“Sometimes I’ll be driving around the city and I’ll see an interesting building and be like, we could do something there,” Trev explained to the unseen interviewer behind the camera.

I was lying in bed watching clips of Running on Air on my laptop and eating a bag of tortilla chips for breakfast. Obviously, I didn’t have time to go out and buy groceries. I was too busy deliberating over whether to take Trev up on his offer, and I couldn’t deny that my wanderer’s heart wanted to say yes. I loved travelling to new places, but I just never had the funds to go anywhere.

On-screen Trev sat on a wall in a public park, talking about where he gets inspiration for his stunts.

“Then I usually go to Cal with it. We talk it out, discuss the logistics, figure out if what I see in my head is actually possible. Sometimes it’s too risky, which is usually half the attraction. Other times it’s doable, so we bring it to the rest of the group.”

“I’d love to know what constitutes too risky,” said the interviewer.

Trev’s lips curved in the most handsome way and my heart skipped a beat. Even after all this time his smiles still affected me the same. A warm, fuzzy feeling filled me up. The interview cut to a shot of him jumping off a wall in the park. Then he ran to another, climbed atop and balanced himself on the edge. Finally, he flipped effortlessly to the ground.

I remembered all the times in the past when I’d witnessed him do similar tricks and felt a pang of nostalgia. Trev was one of those people who made you feel like you were about to have the most exciting night of your life. He made you feel what Sia’s music sounded like, or what a car sailing down a motorway in the middle of summer, about to embark on an epic road trip, looked like.

As though my thoughts summoned him, my phone vibrated with a text. It was weird seeing his name on my screen, but more so the fact that I never actually deleted his number. Maybe the masochist in me secretly enjoyed the stab of pain and regret when I had to scroll past his name.

Trev: You busy?

I rubbed the smudgy glass and considered a response. The simple question lit a spark of curiosity I couldn’t seem to quell. If I said I was free, what would he suggest?

Reya: Not really. Why?

Trev: Want to hang out? I’m at the gym.

Reya: Oh, fun!

A few seconds went by before I sent another message.

Reya: I hope my sarcasm came across.

Instead of an answering text, my phone started ringing. I jumped in surprise and answered hesitantly. “Hello?”

Trev’s distinctive chuckle filtered down the line and I closed my eyes for a second at the delicious sound. “I haven’t forgotten your attitude towards the gym.”

“It’s a necessary evil and I pay my dues but I don’t go there unless I absolutely have to,” I replied, then made an audible shudder. “And I certainly don’t go to hang out. That sort of behaviour is only for people who actually,” I paused and made sure my voice was suitably horrified, “enjoy exercise.”

“How can you not enjoy exercise? It gives you endorphins and makes you feel good.”

“Well, I must be defective because all it makes me feel is grumpy.”

“Don’t you still go to those kung fu classes with Karla? That’s exercise.”

“It’s not kung fu, it’s Escrima. And it’s self-defence. It serves a purpose. Running on a treadmill serves no purpose other than vanity.”

“Don’t forget health.”

“Well, that, too,” I said grudgingly.

Trev chuckled again. Damn him and that irresistible sound. “You haven’t seen this gym, Reya. I promise you’ll at least be entertained. Come on, you know you want to.”

I brought my attention to the paused video on my laptop. If Trev knew I was watching old clips of him and feeling nostalgic I was certain he’d be bathing in a sea of snug satisfaction.

“Okay, maybe I’ll come check it out. But only because you’ve got me curious.”

“Great, I’ll text you the address,” said Trev, sounding pleased.

“You do that, but if my mind isn’t blown I’m holding you solely accountable. Seriously, this better be brain matter on the walls type of amazing.”

“It’s so amazing you’ll be coming on the walls,” Trev responded, always one to up the ante.

When I didn’t reply he hedged an uncertain, “Too far?”

I kept my voice neutral so he couldn’t hear the smile in it. “You already know the answer to that. I’ll see you in a little bit.”

Shaking my head, I hung up, unnerved by how easily we’d slipped into our old bantering ways. Trev texted me the address to his gym and thankfully it was only a few Tube stops from my flat. When I arrived, I pressed the buzzer next to the heavy-duty steel door and waited to be let in. Hearing the lock click over, I pushed it open and walked down a hall that led to a large, impressive gym space. Trev wasn’t lying when he said I’d be entertained.

It was kitted out with walls of various heights, hanging bars, makeshift rooftops and even a halfpipe. There were poles and stairways and all sorts of other contraptions to help the group hone their skills and simulate the outdoor freerunning experience. Right then all five of them were running circuits and I stood in place, stunned speechless. Leanne, Paul, Callum, James and Trev leapt from wall to hanging bar to rooftop in perfect synchrony, like a well-oiled machine. It was like each of them was an extension of the other.

My attention went to Trev. There were sweat patches on his grey T-shirt and moisture dotted his forehead. His hair was mussed and his blue eyes somehow brighter than usual. But appearances aside, it was impossible not to be impressed by his strength. He effortlessly pulled himself up on a bar, then swung his body around to land on a wall like it was nothing. He ran along the wall, then jumped onto a stairway. From the stairway, he climbed to the top of the halfpipe then ran down its curved centre.

My eyes traced the musculature of his thighs, clearly visible in the workout shorts he wore, not to mention the strong, toned lines of his arms and shoulders exposed by his sleeveless T-shirt.

I blinked out of my semi-trance when someone waved a hand in my face.

“Reya, hey! I didn’t know you were coming by,” said Paul, his customary smile in place as he endeavoured to catch his breath. I admired how his red hair hung slightly over his forehead, all askew from his workout.

“Yeah, Trev invited me over. You lot are amazing.”

He gave a self-deprecating shrug. “It’s all in a day’s work. We have an intense schedule coming up for the third season, so we need to be in top shape.”

“I can imagine.”

He eyed me speculatively. “Trev mentioned you still hadn’t made up your mind about the job yet.”

I swallowed because I didn’t expect him to bring up the PA position. My mind was almost made. I was on the verge of saying yes, but I needed someone to give me that final push into the deep end of the pool. Whether I flailed and went under, or succeeded in swimming to the top, was all on me.

I cleared my throat. “Right, yes. It’s just that I teach piano and I need to find someone to cover my lessons,” I lied. I knew several old college friends who’d jump at the chance to fill in for me. I just didn’t want to get into the whole thing about Trev’s and my rocky past, and the difficulties that could ensue.

“You’ll find someone. Come on, say yes. It’s only three weeks, and it’ll be good for my mental health to see your pretty face every day,” Paul went on charmingly. Was he flirting with me?

I smiled. “Well, we wouldn’t want your mental health to suffer.”

Right after I said it an arm came to rest casually along my shoulders—a hot, sweaty, muscled arm. I didn’t have to look to know it was Trev. “You came,” he said, gazing down at me.

I tried not to fixate on the way his chest rose and fell with his laboured breathing. “Yes, I did.”

“So, what do you think?”

“I think this must be what the inside of your brain looks like,” I teased.

“Nah, the inside of his brain looks like Car and Driver magazine with a few pages of Playboy thrown in,” Paul joked.

Trev chuckled his amusement. “Don’t forget Food & Wine. You know I like a bit of food porn with my actual porn.”

“In that case, I better not let you see that picture of Eva Mendes eating a whole pizza by herself. I don’t want you scandalizing our female company,” said Paul, shooting me a wink.

“I could eat a whole pizza by myself right now. I’m starving,” said Callum as he, Leanne and James joined us. He didn’t have a top on and it was a little hard not to look at all those defined muscles and tattoos, but I managed to keep my gaze from wandering. Leanne, who came to stand next to me, went up on her tiptoes and whispered in my ear, “Atta girl. Don’t give him the satisfaction. He does it on purpose.”

I smirked and glanced at her, noticing a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

Callum stood under a horizontal bar and reached up to grab it with both arms. Then he started doing extremely impressive pull-ups, but I followed Leanne’s instructions and ignored him. She let out a loud yawn and patted her mouth.

“Well, it looks like we’re all done here. Do you guys want to go grab food then head home? I’m in the mood for an early night.”

She looked at everyone except Callum, and I tried not to laugh at how obviously it bothered him. He dropped down off the bar, muttered something about taking a cold shower, then skulked off to the other side of the gym.

“You shouldn’t torture him like that,” said James. “You know his ego can’t take it.”

Leanne made a derisive scoff. “He’ll be fine. Every day this week I’ve barely seen him put so much as a vest on during workouts. It’s purposeful and you know it.”

“Oh, the games we play,” Paul sighed. “I’m going to shower, too. Reya, are you coming to eat with us?”

I glanced at Trev, who no longer had his arm around my shoulders. He looked like he was thinking about something real hard, but I had no idea what. I returned my attention to Paul. “Sure. If it’s okay with everyone else.”

“Of course it’s okay,” Trev answered before Paul had the chance. “Why do you think I invited you over?”

His open, friendly expression got a smile out of me. “In that case, I’m in.”

* * *

I arrived home a few hours later, after enjoying a genuinely fun meal with Trev and his freerunning co-stars. I honestly couldn’t remember the last time I’d laughed so much, and a surge of enthusiasm to go travelling with them filled me. This wasn’t just about Trev. This was about the entire group. The atmosphere that surrounded them was incredibly appealing. It didn’t make much sense, because I was only twenty-six, but somehow they made me feel young again. Their lust for life and all-around playfulness shone a light on the fact that I was old before my time. I was so bogged down in worries and fears that I’d forgotten how to be young and just enjoy each day as it came.

I felt like they could teach me how to do that, too.

Flopping down onto my sofa, I flicked through my phone and brought up the messages I exchanged with Trev earlier. I decided not to do what I normally did. I wouldn’t linger on what ifs and possible repercussions. I’d just do what felt right in the moment. My pulse sped up as I typed out a new text.

Reya: Okay, I’ll take the job.

A few minutes later Trev’s response came through.

Trev: FANTASTIC! I promise you’re going to have a great time :-D

I blew out a breath and lay my head down on a cushion, hoping he was right.