A genuine smile tipped Kurt’s lips. “Then what did you want to talk to me about?”

“The bet.”

Kurt squinted. “The one about Preslee?”

“Yeah,” Adam said, crossing his arms. “I want out.”

Kurt didn’t hesitate with a reply. “Okay.”

Adam gazed at him, unsure as to why he was letting him off the hook so easily. That wasn’t like Kurt. Was he pissed about it? “Look, you know I wouldn’t normally forfeit a bet, but I just can’t—”

Kurt held up his hand to stop him from talking, but his eyes darted away. “We’re good. Don’t worry.”

Man, Kurt must really be upset if he wouldn’t even look at him. Maybe he thought this was Adam’s way of choosing Preslee over their friendship. It was a crazy notion. Adam wanted both of them in his life, and he needed Kurt to know that. “Just hear me out.”

“You’ve said enough,” Kurt said firmly, his eyes firing warning shots. “It’s fine.”

But Adam wasn’t going to let it go. Not when his friendship was on the line. “No, it’s not fine. Listen.” Kurt shook his head, but Adam wasn’t taking no for an answer. “Yes, damn it. Hear me out. I know we needed to draw new members into the gym, and we accomplished that, but we shouldn’t have ever made that bet about Preslee and how much weight she could lose with me training her. It wasn’t—”

A feminine gasp came from behind him, and Adam stopped cold, the sound chilling him to the bone. No. He recognized that voice.

Without another word, Adam spun to see Preslee standing there with wide eyes and an open mouth. She didn’t speak. She didn’t even blink. The only sound was the ominous thunder still rumbling in the distance.

Acid bubbled up in his throat as guilt and regret spiraled through him. Damn it. She’d heard what he said. He knew it sounded bad and had no doubt that she was going to be mad once the shock wore off. He only hoped he could explain everything before that happened.

Finally, her lips moved. “You…used me?”

He winced at the bitterness in her tone. His heart pounded in his chest, in time with the throbbing in his head. This was not going to end well. He held out a hand, and she shook her head. “I can explain.”

She glowered at him but remained motionless. “What is there to explain? I got the full picture. You got me to agree to let you be my trainer, all so you could use me as some kind of…marketing tool for your gym?”

“It’s not like that. There’s more to it.”