“Okay, thank you, Helen,” Kayleigh finally says. “We can take it from here.”
“What are we going to do?” I ask her nervously. “I’m not even in a sportswear, not like you, but I suppose you were prepared. You knew what we were going to do today unlike me.”
I shoot her an angry glare, but she purposefully ignores it. “We should start on the treadmill since we need to run. They aren’t too hard to use anyway, I couldn’t follow any of that stuff Helen was saying…”
Kayleigh leads the way to the treadmill and we start running on it. Obviously, she’s much quicker than me, but that’s to be expected. What I do expect is the competitive feeling that rises in my chest. I actually want to be as good as Kayleigh, or better maybe. I haven’t had anything to fight for in a very long time and this feels like a good place to start. It’s healthy too, I will be doing my body good by getting into shape.
I pick the pace up and wipe the sweat from my forehead, panting desperately as I do. I’m sure my face is as red as my hair, but I keep on going. Endorphins kick in and my serotonin flies through the roof. I can do this, I can actually run a freaking marathon. Everyone wants to run a marathon, it’s on every bucket list ever, and I’m going to actually do it. For mom, to help screw over Cancer, and to put my past behind me.
What could be better than that?
Yes, Kayleigh is right. I do need this so much.
3
Noah
“Oh, fucking hell, she is gorgeous.” I hear Josh tell Mike. “I mean, we get some seriously hot members in here, but she is something else. The things I would love to do to her.”
“Which one do you mean?” Mike asks. “The red head or the blonde?”
“The red head. She’s got a bit of a shy look to her, but I bet she’s wild in bed.”
“Oh, well I like the blonde. She looks bossy. I like bossy.”
“You like to be dominated? I never would have thought that about you, mate.”
“I don’t know, I guess so. I just like it when a chick knows what she wants.”
“I like it when I can teach her a thing or two. And I could teach the red head lots.”
I smile to myself, silently agreeing with him. The blonde is cute, but the red head - Mia, I think she said her name was - has something special about her. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but she is incredible. The moment I saw her, my heart fluttered like crazy and it hasn’t stopped moving too quick since.
I don’t get like this over women. I have the hots for them, obviously, but I don’t get these weird feelings. This is intense, powerful, almost irritating. I’m not looking for anyone right now, not for
more than sex, and I certainly can’t hook up with someone who’s a client of my gym. That’s my rule for a reason.
“No fraternizing,” I remind them, but I only get that familiar smirk back.
“Yeah, yeah, we know, boss. No fraternizing. Of course not.”
“I mean it. You do realize it’s trouble, don’t you? It can lead to all sorts of complications.”
“We know… you don’t have to tell us that, we understand.”
“I’m not just saying… you know what? Never mind.” I roll my eyes. “You carry on.”
I also want to warn them about speaking about the women like they are eye candy, just there for them to drool over, but I don’t have the energy. They are idiots anyway, I don’t think they will understand. Great employees but not the best at actually being decent human beings.
“Just… get back to work, okay? I think those guys over there need some help with the machines.”
“Yes, boss. We’re on it.”
Shit. I might have to actually watch one of these idiots hooking up with her. I roll my eyes and stalk over to the desk, to greet new people coming in. When I’m here, I want my face to be the first thing that people see when they come in here, so they know who to talk to if they ever need help.
I welcome everyone as they come in, trying to give each and every person the time that they deserve, but whenever I’m idly sitting, my eyes drag to her. She hasn’t gotten off the treadmill yet, which makes sense since the women are running a marathon, making it even easier for me to find her.
Fucking hell, the Vaseline sheen of sweat covering her body is too tempting for words. I drag my tongue over my bottom lip, imagining that it’s hers. God, I would love it to be hers…