Not Even Close (A New Generation) by Elizabeth Reyes (books to read in a lifetime txt) 📗

  In any case, Vannah had since forced herself to squash suchsenseless thoughts and stop snooping on the otherwise complete stranger’s life.It’d been days since she’d last done so. Only reason he was back on her mindtoday was because she was back at the gym and of course it’d be the first thingthat came to mind.

Like Vannah, Xochitl had wanted a jumpstart on school. So eventhough the fall semester had just started, technically they’d been in schoolsince summer. Shaking the thoughts away of what she now dubbed a daft crush onthe first guy in that long, she focused on the Zumba class she was nowstretching out for. Xochitl being a little overweight, had asked Vannah to helpmotivate her to lose some weight. So Vannah had agreed to try Zumba class at 5thStreet. Compared to all the other harder workouts this seemed the easiest.They’d be dancing to salsa songs. How hard could that be, right?

The catchy, jumpy, music started, and they were off. Thoughts ofByron were instantly gone when the giggling started up as she and Xochitl triedin vain to keep up with the instructors moves.

Twenty minutes later.

After taking the walk or rather dance of shame and sneaking outthe back door of the thankfully large workout room, Vannah sniggered onceoutside despite having a hard time catching her breath.

“Oh. My. God!” Xochitl gasped collapsing against the walland holding her red sweaty face against it. “What in fucking hell?”

That only made Vannah laugh even more as she bent over and heldher hands to her knees for support. “That . . .” She sucked in chunks of air asshe glanced up at Xochitl who was still holding on to that wall for dear life.“Was not easy.”

“Yeah, I’m calling BS on that.” Xochitl finally pulled away fromthe wall and took a long swig of her water bottle. “There is no way that was thebeginner class and that instructor.” She stopped to catch her breath again shakingher head. “She’s gotta be on crack or steroids. No way can someone just keepgoing like that nonstop and not even seem winded.”

They started through the gym, still trying to calm their breathing,and feeling like epic failures, though Vannah couldn’t stop giggling. Vannahwasn’t even surprised. Her athletic aptitude was her weakest strength and she’dnever even denied it. It was funny that they’d both walked into thatclass feeling and acting like it would be a breeze and they’d gotten theirasses handed to them. Xochitl pulled out the brochure they’d been given whenthey signed up for their free week pass.

 “Beginner class, my ass,” Xochitl huffed. “Someone’s getting astrongly worded letter!”

“Hey.” Vannah smiled big, bringing her hand onto her annoyedfriend’s shoulder. “We didn’t fail too bad. We almost held out the wholeway.” She took the brochure from Xochitl knowing full well their Zumba dayswere over, but still laughed as she flipped through it anyway. “Look, ten moreminutes and we would’ve done it.”

Xochitl didn’t respond and after looking through the brochure fora few seconds more, Vannah glanced up at her friend smiling again because thegirl had gone uncharacteristically quiet. Vannah had a feeling why. She fullyexpected Xochitl to be playfully sulking and make the situation even funnier.

“Don’t—” Xochitl started to say but then went quiet, and when Vannahfollowed her roommate’s eyes she knew why.

Just like the other times Vannah had made unexpected eye contactwith Byron, she nearly choked on her own chuckling now. He and another guy werewalking in their direction. They were on their way into the gym in the samepathway she and Xochitl were taking on their way out. If it weren’t for her friendnudging her along Vannah almost stopped in her tracks. But her reaction tothose piercing eyes locking onto hers was hopelessly the same as the previous times.

Like the other times, Vannah practically held her breath. The wayhe peered into her eyes was also the same—minus the beautiful smile he’d wornthe other times. The moment was over a few seconds later as he looked away andstalked past her without a word.

“Breathe and keep walking.”

Xochitl’s words barely registered as Vannah continued to trek herweakened legs along despite being unaware, she was still holding her breath.She exhaled as instructed but couldn’t understand why her heart was racing likeit did.

“Jesus Christ, have you ever witnessed such intensity?” Xochitl spokeunder her breath. “Maybe we missed something. Maybe he is a boxer andhe’s on his way this very minute into the ring ready to beat someone senseless?He sure as heck looks like he’s ready to.”

Vannah shook her head because she was at a loss herself, but thenshe knew so little about him. His brother was known as Beast and as far as Xochitlhad filled her in from all her research, it was for good reason. The man hadbeen as intimidating in the boxing ring as he was to just stand next to. Butfrom what Xochitl had read, he had quite the dark past before his days ofreigning in the ring. According to Xochitl he’d even killed a man with his barehands. Though admittedly when Xochitl went on about everything she’d dredged upabout Byron and his family Vannah only really paid attention to anything that applieddirectly to Byron.

Turning her head to Xochitl who was still going on about how muchbigger he seemed this time seeing him this close.

“He didn’t smile.” It was the first words out of Vannah’s mouthafter this most recent yet equally breathtaking encounter with the guy. “Forsomeone who could look so intense—like you said—he has one of the mostbeautiful smiles I’ve ever witnessed. It’s such a contrast to his otherwise hardenedexpressions.”

“He does have a nice smile.” Xochitl agreed glancing back in hisdirection. “And hair. Totally love the fade and longer on top look.”

“But he didn’t smile this time.”

Xochitl turned back and peered at her then smirked. “It’s notlike you two know each other or anything, Vannah. You’re really gonna get allbutt hurt—”

“No,” Vannah said feeling her face warm. “Not butt hurt.” Sheshrugged feeling stupid for thinking out loud. “I’m just