“Yes. Him. That’s who I’m here to see—and not in a creepy, check him out ’cause he’s hot kind of way. I mean, he is, but I wouldn’t do that because that’s wrong and gross. He’s my brother. I don’t check him out.” I sucked in a breath and adjusted my backpack on my shoulder. “I tend to ramble when I’m uncomfortable. Gyms make me uncomfortable, and so does your lack of appropriately fitting clothing. Did that hurt?” I pointed at her navel ring. “Don’t answer that. Um… Could we forget I talked at all and pretend I just got here and you said, ‘Can I help you?’ and I said, ‘I’m looking for Asher Charming’ and call it a day?”

Again, she tried and failed to cover her smile. “He’s on the treadmill in the corner, sweetie. You’re twins, aren’t you? You look alike.”

“Yes. And we’d be more identical if he gave up this nonsense.”

She squeezed my arm—my boney, far too thin and scrawny arm—and nodded toward the far wall. “That way.”

“Thanks.” I took three steps and turned back. “I’m not normally this weird.”

“It’s the environment. I understand.”

“I’m glad.” I gave a wave. “Thanks for your help and for not calling security.”

“Anytime.”

“And I really do like the piercing even though I’m gay and wasn’t looking at you like that.”

“Thanks.” She laughed as I wandered away.

I wove between machines, admiring the ridiculous amount of gorgeous bodies and sweaty skin around me, and I almost walked into a girl coming off a rowing machine when I couldn’t stop staring at a guy lifting weights. He had muscles on top of muscles on top of more muscles. And his ass jutted out every time he crouched with the weight bar on his shoulders. And it was a mighty fine ass.

I dodged the woman and gave my head a shake. They must have a separate room for the unfit people like me who wanted to use the gym because I was surrounded by fitness junkies with perfect bodies everywhere I looked.

“Except for you,” I noted under my breath when I saw a guy with a bit more meat on his bones who was drenched in sweat and running on the treadmill like he was escaping a zombie apocalypse. I admired him most of all. It took a lot of motivation and self-discipline not to be scared off by all the other people in the room.

I silently cheered him on.