Chapter 15

                                    

                                          
Joshua
                          
My brother is checking out my best friend's ass.
                          
He's not even being slick or trying to hide it. He's just blatantly checking out Ivana. 
                          
He's always had a thing for her. Understandably so; Ivana is gorgeous. But if there's one thing I hate, it's men creeping around women- let alone women trying to work out in peace under the roof of my fucking gym.
                          
I smack a palm across the back of his head. ''Don't make me kick you the fuck out.'' It wouldn't be the first time I kicked and banned a fucker out for behaving inappropriately towards a female and I, unfortunately, don't think it'll be my last. 
                          
''Huh?'' He shakes his head, looking down at me with a frown over his stupid face. ''I work here.''
                          
''Then don't make me fire you.'' I hiss. I've never warned him off like this- because he never gave me a reason to- but this is pissing me off. 
                          
''I was watching her fucking stance, idiot.'' He grits out.
                          
''No, I'm watching her stance.'' I retort. ''You're watching her ass.''
                          
''If you two idiots would stop arguing less and start helping me more, I'd appreciate it,'' Ivana calls out to us, her tone laced with frustration.
                          
I threw Markus one last look before I moved closer to Ivana. She's doing weights, and knowing Ivana, I have to keep an eye on her before she gets crushed under some seriously heavy metal. 
                          
''Van, you need more space between your knees. You don't get any balance like this.'' I say, watching her push herself up from her squatted position with the hefty weight alleviating in her hands, over her shoulders.
                          
I shake my head, feeling my left eye twitch. ''Can I help? I really don't feel like carrying you out of here on a stretcher.''
                          
''S-sure,'' she stammers, barely holding on. I give her ten more seconds before she passes out.
                          
''You won't elbow me in the ribs again?''
                          
''Joshua,'' she hisses angrily, and I chuckle, quickly stepping towards her.
                          
I place two hands under the metal ring and take at least seventy pounds off of it for her. She breathes out in relief, tension clearly releasing off her shoulder blades.
                          
''You can let go if you want,'' I tell her. ''I got it.''
                          
''I can do two more.'' she breathes out.
                          
''Yes, you can.'' I urge. ''Shoulders straight. Legs even. Let's go.''
                          
She does as I instruct, and I loosen my grip a little, letting her take the lead.
                          
''Josh, you know I love you,'' Ivana grunts the words out. ''But if you don't tell your brother to stop staring at me, he might walk out of here with his cut dick in his hand.''
                          
I hide my laugh with a cough. ''Already warned him.''
                          
''Good, because-''
                          
''I know,'' I smile because she can't see me. ''You're at four, you know that?''
                          
''Yep,'' I can hear the smugness in her voice. ''I think I could push up to ten.''
                          
''Yeah, you can. Okay, five- straighten your back a little bit. Good. Six, seven-''
                          
''Goddammit.'' She murmurs under her breath. ''My phone keeps ringing.''
                          
''Is that was that was?'' I thought she was just shaking like a leaf because of the hefty equipment.