AN

as Carter pressed upward. His face was scrunched an

s, but that's why I was here

h it," I sighed, f

...," he brea

k my head. "You should have

s popping against his skin,

tting him struggle a bit

s, making them sweat it o

lift the weight, my ph

ut, glancing

a

press the decline button. However,

ling that I had his back

liar voice, brisk and bu

ha

od kid with a good head on his shoulders

ady knew how this conver

l holding the bar with one hand while

een better, but h

rned, feeli

ings, can you? Anyway, I called you because o

, I'

t a deep

e I am now. Retired early, living comfor

giving in as Carter let out a

ase and racked it back,

lapsing against the bench. "Though

to let him breathe. He gave me a side-eye, ca

utting him off before he could launch into an

hese calls when I was at the gy

sted. "You've got everything else figured out-business, mo

ling the phone away from my ear as he ini

k to Carter, who was g

his forehead. His face was still red like a tomato. However,

an wants g

" I shrugged. "He's

that Carter struggled to lift an

ng. "Ah, such perfect genes are

ned, asking him to l

ifting bench and th

ther?" he asked, smirking as h

ow it's

colder after h

and I could barely drag myself out of bed. She's b

"Then why don't you ask her for it? She

a moment, just stared at

" I said finally. "She'

it. He was always too perceptive for his own goo

"Of course

ou're still thin

ping back from the bench and cro

p his hands in surrender, eyes wide. "

way from him. "You're on y

! Bro,

tests, I headed

d against the tiles. Carter always had to push

n't ge

rstand what happ

beating against my neck, try

the gym. I could feel her gaze on my back. I shot

ntere

dy, the kind of dull gray

ng me as I drove to Heather's school. The traffic was light

ed back, a slight smile on her lips

car in front of her and got out. I smiled as I wa

?" I soft

ed with

rickly sensation on the side of my

y gaze to the side, f