Forgiveness Frittata

Hannah

My phone chimed from my nightstand. I groaned as I reached forward and grabbed it, squinting at the text on the screen. I was sore. Really, really, painfully sore.

Ty

This is your friendly neighborhood trainer, Ty. Challenge teams have been assigned. Expect an email from Jordan in your inbox within forty-eight hours

Ugh. I wasn’t sure I could walk without wincing, much less process being on a challenge team. I laid it back down and closed my eyes again.

I just needed to lie quietly for a few minutes before I got up and took a hot shower. Obviously, people required too much attention this morning as my phone chimed again. And then twice more.

The first one was from Ty.

Ty

How ya doin, gorgeous?

Okay then…

The second was from Parker. I was still mad at him…mostly.

Parker

The date was so worth it. I think I’m in love.

Well, good for you... jerk.

The third was from another unknown number.

Unknown

Welcome to Team Green Machine. Be on the lookout for an informational email and a Facebook group invite from me later today

So I wasn't on Mallory's team, thank God. I couldn't handle eight weeks of backhanded comments and insulting looks. I got enough looks from the toothpick girls at work.

They were always watching what I ate for lunch. It wasn't that interesting. Just because they ate four pieces of lettuce and a carrot stick didn't mean I had to.

Parker

do you still hate me?

~No, you lovable asshole.~

~I thought as another one came through from Parker.~

Hannah

undecided

Parker

I’m not a coed’s major

~Very funny, Parker.~ Cue eye roll.

Hannah

you’re also not funny

Parker

agree to disagree

Hannah

what do you want?

Might as well figure out what his agenda was.

Parker

someone is grumpy

Hannah

I’m tired. And sore.

Parker

if you let me in, I’ll make you breakfast

Hannah

nothing with quinoa

Parker

deal…I even bought bacon.

Hannah

you’re speaking my love language

Parker

I know what my girl likes 😉

Speaking of his girl... I never corrected Ty when he called Parker my boyfriend. That had the potential to be awkward.

Parker

come open the door

I rolled onto my side and sat up, trying to ignore how the muscles in my back protested the movement. When I swung my legs around and stood up on the carpet, I immediately felt the soreness in my muscles.

Today was going to be rough.

“Oh, fuck me...” I groaned as I stepped toward my dresser and pulled out a pair of lounge pants and a loose, long-sleeved shirt.

My phone chimed with another text message, so I sped up and winced as I stepped into my living room. A quick succession of knocks sounded from the door, and I growled as I made my way to unlock it.

“Chill out, you impatient asswipe.”

Parker had a shit-eating grin on his face when I opened the door. He had a shopping bag in each hand filled with groceries.

“Morning, sunshine!” He kissed my cheeks as he stepped around me—or spun around me more accurately—and headed for the kitchen.

Parker got laid last night.

His mood was euphoric as he started covering my once bare counters with various fresh vegetables, a carton of eggs, and a small case of protein shakes.

“Where’s this bacon I was promised?”

He rolled his eyes dramatically, pulled the package out of the last bag, and waved it in front of my face before it joined the growing pile of ingredients.

“I know better than to promise you bacon and not deliver. I don’t have a death wish.”

His eyes widened as he saw the look on my face.

Even though I actually had an excellent workout, I was still not forgiving him so easily. He not only ditched me at the last minute, but he also signed me up for a “fitness challenge.”

“Still mad?”

“Oh... I’m not mad. I just had to suffer the Dragon eye-rolling and face-making her way through my ‘weigh-in’.” I winced as I jerked my arms up and made a rough set of quotation marks with my fingers.

He grimaced as he looked up at me and noticed me awkwardly stretching my arms.

“Did you take a shower last night when you got home?”

I nodded, and even my neck was a little sore. I was so out of shape.

“Yeah, of course. I wasn’t climbing into bed covered in dried sweat.”

His lip curled up, and I narrowed my eyes at him. I was aware of how unappealing I was after a workout.

“Try turning the water cold for the last thirty seconds next time, it’ll help ease some of the soreness,” he said as he turned his attention back to his prepping.

Say what? No…

“I think I’ll pass on the cold shower, oh fitness guru.”

“Just try it…” he said with nonchalance. “It helps.”

“Yeah... I’ll take your word on that one. I just need the weekend to recover.”

His eyes lit up.

“Are you going back on Monday?”

“Well, I kind of have to, with you signing me up for this ‘fitness challenge’,” I bit back with a little snark.

The way his head dropped to avoid eye contact would have been comical if I wasn’t still plotting where to bury his body.

“Yup... Ty told me what you did,” I confessed. “I know that’s why you skipped yesterday. ’Cause you knew I’d murder you.”

“Well, if you did it in front of Ty, then at least I’d have witnesses.”

“That’s what you’re worried about?”

He sighed and set down the whisk he’d been using to mix the eggs.

“Han, I saw an opportunity. I liked that place, and I wanted to find something to keep us both motivated,” he replied, remorse heavy in his voice.

“As you said before, I’m in shape-ish. I could use the more regimented exercise too.”

“You could have just talked to me.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“I probably would have said no…initially,” I admitted. “But I may have come around.”

“Han, I love you, but you’re stubborn. You would have never gone back without me ensuring it.” He wasn’t letting me bullshit my way out of this one.

“I know you…your first instinct when you feel like you’re being cornered is to bolt.”

“I do n—”

He put up his hand and scoffed.

“Please... we both know that’s a lie. You have the healthiest self-preservation instinct I have ever seen,” Parker smirked.

“Which is good when you’re running from a douchebag ex-boyfriend who wants to hook up, but sometimes it hurts you.”

I closed my eyes and sighed. He was right. I knew I hid from things, but it was easier if I didn’t have expectations. You couldn’t be hurt if you never truly relied on anyone.

Including yourself.

“So whose team are you on?” he asked.

Oh shit. Teams. We were on teams. Parker better have asked for us to be together.

“Hold on; I got a text earlier.” I pulled my phone out and looked at my texts. “Huh…”

“What? What’s that look for?” he asked as I frowned down at the screen.

“Ty texted me.”

“Okay…” he drew out the vowel as he tilted his head at me. “He texted me too.”

“No... like he really texted me, not just about the challenge.”

“Well... don’t keep me in suspense,” he said, looking over at me expectantly.

I opened up the two missed texts and laughed as I read them.