10 minutes after cooling down and my sweat all dried up, I got into the shower first while he went out for a smoke. When it was his turn to take the shower, I waited inside the training room browsing for anything other than Abs. Nick called me from inside the shower room a few minutes later so I charged in with his duffel bag without hesitation. To my horror, he was standing in front of the mirror in nude. His front was facing away from me so that I could only see his butt cheeks.

"Woah!" I exclaimed, startled and left the bag by a bench nearby. I reached for the door to exit, but he ordered me to stay.

"What's wrong with you? Never seen python unleashed before?" he mocked me.

"Nope," I said honestly, looking away facing the wall.

He was silent for a bit but continued, "I thought you're eagerly wanting to admire my body art. Don't you want to take a gander at it?"

"I prefer to appraise them while keeping your genitals covered," I lilted uncontrollably.

"You feminist empowering nudity only for your own kind? Isn't that sexist? Where's the equality to it?" he jested.

"We also promote modesty and humility too," I answered.

"Now, you're just contradicting yourself. You need to pick sides, Zahida. Either you want all or nothing at all," he chuckled and snapped his fingers at me for my attention. "My towel's in that bag."

With my eyes shut, I unzipped the bag open and groping for a towel-like fabric inside the bag before I pulled it carefully and extended the towel in my hand towards his direction. When, I felt his damp fingers touching mine, I released the towel as he pulled it away.

"Can I leave now?" I asked, still with my eyes closed.

"Nope, I need to ask you something," he answered.

I groaned. "Can it wait?"

"No, I might forget," he insisted.

"Okay," I growled at his request.

"Tomorrow New Year's Eve, you've plans?"

"Yes, I plan to binge watching Big Bang Theory and sleep before the count down," I answered frankly.

"Brill, then you're coming with me," he replied.

"Where to?" I asked.

"Alderley Edge for a private New Year's Eve do," he said. "Okay. My manhood's all covered now."

I pried my eyelids open slowly, ensuring the truth to his claim. When I found his towel wrapped around his lower body down to his knees, I finally opened my eyes in relief.

"Private party over Big Bang Theory? I guess I'm up for Alderley Edge."

"Good, then I'll pick you up by 8.00?" he suggested.

"I'll be ready by 8.00 then," I agreed. "Must be boujee. What should I be wearing? Let's go shopping this evening."

"Pass."

"Come on, it'll be fun," I persuaded. "I've always wanted to have a go at Hervia Bazaar at King Street."

"It's already half past 6.00. We won't be able to make it for anything," he reminded me.

Oh, damn! I looked down at my wristwatch to see 6.32 pm in bold digits glaring at me. Nick was right, we just missed the operation hours of most shops.

Although some would remain its opening hours until 9.00 to 10.00 pm, I doubted Nick would be interested to walk around in crowded areas with the possibility of bumping into people he tried to avoid, especially the family members of his dead victims.