Chapter 10 Winter finally left the city, leaving behind it a warm but rainy spring—and a deeper bond between Mark and Austin. They had begun going to the gym on Sundays, too. Afterward, they’d stop to eat at one of the local breakfast spots before returning to their respective apartments to do their weekly chores. “Eating right after working out sort of defeats the purpose of going to the gym,” Austin said at one point. “I don’t think either of us has to worry about putting on weight,” Mark retorted. The truth, in his opinion. Austin was in damned good shape—something he’d noticed the first time they’d gone to the gym and he’d seen him in his workout clothes. Me, on the other hand…He was getting better, though. Far from a weightlifter build, but he had the beginnings of a six pack, now.

