Chapter 14 - Grant Came Back to the Squat Rack Alone
I hadn’t seen Grant in almost a year when he walked into Iron Forge Fitness on a rainy Tuesday evening.
Claire was warming up beside me.
She saw him in the mirror.
Her shoulders tightened.
Then relaxed.
That was new.
Grant approached alone.
No Melanie.
No expensive folder.
No lawyer.
He looked different.
Still polished.
Less certain.
“I came to apologize,” he said.
Claire set down the resistance band.
“You already apologized for cheating.”
“Not for this.”
I started to move away.
Claire caught my hand.
Stay.
So I stayed.
Grant looked at her.
“I knew your family believed getting us back together might help the financing.”
“Yes.”
“I could have told them it wouldn’t.”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t because I thought eventually you’d get tired of fighting everyone.”
Claire said nothing.
Grant continued.
“And because I wanted you back.”
“That doesn’t make it better.”
“I know.”
For once, he did not sound like a man negotiating.
He sounded like someone stating a loss.
“What happened with Jenna?” Claire asked.
“Over.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
He understood.
“I gave her access to things I shouldn’t have. She gave me information I shouldn’t have accepted. I convinced myself it was business.”
“And the affair?”
“That was selfishness.”
Claire nodded slowly.
No absolution.
No dramatic slap.
Just information filed where it belonged.
Grant looked at me.
“I hated you.”
“Understandable. I’m charming.”
Claire elbowed me.
Grant almost smiled.
Then he looked back at her.
“I hope he’s good to you.”
Claire answered immediately.
“He is.”
That mattered more to me than I expected.
Grant nodded.
Then left.
Claire watched him walk through the gym doors.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“You sure?”
She turned toward the loaded bar.
“Spot me.”
I smiled.
“Professionally?”
“Don’t ruin this.”
She stepped beneath the bar.
May you like
I moved behind her.
This time she didn’t have to tell me to come closer.
