Imperfect Fit

Chapter 1-First Crack of Dawn

Song for chapter: About Damn Time ~ Lizzo

JOANNA

Dear God, WHY am I here?

The answer is a startled snore. My cousin, Olivia is curled in a ball on a small bench meant for some kind of exercise, not a snooze. Grimacing, I can only imagine how many sweaty asses have sat in the same spot her face is lying on.

Eyes half-closed, she lifts her head, but resumes her nap. There's still time before we start this hellish regime I've somehow agreed to.

For a moment, the image of shoving her off the bench plays out in my mind. But I love her too much to do it, even if she's the reason why I'm here at the butt-crack of dawn.

Well, one of them. But misery loves company, right?

If you ask me, it's unreasonable to hold anyone accountable to what they agree to after nine shots of tequila and four fireballs. My eyelids grate against my throbbing eyes like sandpaper every time I blink, under the bright fluorescent lighting. Shifting my feet to not lose my balance when I sway, a loud, body-bending yawn rips out of me.

My nose twitches as my gaze roams around the facility, pleasantly surprised by the clean, subtle citrus scent that permeates the air. Having four older brothers, I expected the stereotypical odor of dirty, sweat soaked socks to saturate the gym.

A small smile pulls at my lips as I watch my sister-in-law, Nati, taking selfies in front of the wall of mirrors that surround us. Her hand slides over her small belly, self conscious of the change in her body from giving birth to my nephew less than two months ago. Her eyes meet mine and she smiles with a giggle.

Unlike me, she agreed to do this sober. My obscenely drunk self threatened to kick my brother's ass if he was behind her motivation to willingly wake up at the abhorrent hour of five thirty, in negative seven temperatures just to sweat, especially after having a baby.

But she assured me he wasn't. I knew it was true; he worships the ground she walks on and always encourages her to do things that make her happy.

Exercise is one of those things, apparently.

Lifting my glasses, I stifle another yawn and attempt to rub the tiredness and the lingering hangover remnants from my eyes.

"Damn, you all beat me here!" Olivia's stand-in B.F.F—only when she's mad at me—Enrique calls out, breathless and jogging over. "I'm glad you actually made it." He greets me with a kiss on the cheek, then Nati.

I fold my arms, readying myself to resume our ongoing argument. "I still don't think you can hold me to an agreement when I was not in the right state of mind, Quique."

"This again?" Enrique's perfect, sculpted, thick eyebrow lifts. With one movement, he pulls off his beanie and chucks it at me. Soft cashmere hits me in the face. Enrique has expensive tastes.

"You're here, aren't you?"

I throw it back, but he ducks, laughing. "I'm here out of support, pendejo. And because I don't want to hear you and Oli giving me shit for who knows how long if I didn't show up." (idiot)

"You never know, you could end up really liking it, JoJo." Nati smiles encouragingly, gathering her dark long hair into a low ponytail.

"Don't hold your breath, girl."

"Should we wake her?" Enrique nods at Oli's still form. I chuckle when she jerks.

"She looks so peaceful; let's not poke the bear yet," Nati advises. "I'm going to use the bathroom before we start." She walks to where the locker rooms and bathrooms are located.