She wore snug black shorts, a black sports bra with candy-pink piping, and a pink New Gen hoodie tied around her waist.

“Got it, flaunting it.”

“Uh-huh.” Hector, sporting a goatee and a short ponytail, shoved up his wire-framed glasses. “You know there are pigeons in here.”

“Adds ambiance.”

Adrian had picked the old building, the roofless-in-some-spots building, for just that. She’d yet to use an actual studio or slick gym, and from the feedback, her audience enjoyed her more offbeat locations.

She only grinned when the scream of a siren echoed. “Authentic ambiance. And instead of professionals, we have two regular people.”

Except for the lighting and sound crew, Hector’s assistants.

But still, when it came down to it, not that far from a weekend on a rooftop that cemented friendships and launched her dreams.

“Okay, thirty-four-minute dance cardio’s up first.”

She wore candy-pink shorts with a faux black belt, pink halter-style sports bra with black piping. She let her shoulder-length hair do whatever the hell it wanted for this routine.

She took her mark, waited for Hector—who doubled as director—to give her the go. And smiled into Hector’s camera.

“Hi, I’m Adrian Rizzo. Welcome to For Your Body. This two-disk set will take you through a fun and challenging cardio dance with Latin flavor. A thirty-minute routine focused on your core, thirty minutes of strength training with light and medium weights, a bonus round for thirty-five minutes for a full-body workout that hits every muscle. And finally, thirty-five minutes of yoga.

“We’re in New York City today.” She glanced up as a pigeon flew overhead. “Joined by some local wildlife. I have my friends with me. Teesha.”

Teesha gave a snappy salute.

“And Loren.”

Adrian laughed when Loren held his hand up in the Vulcan greeting.

“Remember, you can do any part of this video, switch it up, combine it. Do what’s good for you, but do something, because it’s for your body.”

It worked, she could feel it. She knew it when she heard Teesha laugh, heard Loren’s muttered counts.

It worked when, during the core session, Loren collapsed back on his mat and called for his mommy.

It worked for three long, full days and ended with pizza and wine on the floor of the apartment Adrian and Teesha shared.

“My abs are still screaming,” Loren claimed.

“We woke them up.”

He took a huge bite of pizza. “They want to go back to sleep. Maybe forever. Next time I’ll run the camera and Hector can melt into a pool of his own sweat.”

“I’m a behind-the-scenes guy.” Hector took a sip of the wine he hoped to develop a taste for. “And I’m going to be behind the scenes in Northern Ireland for the next two months.”

Teesha pushed straight up. “What scenes?”

“An HBO series. I’m assistant on the B-roll crew, but I’m in.” He grinned a mile wide. “Hollywood, baby. Well, Northern Ireland’s version.”

“That’s big time, dude.” Loren shot out a finger. “Big time.”

“It’s a step toward middle time that could lead to big. You better not boot me as your videographer.” Hector shot his own finger at Adrian.

“Never. Jesus, Hector Sung, this is huge! When do you leave?”

“We start next week, but I’m flying out day after tomorrow so I can do a little touristing. You guys should come over this summer.”

“Yeah, like it’s a subway ride to Queens.” Teesha shook her head. “I’m loading in summer classes, Hec. I’m going for my MBA ASAP.”

“After which she’s going to be my business manager. And when Loren finishes law school and passes the bar, he’ll be my lawyer. So.” Adrian lifted her glass in toast. “We keep the band together.”

Over the next few months, Adrian jockeyed her time with appearances, visits to her grandparents, promotions for her new sportswear line, and a new project.

A weekly fitness blog, including a short, streaming demonstration of what she called the Five-Minute Workout of the Week.

Since she could stream from almost anywhere—once Hector taught her how—she often included someone else in the demo. The owner of her local deli, a random dog walker, a cop on the beat (whom she dated satisfactorily for a few months thereafter).

One of her favorites, and one she’d watch again countless times in the years to come, starred her grandmother.

With a foot of snow outside, the fires crackling, and the big house sparkling with Christmas, Adrian set up in the kitchen.

“Just have some fun with it,” she told Sophia.

“The kitchen’s for cooking, for gathering, for eating.”

Adrian adjusted the camera. “You cook, gather, eat, you need to move.” Satisfied, Adrian turned, smiled at her grandmother.

“You look terrific. Scratch that. You look hot.”

Sophia flicked a hand in dismissal, then laughed and shook back her hair. “It’s the outfit. Your design.”

“Well, my brand. But it’s who’s in it that counts.”

It did flatter, Adrian thought, the forest-green support tank, the cropped leggings of green, blue, and pink, with pink low-tops.

“You’ve seen enough of these to know how it works. Just follow my lead. You have something to say, say it. It’s easy, fun, and fast.”

“I already pity me.”

With a laugh, Adrian slid a hand in her pocket, hit the remote. “For this week’s five minutes, I’m with the amazing Sophia Rizzo, or as I know her, Nonna. We’re in her kitchen where she—and my grandfather—cook like culinary angels. He’s currently tossing pizza dough at their restaurant here in the Maryland mountains. So Nonna and I are taking five out of our holiday baking to move the bod and up the heart rate.

“Ready, Nonna?”

Sophia looked straight into the camera. “This isn’t my idea, but she’s my only grandchild, so …”

“High knee march, get those knees above the waist to work the abs. That’s the way, Nonna. Nobody’s going to deny themselves some holiday treats. I won’t, not when they’re made by Dom and Sophia Rizzo, so when you indulge—in moderation—don’t forget to move.”

“Only for you would I do this for people to see this poor old woman.”

“Hah! Poor old woman, my butt. And speaking of butts. Squats. You know how to squat, Nonna. Get that bootie back. Squeeze those glutes.”

She moved on to lunges, well aware Sophia sent her mock dirty looks, then combined the movements, calling out the count, then finished with hip circles and a stretch.

“And there you have it. Take five between the shopping, the baking, the wrapping, the indulging, and if you’re lucky, you’ll look as fit as my incredible nonna.”

Adrian wrapped an arm around Sophia’s waist. “Isn’t she gorgeous? How lucky am I to have this DNA?”

“She’s flattering me because it’s all true.” Laughing, Sophia wrapped her arms around Adrian and kissed her cheek. “Let’s have a cookie.”

“Let’s.” Adrian turned her head so their cheeks pressed, smiled at the camera. “Merry Christmas and happy holidays from ours to yours. Don’t forget. Stay fit and fierce and fabulous. See you next year!”