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noticed Emilia and Jayne off the treadmills, deep into a heated discussion. Jayne’s arms were flying around so much I thought she was trying to start a flash mob.
    “What’s wrong?” Guy asked.
    Before I could answer, shouting and shoving ensued. I bolted to my girls.
    “Hey. Hey!” I said, arriving on the scene. I tried to put myself in between them. “What’s going on?”
    At first they just stood there, ignoring me and glaring at each other. Emilia’s ponytail was half pulled out, Jayne’s face was beet red. Guy stepped up, as well, but stood with his hands on his hips.
    “C’mon,” I said, more commanding. “What happened? You guys were talking so politely when I left.” The two had exchanged words before, but their arguments had never gone to blows. I think Emilia was jealous of Jayne. Maybe it was my fault, since I spent less time with Emilia once I became friends with Jayne. And she didn’t expect Jayne to be tagging along on our gym time.
    “Howard’s little sissy is a snob. That’s what’s the matter,” Jayne said.
    “Did you say something to offend her, Emilia?” I asked her. Even though she was a nice girl, she did have to look down to talk to you. I wouldn’t put it past her to flat out insult Jayne behind my back.
    “Well, you got her started back on this Hank business, and I was getting sick of hearing it. All I said was that the next time she gets a boyfriend, she could be a bit more selective.”
    “Liar.” Jayne said.
    “Then what did she say, Jayne?”
    Jayne eyes fell to the ground.
    When I looked back at Emilia she glanced away. “Emilia?”
    “Fine,” Emilia said folding her arms. “I said Hank was like a gorilla with a lobotomy.”
    I heard Guy snicker behind me, but thankfully I was mature enough not to respond. Well, at least my fear was greater than my sense of humor at that moment.
    “Emilia,” I said in that disappointed, motherly tone. “Really? Would you please apologize so we can move on?”
    Emilia took a couple of steps forward. “Jayne, I’m sorry your gorilla boyfriend got a lobotomy.”
    Jayne lunged forward. “You bitch!” Obviously there were some unresolved Hank feelings still lingering in Jayne. Both Guy and I shoved our way between them. I’d never seen Jayne so worked up—over a girl, that is. She was generally more even-tempered and mellow. I think that’s why I enjoyed being around her. I pulled Jayne back, while Guy held off Emilia. So this was the kind of girl drama I missed out on in high school. I was better off with my back against the gym and my nose in a book.
    “All right, we’re out of here,” I said. Grabbing Jayne by the arm, I turned her around and escorted her toward the door. Guy released his hold on Emilia and said something to her I couldn’t hear. When I checked back, I noticed Emilia’s anger melt, then turn to a smile within seconds. As if nothing had happened, the two were huddled in a lively conversation. Did he flirt with every woman ?
     
     

Chapter 8
     
    My to-do list couldn’t have been any longer, and that was exactly the way I liked it. If I had five things on my list, I’d probably get two done. But give me twenty-five things? You’d have twenty-four done by the end of the day. My engine was filled with pure adrenaline when I had a deadline or other motivating factor clipping at my heels. That’s why I loved this business. Am I a workaholic? Maybe, but I’d learned a long time ago that sitting on your ass gets you nothing. Except a flat ass, that is.
    Arriving first in the office, I powered through emails, phone messages, and even gave final approval on two stories. Down time? That simply didn’t exist in magazine publishing. Once an issue of the magazine was out the front door, we all breathed a sigh of relief, but the next one was already barking at our back door like a son of a bitch. So instead of resting at a red light, it’s more like we slowed for the yellow, but then decided to floor through