greeting seemed awkward and forced.

The guy he was with stopped talking and fixed his gaze to me. He was good-looking, heavily muscled. Definitely a gym rat. Another time I might have given him a second glance, but my brothers were always around, giving guys the death glare if they got too chatty with me at the gym. Today didn’t seem to be any different. Beyond that, I wasn’t interested.

Cameron seemed to notice the man’s attention on me. The corded muscles in his neck stiffened. “Let me know if you have any more questions. All right?”

The man tore his gaze from me and nodded to Cameron quickly. “Cool, thanks.”

“Sorry for interrupting,” I said. “Do you have a minute to talk?”

He hesitated a moment. “Sure. Let’s head back to the office.”

I followed him to the back where a much newer and larger office was situated. Unlike the pokey office at our other location, this one allowed desks for Cameron, Darren, and me. Prior to the ribbon-cutting, we’d moved most of our files and set this place up to be our future headquarters.

“Looks good in here,” I said.

“Thanks to you. Maya’s been helping me get things organized, but the layout and everything you set us up with is working well so far.”

I knew I could decorate a room like a boss, but I warmed at the compliment because it came from Cameron. I wanted him to be happy with the contributions I made to the business.

He leaned against the edge of his desk, powerful arms folded across his chest and legs crossed at the ankle. He wore his signature black mesh gym shorts and an athletic T-shirt with the Bridge Fitness logo on it. Unexpected pride swelled inside me again. While he cleaned up great in a suit, this is where he was supposed to be. Not at a desk job. Nothing could persuade me to think he’d chosen the wrong path for his life.

He stared down at the floor, his countenance impassive. Slowly, sadness began to permeate the pride I had for my brother. I’d come here to make amends. I could only pray he was capable of seeing past his disappointment.

“Cam, I don’t want you to be angry with me,” I said, my voice brittle and small. Already fresh emotion was welling up, tightening my throat. Damnit.

He didn’t meet my eyes. “I’m not angry,” he said, but the words were flat and lifeless.

“I can tell that you are.” I fidgeted with my bracelet, pressing the cool metal pendant between my thumb and forefinger. The little diamonds abraded my thumb, but the memento felt like a lifeline right now.

“What do you expect me to say?” He finally met my gaze and lifted the dark wing of his eyebrow.

“Darren’s already said most everything I expected either of you to say if you ever found out. But right now, I’d love it if you said that you just want me to be happy. That I have your support.”

“To date two men at once?”

I canted my head with a sigh. “To love whom I want to love.”

He exhaled through his clenched teeth. “You’re asking too much, Liv.”