Meagan, Shane, and Aurora were working out on the cardio equipment as Aaron and Cadence entered the building to show Brandon and Cassidy around. They all promptly stopped what they were doing, recognizing Cassidy but awestruck at seeing Brandon in person for the first time.
“Oh, wow,” Aurora said as she walked over, drying her forehead off with a hand towel. “You’ve got to be Brandon. We’ve heard so much about you.” She offered him her hand, which he shook. “I’m Aurora.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” he said smiling sheepishly.
“Hey Cassidy!” Aurora said, hugging her loosely. “I’m all sweaty, but it’s nice to see you!”
“You, too,” Cassidy agreed.
“Brandon, this is Meagan, and this is Shane,” Cadence said as they offered their hands as well.
“Shane will likely be doing most of your training,” Aaron explained.
“Hey, man. How’s it going?” Shane asked as he squeezed Brandon’s hand a little too much. “Are you going through the Transformation process then?”
Brandon shook his hand out a bit before answering. “Uh, yeah. Tonight, actually.”
“That’s cool!” Meagan exclaimed. “It will be great to have you on the team.”
“It’s great to be here,” he replied, though he didn’t sound quite as enthusiastic as one might expect.
Meagan also hugged Cassidy and asked how she was doing while Shane waved at her and asked her what was up. Cassidy’s expression was testimony that she was still jealous of Brandon’s situation, but she forced a smile and a quiet greeting.
“So, this is one of the workout rooms,” Cadence explained, gesturing at the various machines. “There are a couple of other rooms, but they are much smaller.”
“It’s pretty nice,” Brandon commented as he and Cassidy began to look around.
“Are you not going tonight?” Aurora asked Cadence, poking her in the arm.
Cadence sighed. “No, I’m going to stay here. I want to spend some time with my sister before she has to go back home. But you guys will be just fine without me. He’s just a baby.”
“What?” Meagan asked, a confused expression on her face.
“Not literally,” Cadence clarified. Meagan could be such a ditz. “It’s just a few weeks past his Resurrection.”
“Oh, right,” Meagan laughed. “It would be hard to kill a baby.”
Cadence glanced at Aaron, but if the statement bothered him, he didn’t show it. “Right. So, I’ll leave it to you to coordinate.”
“Me?” Aurora asked. “You think I can do that?”
“Sure,” Cadence offered shrugging her shoulders. “Aaron is planning on being there. You just need to make sure the Hunters are in position.”
Aurora seemed to consider the arrangement before finally saying, “Well, I guess there’s a first time for everything.”
“Some people’s first times take a lot longer to come around than other people’s,” Cassidy muttered beneath her breath as she absently moved an arm on an elliptical machine back and forth.
“What was that?” Brandon asked from her side. He was the only one close enough to even know she had spoken.
“Nothing,” Cassidy shrugged. “I’m just pouting again, that’s all.”
He smiled. “Don’t worry. It’ll happen sooner than you think.”
“I guess,” she said, glancing over her shoulder at her sister and her friends. “I guess the grownups are talking now.”
Brandon smiled. “I’m a grown up, too, you know? I just left home, starting a new job. I’m an independent man.”
Cassidy chuckled. “I don’t know about that. What did your mom say when you told her what you were doing?”
His disposition shifted. After a moment, he said quietly, “I didn’t tell her.”
“Seriously?” Cassidy asked. “She doesn’t know?”
“Nah,” Brandon shrugged. “I’ll tell her later.”
“You guys want to go see the pool?” Cadence shouted at them from across the room.
Without answering, they both started walking in their general direction. Meagan, Shane, and Aurora crossed back to their machines with calls of “see you later” and “have a nice tour.”
Cassidy lagged behind, causing Brandon to slow down as well, keeping Cadence and Aaron out of range of their conversation. “Is that why you’re in such a hurry to get this done right now? ‘Cause you’re afraid your mom will find out and stop you?”
Brandon took the door from Cadence and held it open for Cassidy as they walked into the pool area. Cadence was talking about how popular this amenity was, though there were only two other people there at the moment, and Brandon took the opportunity to ignore Cassidy’s question--for now.
Cadence waved at Paxton and Smith, who were doing laps but stopped as they saw the party approaching. “That’s Paxton with the mohawk, and the other one is Smith,” she said through barred teeth, still smiling.
“Are those their first names or their last names?” Brandon asked, also waving politely.
“I don’t know,” Cadence admitted.
Aaron was clearly fighting back a chuckle at Cadence’s expense. “Their last names,” he clarified. “But that’s what everyone calls them because they’re both named Trent.”
“Oh, good to know,” Brandon nodded.
“Is it heated?” Cassidy asked, eyeing the water.
“It is,” Cadence agreed, ignoring her fiancé, though she was tempted to punch him for laughing at her. “And there’s a hot tub in there. Want to see?”
“Sure,” Brandon said, answering for both of them. They all waved goodbye at the swimmers and continued on their tour.
Cassidy lagged behind again, and while Brandon attempted to keep up the steady pace at first, eventually he slowed to keep her company. “Well?” she asked.
“Well, what?” Brandon asked as if he had no idea to what she was referring.
“Your mom,” Cassidy reminded him. “She doesn’t know? Does she even know where you’re at?”
Brandon stopped and turned to face her, his back to Aaron and Cadence. “You know, Cassidy, sometimes you just have to take your life into your own hands. I’m an adult now. It’s time for me to make my own decisions, think my own thoughts, do my own thing.” He shrugged as if what he said was not profound, spun around, and caught up to his escorts, who were looking at them both with questioning expressions.
Cassidy considered his comments carefully for a moment before hurrying to catch up. Once she reached her sister, Cadence stepped back to join her, letting the guys lead the way to the gym, the next stop on the tour. “Everything okay?” Cadence asked quietly.
“Yeah, it’s fine,” Cassidy replied, not sure if Cadence knew Brandon’s mom had no idea where he was and not wanting to give away his secret. “I’m fine.”