"Harder!" Judy yells.

I don't think I just do. I push myself harder and faster. Coming to Judy was what I need. I needed to let off all the frustration and pent-up anger I have inside. All the thoughts of Alsie had already begun to fade away. That's exactly what I wanted and needed to happen. The sweat dripping down my face and body feels like heaven to me.

"Darren, slow down!"Judy looks at me with wide eyes. "Darren, seriously you're going to hurt—"

"It's fine," I grunt, continuing my pace. Never losing momentum. I told Judy I was coming over for this very reason and now she wants to act like this. What is with all the women today? I stiffen as Judy's arm wraps around my neck. She brings her lips to my ear.

"I may not be physically stronger than you, but I know more than one way to bring you to a stop." Her arm tightens around my neck, damn her headlock isn't a joke. "You came to my gym to work out, let off some steam. Not destroy my fucking property." Judy lets me go. "Take off the boxing gloves, you're done. I'll give you another workout to do that doesn't require me to spend hundreds of dollars on new equipment."

"Sorry about that," I say rubbing my neck. Judy doesn't stick around to hear me apologize as she heads off toward the swimming pool. "I'm not swimming," I shout at her.

"You'll do whatever I tell you to do. It's my gym." She shouts back. "Do I have to keep reminding you I'm not the same Juju from college, it's best if you remember that?"

Ladies and Gents, I give you Judy "Juju" Vasquez from college. The guys and I haven't kept in touch with her at all since we graduated. It was actually Kenza who told us about this gym and the no-hold-back owner. To say the guys and I were shocked to see Juju would be an understatement. She definitely wasn't the same from college. Even Everett couldn't believe that Juju turned her life to fitness and made a name for herself.

"Darren let's go! What are you daydreaming for?" She holds the door open for me. I jog towards her entering the pool area. "Now what you're going to do is fifteen laps around the pool before we start some water exercises."

For the next two hours, I went from the pool to the gym and back to the boxing ringing. Judy wasn't holding back even when I made a fuss about collapsing to death. No pain no gain, she kept telling me. Judy finally got in the ring with me to practice sparring and damn she is good. It was my first time sparring with her too. I know Everett said she was great but I didn't think to this extent.

"Alright, so what was the cause of this visit?" She eyes me while taking a sip from her water bottle. "I had to cancel on two of my best clients for you. I want to know what's bugging you."

That's one thing that never changed with her. Gossip. If I didn't know any better I would think she is still sharing our business with the girls from college.

"My fiancée," I say vaguely.

"Oh come on Darren you have to do better than that. I have no clue what that means." Judy sits on the floor, crossing her legs. "Last time I checked you were single."

"Juju, last time I checked we're not friends so you wouldn't know of my updated relationship status." I sit next to her. "But if you must know, I somehow accidentally knocked up Selena's baby sister, who happens to work at my job."

She spits out the water, turning her body in my direction. Her eyes are wide with amusement.

"Darren, what the hell did you get yourself into? I would have expected this kind of behavior from Everett, not you. If you needed to blow off some steam from work you should have come here, not sleep with your ex-fiancee's sister. For the first time and forever, I'm speechless."

"Lucky me, I don't need you saying anything." I stretch, thinking about calling it a night. I need to get home and soak. "How's David doing?" I change the subject.

"He is good. Everett is actually taking him next--" her phone rings and she gets up to answer it. I take this as my cue to get myself together and head home. The last thing I want or need is to spill my problems to another person. "Calling it a night. Later." I whisper as I walk by Juju. She nods her head, waving me off.

****

Entering my house, I should be used to the quiet by now since Alsie moved out but I don't. I got so used to her being home. She would be in the living room watching SWAT loud, with a mouth full of food. Kicking off my shoes, I make my way to the bathroom to finally soak. My phone vibrates on the countertop just as I was about to slip into the tub.

Are you busy?

Well, this is surprising, didn't think she would want to talk to me for a while now.

Everything okay? Is the baby okay?

Everything is fine and the baby is doing well. I would like to see you.

I'm about to wash up, but I can head out to wherever you need me right after.

My doorbell rings. Wrapping the towel around my waist I head back downstairs.

"Who is it?" I call out.

"It's me." Alsie answers, I quickly open the door not believing this.

"Well, that was surprisingly quick," I say stepping aside to let her in. "Are you sure everything is okay?" I would be lying if I said I wasn't slightly nervous right now. Alsie doesn't take a seat like I thought she would. She heads straight down the hall. I follow behind her. "Alsie, what is going on?"

"Nothing, I told you everything was fine. Can you stop asking me that question?" She gets on my bed, tucking herself in. What the hell is going on? I must be dreaming. There is no way she would waltz back in here as if nothing ever happened. "Can you cut the lights off?"

"Alsie, what are you doing here?" I take a seat at the edge of the bed. "Don't tell me it's nothing, I know something is going on with you." For crying out loud she came over in her damn pajamas. Something is definitely going on.

"I just wanted to sleep in peace and quiet tonight. Can we talk in the morning?" She yawns.

"You're not going to take any answer other than yes, so I'll just go get in the shower and sleep in the guest room." Damn it.

"You can sleep in here tonight. Good night." She yawns once more, closing her eyes.

Yeah, I'm definitely dreaming because this isn't the Alise that's been ignoring me as if her life depends on it. The woman laying in this bed is definitely an imposter. I don't dwell on it and just cut the lights off. All I want to do right now is just soak and clear my head all over again. Tomorrow morning will be a shitshow for sure.

Sorry for the late upload. I just got out of my tutoring class. Learning Korean definitely takes a lot of work and dedication. I'm starting to up my classes all over again for the new year. Three times a week. WHOOP WHOOP. 

Also, what do you think Alsie is up to? I mean why is showing up at his house in her PJs...sis we are confused....