Trina is busily flirting with Allan, Sarah is in the Zumba class eyeing the cute gay guy next to her, and so I am officially on my own without any friend to save me. Pulling my cell out of my pocket, I send an SOS text to Vicky.

At the gym. #CantHide #Jerk #HELP!

I wait impatiently, but she doesn’t respond and I am running out of time. The bathrooms are located beside where he is standing. He hasn’t noticed me yet, so I watch him from the corner of my eye.

He is laughing, and it’s only now that I notice he isn’t wearing his glasses. He looks completely different, dressed in black shorts with a tight grey tank top that shows off his biceps. Oh, wow.

Okay, pep talk time. Don’t you dare drool over a jerk that sweet talked you into the alley and left you high and dry—or more appropriately, low and wet. You didn’t finish college to end up following a guy like a pathetic puppy dog. Yes, he is extremely good-looking. Yes, his hair looks like it belongs in a shampoo commercial, and yes, maybe his body is as fucking irresistible as the new salted caramel sweets they keep showing on TV.

I don’t know whether I’m hungry, horny, or need to buy new shampoo. One thing’s for sure, Mr. Smokin’ Hot beside him is walking my way and….

“Hey, gorgeous girl from Friday night.”

His smile is endearing and shyness overcomes me. Perhaps being covered in sweat without any makeup is a surefire way to lower my confidence.

“Hey, gorgeous guy from Friday night,” I repeat back.

“So you train here?”

“I wouldn’t call it training. Just trying to let off some steam.”

“How have I not seen you here before?”

I shuffle awkwardly. “Okay, you busted me. Until last week, I was a gym virgin.”

He laughs softly. “I’m Marcus by the way.”

“Presley.” I extend my hand and he shakes it, lingering while he studies my face. His eyes are light green and brighten when he smiles. His dimples are set deep, and boy is he cute. His jet-black hair is short, recently grown out from what I assume was a shaved head. He is also wearing a tank, and I have to stop my hands from reaching out to squeeze his arms.

“So, you know Haden from work?”

I nod and see Haden talking to some chick at the front with his eyes directly on me. His stare is penetrating, piercing me like a superhero trying to destroy his enemy.

Suddenly I’m self-conscious. Then I realize I’m not the moron who left someone to die in a dark alley. Okay, maybe not die, but the Jerk infuriates me with his egotistical ‘I think I’m all that’ persona. Who the fuck leaves a girl mid-orgasm?! A jerk, that’s who.

“How do you know him?” I focus back onto Marcus.

“He’s my cousin. Our dads are brothers.” His tone softens, then, as if shaken, he smiles again and changes subjects.

Weird, but I don’t want to get into it. Cousins? Why is the universe punishing me?! Marcus is soooo yummy and he seems interested. What’s the worst that could happen?

“So, any chance of grabbing a bite to eat some time?” He smiles.

There go the dimples again. In some sort of trance, I try to string a sentence together.

“I’d like that.”

He passes me his phone and I store my number. We talk for a few more minutes before he tells me he needs to leave for work. Saying goodbye, I make my way over to the lockers and grab my stuff to head to the bathroom. Confident that I have avoided the Jerk this morning, I shower and dress, then leave the gym to head into the office.

It’s Monday, and I decide to drown myself in my work until our editors’ meeting in an hour. I don’t have anything to present today and am happy to listen to what other manuscripts will be put on the table. Dee is up front, and as everyone enters the room, I take a seat at the furthest spot from Haden.

From across the room he is staring at me again, making me feel even more self-conscious. Normally I would think I had spinach in my teeth or a milk mustache with this much attention. What I would give to have a milk mustache right now. He’s probably thinking about how you got down on your knees and sucked him off. Oh dear god, another new memory!

My cheeks flush instantly so I bow my head in order to avoid anyone noticing.

Dee commences her presentation, introducing a new erotic male-on-male romance. The heterosexual men in the room cringe. Clive, our resident fairy, is all over it.

“Totally love it, Dee. There’s a demand for gay romance. Women love it!” Clive claps his hands in utter delight.

“C’mon Clive. How could women love it?” the Jerk asks. “I won’t argue about demand—figures show there need to be more books in this genre—but I don’t get why women want to read about two guys dick-slapping each other.”

There are a few snickers (again from the men) but of course the Jerk starts a heated debate.

“Haden, get your pretty little head out of the lady garden. Women want to see lust, desire…. They want to see acts that are unattainable.”

Clive has a good point, but I don’t want to admit it out loud. Vicky once showed me some random clip of two guys and it was steamy, hot, and very taboo. There was something about it that intrigued me, not that I wanted to tell this to Jason at the time.

“Let the women in the room speak up, Clive,” the Jerk tells him.

There is a silence until I hear my name called. All eyes are on me and the Jerk—who once again has put me on the spot.

If he wants to play dirty, I am dressed in my bikini standing in the pit ready to rumble.

“Clive has a point. There’s something arousing about the image of two men. The sexual desire is, um…let’s say, raw and uninhibited. And homosexual men have very appealing bodies.”

He looks amused, leaning back into his chair like an arrogant prick. He is no longer wearing his gym outfit, and I try not to stare at how sexy he looks in his crisp white shirt that is rolled up at the sleeves. Honestly Presley, you need an MRI because your brain has officially lost the plot.

“You don’t think a man and a woman can have the same sexual desires towards each other?” he asks, mocking my point with a slight sneer.

“Probably. Depends if the guy’s a jerk or not,” I shoot back. “It all boils down to the build-up. From what Dee has summarized, the two men are sexually charged after years of denying their sexuality. Women love a good lead up—makes for a heated explosion. Excuse the pun.”

Everyone laughs and I find my confidence in the ultimate stare-off, not backing down. He doesn’t back off either until Dee moves on and the subject changes.

Focusing on a presentation proves difficult when you know someone is staring at you. Occasionally, I turn to look at Clive where he sits next to Haden, and my heart skips a beat when the Jerk’s eyes lock onto mine. If curiosity killed the cat, then Kitty is lying on a stretcher waiting for an ambulance to arrive.

After another hour spent talking about other projects, we filter out of the room. Clive has not stopped talking, having only just returned from a European vacation.

“We haven’t done lunch in ages. You free today, Pres?”

“Sure Clive. Plus we need to catch up on your vacay.”

He flashes me a wink and starts to ramble on about some Contiki tour until the Jerk interrupts us.

“Can I please speak to you?” His tone is demanding enough that even Clive raises his eyebrows.

Great, just fucking great. I knew there was no way to avoid it. I tell Clive I’ll catch up with him at lunch and wait till everyone leaves the room.

“What?” I finally say.

“What? Is this the game we’re playing?” he asks, extremely frustrated, running his hand through his hair again.

Don’t look at his hair. Repeat. Do not look at his hair.

“Ignorance is bliss. What else do you want me to say?”