The Demand, Part 2

After Selena and I collect our green smoothies from the over-priced juice bar on the main street, I receive a text from Dad, urgently asking me to come down to the gym. Selena drags her feet, but we walk the whole seventeen minutes there and drop our empty smoothie cups in the bin right outside the door. Inside, the gym buzzes with life and I marvel at it. I don't think I've ever seen the gym so busy.

"Olly!" Dad shouts, and I snap my head to the left, in the direction of his bellow.

I frown at the sight of him. He rolls his shoulders inside his hooded jacket and stuffs his hands into the pockets of his black sweatpants.

Odd. He hates sweats.

"Afternoon, Mr. James," Selena greets him, sliding her sunglasses to the top of her head.

"Hey, Selly." He grins at her, holding out his arms. She bounces right into them, hugging my dad as if he were her own. "How are ya? How's your dad?"

"I'm good and he's great, thanks for asking."

While they embrace, I notice the subtle dark, gray writing r