Rose Morgan and Cole Manchester invite you to share in the joy of their wedding, the nineteenth of November….

I flip the invitation over and over. It arrived the day after my life went to shit.

When my temper unleashed on Wade Block, resulting in my former boss at the PI agency smoothing things over with the police.

When I lied to Emilie and said the most hateful things to her, cutting her out of my life for her own good.

Pain and emptiness war with each other inside me, but I tamp down the feelings. The same way I’ve shut down all my emotions.

“Hey there, W,” Zak says as he breezes into my office. I put the wedding invitation into my desk drawer as he continues, “There’s some new prospects at registration. A couple of hot ladies. Want me to show them around or do you want to have the honors?”

I sigh. I take newbies at Complete on tours, but only when I have no other alternative. “Nah. Why don’t you do it? Maybe pick up another personal training client.”

Zak wiggles his eyebrows. “Sure you don’t want to join me? We could see which of us they’d rather train under. I mean, with.”

A sour chuckle escapes my lips at Zak’s antics. He tries to bring me out of my funk. Too bad I’m a lost cause. “Nah. I don’t want to show you up that badly. Not good form to make the employees look bad.”

Zak punches me on the arm, then shakes his hand. “Damn, dude. You’re getting more jacked every time I see you.”

“Don’t forget that. Now go and make nice and sign up some new clients.”

He salutes and leaves me alone. He’s a good guy who deserves a better boss than me. I’ve dumped way too much responsibility on his shoulders while I try to get my head out of my ass.

Like that’s happening anytime soon.

I flip through the reports on my desk. Even though I took over a full week into September, the numbers are higher than this time last month. I can’t take total credit for the increase, but I’m not tanking the place. I have to keep the doors open, for Three.

At least I’m making good on one of my promises. Too bad it came after she’s no longer here to see it.

I toss the reports back on my desk and check my calendar—my next therapy appointment isn’t for a couple of days. After everything went down with Emilie, I reached out to David like a dog with its tail between its legs and asked him for his therapist’s info. He made no secret about seeing someone to help him through Three’s death and he’s getting back on his feet after two years. So what if it takes me longer to start getting over the angel who came into my life like a lightning bolt? Angels aren’t meant to stay with mere mortals such as myself. Not sure how much progress I’m making against my demons, but I have to start somewhere. My therapist sure has his work cut out for him.

Shaking my head to clear it, I leave my office for the workout area. Machines are humming with clients and the rock wall has a good number of people on it. Music pumps everyone up as they tend to their evening workouts. Complete is as it should be. At least I haven’t ruined this. Yet.

Zak leads the potential clients over to the classroom area, where a spin class is going on. He gestures toward the closed doors for physical therapy—my newest addition—and massage, which produce two of the gym’s highest profit margins. My eyes stray to the juice and smoothie bar, another profit center. Several clients chat while enjoying their beverages. “Ninja Heroes” runs on the flat-screen television overhead.

I nod and smile as I walk through Complete. I’ve learned to put on my own professional mask—something I learned courtesy of Emilie—as I can’t let anyone see how broken I am. They’d run for the hills and never want to step foot inside here if I exposed my true darkness.

“Wills, can you please help me with the elliptical?” A young woman in skin-tight workout gear approaches me, her color high. She plays with her ponytail.

“Sure thing.”

I ignore her flirting. Nothing’s going to happen between us, for her own sake. Not to mention I have nothing left to give since Emilie took the best of me when she walked out the door. The best of me? What a joke. As if I ever had anything good inside.

Arriving at the elliptical, I answer the woman’s questions. When she’s set up and doing a good job, I leave her be.

I make my way to the weights and start warming up. David highly recommended that I work out with my clients to let them feel like we’re all in it together, like he used to do. I’ve adopted his suggestion, mainly because it allows me to be seen among the clients without having to actually interact with them.

I start by doing deadlifts. Zak wasn’t wrong about my getting more jacked. Twice daily workouts are a by-product of being an antisocial gym owner.

When I finish the final reps, I grab a towel with the Complete logo emblazoned on it and head for the locker room. After a quick shower, I relax my muscles in the sauna. Another refuge away from prying eyes. Nearing the end of my ten minutes, Leo, a regular, opens the door. The guy’s nearing fifty but works out like a fiend, making him look at least ten years younger.

“Hi there, Wills.”

I nod. “Leo.”

“Just finished doing my circuit. Place is hopping for nine o’clock.”

Forcing myself to respond, I say, “Yeah, pretty busy today.”

“Have you heard from David? How’s he doing over in Charleston?”

“Spoke with him last week.” Or so. “He’s good. He likes his house and says he’s enjoying the different climate.” When Leo looks hungry for more info, I add, “And the food. Says he’s put on ten pounds due to the great restaurants.”

Leo laughs. “Addie would’ve had something to say about that. She was strict about sticking to a good health regimen.”

A smile tugs at my lips imagining how Three would’ve reacted to David’s description of Charleston’s culinary options. “Yeah, she could get on your case.”

“So, how are you liking it here? I see you working out all the time.”

“That’s because you’re right there with me.” Okay. Nearing the end of my tolerance.

“True enough. Hey, when we’re done here, want to tackle the rock wall with me?” He always ends his days with a quick scramble up the wall.

“Nah. You go ahead and enjoy, though. I have to finish up some paperwork.” I stand, secure my towel around my waist and head for the door.

“Another time.”

Never. “Sounds good. See you tomorrow, right Leo?”

He gives me the thumbs- up and I leave him in the sauna. The members all try so hard to include me. Makes me almost wish I were the type of guy to reciprocate. I’m not.

Dressed again in the Complete uniform of a logoed t-shirt and shorts, I end up at the smoothie bar making small talk with the two newbies who, apparently, signed up following Zak’s pitch. I’m mid-swallow of my protein shake when one of them says, “Oh, I have to try that lip gloss.” She sighs. “If only I would look like her when I wear it.”

Do. Not. Look.

I close my eyes. Her French-accented voice drifts into my ears, coils down my body and wraps around my heart.

My eyes open and focus on the flat-screen just as Emilie says, “UC Cosmetics means Ultra Chic.”

My protein drink falls to the counter. “Shit!”

A Complete crew member rushes over to me with a towel and cleans up my mess. I offer a half-hearted “sorry,” and walk away. I’m good at walking away.

My legs carry me into one of the unoccupied classrooms. I close the door behind me and sit. This room doesn’t see much use, but I think it would be a great seminar room. Guest lecturers on all areas of health and wellness. I’ve been kicking this idea around for a bit, and I think the members would like it. Maybe I should put Zak on developing it.

My eyes scan the blue walls and land on the photo of the pier at sunset that I purchased in the Caymans. When Emilie missed Rose’s bridal shower. I couldn’t bear to hang it in my apartment, so I put it here. It reminds me of everything I can’t have. Don’t deserve. The fact that she’s missing from the photo underscores that fact.

I stare at the image, letting my mind go blank. Concentrating on my breathing, I slip away from myself.

The ringing of my cell phone moments later brings me right back to harsh reality. Pulling it out of my pocket, Mom’s name greets me. Hell no. I’m not in the mood to deal with whatever sob story she’s peddling now. I reject the call. My brief respite has been broken.

Abandoning the classroom, I walk toward my office when the receptionist rushes over to me, cordless phone in hand.

“Wills, it’s your mother.” She thrusts the phone toward me. “She says it’s urgent. She’s at the hospital.”