Chapter 14: All the Right Moves

The following week passed in a blur of small adventures with Luke and his bandmates. Though their interactions remained lighthearted and easygoing, something was shifting between her and Luke. It wasn't overt or immediately obvious, but Iris felt it—a tension hanging in the air whenever they were close. The teasing, the lingering glances, the little touches—it all seemed to mean something, but she wasn't sure what.

She tried to ignore it, focusing on the fun they had. They'd gone out on more rides, hit a few cafes, and spent plenty of time with Apollo in and out of their practice sessions. But the closer they became, the more Iris realized just how much she liked spending time with him, just how easily he made her smile.

Today, however, Luke had something different planned for her. He had called earlier in the morning, saying they were going to do something special together. As usual, Iris was intrigued but unsure of what "something special" meant, especially considering Luke's love of surprises.

When she arrived at their meeting spot, she found Luke leaning casually against his Harley, his helmet tucked under one arm, his dark sunglasses obscuring most of his face. He looked effortlessly cool, like he had just walked out of one of those music videos where everything seemed too perfect to be real.

"Hey, sunshine," he greeted her as she approached, his voice smooth and easy. "You ready for today's surprise?"

"Depends. How many surprises have you planned for me?" she asked, raising an eyebrow as she crossed her arms.

"Just one today," he replied with a devil-may-care shrug. "But it's gonna be a good one."

Iris narrowed her eyes playfully. "I'm not sure I trust you anymore."

"Come on, you know you do," he teased. "Just hop on the bike, and I'll show you."

She didn't know what to expect, but the ride to their destination was long enough for Iris to start questioning everything. She leaned in close behind Luke, holding on to him tightly, feeling his body shift beneath her with every turn. His muscles tensed as they navigated the winding roads, and Iris had to admit, it felt nice to be this close to him.

As they arrived, Iris saw the large building before her—an upscale, modern gym. The sign outside read "Apollo Gym & Wellness," and Iris immediately recognized the name. It was where Luke and his bandmates worked out regularly, something they all made a point of prioritizing.

"I thought you'd appreciate this," Luke said, pulling off his helmet and flashing a grin. "We've got the whole place to ourselves today. No crowds, no distractions. Just us."

"You've got to be kidding me," Iris muttered, taking a step back to look at the building. "I've never stepped foot in a gym like this. Are you trying to kill me?"

Luke chuckled at her reaction. "Nope, just pushing your limits a little bit. I'm taking you through a workout that'll leave you begging for mercy, but don't worry—I'll go easy on you."

"I'm not worried about that," she shot back, a grin tugging at her lips. "It's you I'm worried about. I'm pretty sure you'll be the one begging for mercy after I'm done with you."

"Oh, I'm not so sure about that," Luke replied, his grin widening. "We'll see who's begging by the end of the day."

Inside the gym, it was even more impressive than she had imagined. The space was massive, lined with top-of-the-line equipment, including heavy bags, free weights, and rowing machines. Large mirrors covered the walls, reflecting the sleek, modern aesthetic of the place. It felt like stepping into another world entirely, one where people came to push their limits and transform themselves.

Luke gave her a playful glance as they stepped inside. "We'll start with something simple, alright? Some light stretching to get your muscles warm."

She nodded, following him to the mats in the corner. He demonstrated the stretches first, his long limbs moving fluidly through each pose. His body was lean but muscular, toned from months of hard work, and Iris found herself distracted by the way his body flowed with ease through the movements.

"Are you paying attention?" Luke teased as he finished his demonstration.

Iris snapped back to reality, flushing slightly. "Yeah, yeah. I'm just admiring your technique."

Luke smirked, clearly enjoying the attention. "Well, you can admire it all you want, but you've got to do it yourself now."

Iris rolled her eyes but dropped down onto the mat to follow his instructions. The stretch felt good, the cool air of the gym mixed with the sweat starting to bead on her skin. Luke watched her for a moment, his eyes lingering on her, though he quickly averted his gaze when their eyes met.

There was a strange energy in the room now, something that Iris couldn't quite put her finger on. Maybe it was the fact that they were alone in this space, just the two of them, with the soft hum of music playing in the background. Maybe it was the way Luke's presence seemed to fill every corner of the room, making everything else fade away.

As the workout continued, the teasing between them only grew. Luke pushed her through sets of squats, lunges, and core exercises, all the while making snarky comments that had Iris laughing even as she struggled to keep up.

"Come on, sunshine. You've got to do at least one more set!" Luke urged, looking at her expectantly. "Don't let me down now."

She narrowed her eyes at him, her breath coming in ragged bursts. "You're evil, you know that?"

"I'm just trying to help you, babe," Luke replied, flashing her a wink. "All those extra sets are for your own good."

Iris shook her head, a smile playing on her lips despite herself. "You really think I'm gonna believe that?"

Luke smirked. "Well, I'm your personal trainer for the day. And you'll thank me later when you're seeing the results."

After a couple of hours of grueling work, they finished up with some light cardio and a cool-down. Iris felt sore, but in the best way possible—the kind of sore that made her feel accomplished.

"You did great," Luke said, wiping the sweat from his brow as they both sat down on the bench. "I knew you had it in you."

She shot him a look. "Don't think this means I'm going easy on you next time."

Luke chuckled, leaning back against the wall, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I wouldn't expect anything less, sunshine. I know you're competitive."

"Well, I'm not going to lose to you anytime soon."

Luke's grin softened into something a little warmer, and for a moment, the teasing died down. "You're gonna be a tough one to beat, that's for sure."

Iris met his gaze, and for a second, there was a shift in the air between them. Something that hadn't been there before—a subtle connection.

But before it could go any further, Luke broke the moment, standing up and extending a hand to help her to her feet.

"Come on," he said, pulling her up effortlessly. "Let's get something to eat. I'm starving after all that."

Iris smiled, grateful for the lightheartedness that had returned to the air. They headed out of the gym together, Luke chatting easily as they walked.

"Next time, you're coming to practice with me again," Luke said, looking over at her. "I'll show you some more moves. You'll be a pro in no time."

"Oh, I have no doubt about that," Iris replied, her voice teasing. "You're definitely making me work for it."

Luke just grinned, glancing over at her. "I'll make sure you're ready, sunshine. But don't worry—I'm here to help you every step of the way."

As they walked toward the café to grab a bite to eat, Iris felt a strange sense of calm wash over her. It was the kind of calm she hadn't felt in a long time, one that made her believe that maybe, just maybe, everything was going to be okay.

And that maybe Luke wasn't just a friend.