“John,” Emily began, her voice steady but laced with an undercurrent of tension, “we need to talk about Sophie’s comment earlier.”

John’s expression shifted from relaxed to cautious. “Emily, I told you, it’s just exercise. Rachel and I—”

“John,” Emily interrupted, her eyes searching his for honesty, “I want to believe you. But the way Sophie described it… it sounds like more than just workouts.”

John sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, a gesture Emily recognized as a sign of his discomfort. “Emily, I swear, there’s nothing going on. Sophie must have misunderstood. Rachel and I are just friends, you know that.”