Chapter Two

Claire’s POV

I returned on Thursday with less clothing and more excuses ready.

The studio was cooler than last time, the mirrors still fogged faintly at the edges from earlier sessions. Marcus was already waiting near the rack of kettlebells, tablet in hand, expression unchanged. He glanced up once when I walked in, eyes moving over the shorter leggings and the cropped top I had chosen after far too much deliberation, then simply nodded toward the open floor.

“Center mat. Bodyweight squat. Show me what you kept from last time.”

No greeting. No comment on the change in my outfit. The same blunt economy that had left me...