She sighed as she concentrated on stretching until she was interrupted by a sweaty guy holding a jump rope. She’d began to familiarize herself with most of the members but since there’d been so many new ones, there were lots she didn’t recognize. This guy was one of them.

“Hello.” He waved at her. “My name is Edward. I’d shake your hand but mine is a little sweaty right now.”

“Hi,” she said, and stopped stretching a bit curious.

“I just started working out here a little over a week ago. I noticed you right away and have been meaning to introduce myself.”

Veronica felt the nerves immediately. This guy looked around Noah’s age maybe a little older but then like Noah he was a big guy and that had completely thrown her off about Noah’s age. It’d been a long time since she’d had anyone hit on her.

“You’re a little early today aren’t you?”

He’d even noticed what time she worked out? Wow. He must’ve really been watching. “Yeah I’m leaving early today so I thought I’d make up for it and got here early. I’m Veronica by the way.”

She watched as Noah approached from behind Edward with that hard look he so often had when they worked out.

“Listen part of the reason I hadn’t approached you was because you’re always with that one guy. Are you and him—”

“Yeah, we are,” Noah said, getting a little too in Edward’s face.

Edward backed up with a smirk. Veronica watched, her mouth dropping open. Abel and Gio walked toward them cautiously.

Edward lifted his hands nodding but the smirk was still there. “I had a feeling that was the case. I’m glad I asked. No harm, no foul right? Can’t blame a guy for trying.” He turned and winked at Veronica. “Nice meeting you, Veronica.”

Noah didn’t say another word. He simply stared at Edward until he’d walked away, then turned back to Veronica. “Ready to work out?”

Veronica’s mouth really fell open now. She shook her head and blinked. “First can you explain what that was about?”

“What do you mean?”

She looked at him incredibly. “Me and you are what?”

“Workout partners right? Isn’t that what he was asking?” Noah walked past her but she didn’t miss the corner of his lip lifting as he did. “We should make this a good one since it’s gonna be short.”

“That is not what he was asking and you know it.” Veronica followed him feeling secretly thrilled. Had Noah really implied to another possible suitor that she and he were… She wouldn’t even think it. Maybe he’d just been just playing, though his body language had said anything but.

He stopped so fast she nearly collided with him. “Why? What do you think he was asking?”

She looked up at his eyes that had gone back to hard again like when he’d gotten in Edward’s face. “Well, just based on what he said before you got there.”

“What did he say to you?” His brows furrowed looking around the gym then turned back to her searching her eyes.

Great, now she felt like a braggart. She shrugged trying to make less of it and suddenly feeling stupid. “Just that he only started working out here a week ago but he said he noticed me right away.”

“Is that right?” She watched his jaw work as he looked around the gym again.

If she didn’t know any better unbelievably her instincts had been right. Noah was jealous. His eyes came back to hers and he stared at her hard. “So what? You interested?”

“No but—”

“Good. ‘Cause he looked like an ass**le.” He started toward the treadmill again and she followed glancing around.

Edward did not look like an ass**le to her. But her instincts once again told her she better just shut it and let it go. It was very reasonable that like her, Noah had begun to feel there was a bit more to their friendship. She couldn’t decide if that was necessarily a good thing. This could be bad.

Veronica had every intention, especially after last night, to go back to work starting the New Year. Her old supervisor had already told her to just come in on the second and they’d work out the formalities. She planned on giving her social life a jumpstart again. The last thing she needed was for Noah to somehow get the idea it was okay for him to play the overprotective friend/roommate. She’d already seen what he was capable of doing in the ring. Incidents like today’s could escalate very quickly.

~*~

Noah was going to have to get a grip when it came to seeing Roni with other guys. He’d known it all along. Everyone had already seen it and now he was certain she had too. He wasn’t even sure if it mattered anymore. The moment he saw the guy talking to her and got close enough to hear what he was asking her he decided he didn’t care if he was obvious.

If she’d pushed even slightly more he would’ve told her the truth. Admit that, that’s what she did to him and if he ever saw another guy try to make a move on her again especially in his gym, that’s how he’d be reacting to every one. He could lie to himself and say it wouldn’t happen. That he could keep his cool. But after today he knew there was no way.

The whole point of getting in the guy’s face the way he had was so that if any of the other new members watching ever got any stupid ideas about Roni they’d now know what they were in for.

The first thing Gio had said to him when he walked into the locker room after Roni’s workout was, “you still sticking to your story that there’s nothing more going on between you and Roni? Even she’s gotta know you were ready to knock that guy out—because of her.”