Page 105 of More To Us

She sighs. "No. But I don't appreciate you telling me what I can and can't do. I know my limit, and my limit is fifty more pounds."

"Fine." I stand back. "Go ahead."

"You don't have to watch me."

"I'm your trainer. That's what I do."

She starts to extend her legs and I can already see it's way too much weight. But she grits her teeth and grabs the side handles and pushes through it. One rep and her face is already red.

"Kira, I'm serious. That's too much weight. Straining that much raises your blood pressure."

"I'm 21. My blood pressure is fine." She does another rep, forcing a breath out as she extends her legs, gripping the hand bars even harder as she lowers her legs.

Why is she doing this? Why is she pushing herself like this?

"Would you please stop watching me?" she asks after the fourth rep. "I've got this. I don't need you to spot me on the machines. And it's getting late. You need to finish your own workout."

Why is she in such a bad mood today? She wasn't like this last week when we worked out together.

I walk away, feeling frustrated and a little angry. I'm not someone who gets angry very often, but I do when someone I care about is doing something that isn't good for them. Like my dad and his smoking. He goes outside after meals and smokes and I yell at him for it but he never listens. He says a couple cigarettes a day won't kill him, but I don't want to risk it. I already lost my mom. I don't want to lose my dad too.

I return to the free weight area and do some pull-ups on the bar. Just as I'm starting my fifth one, I hear weights clanking down. I let go of the bar and turn back and see Kira still on the machine but grabbing her leg, her eyes squeezed shut, biting her lip.

I race over to her. "Kira, what's wrong?"

Her eyes pop open. She looks panicked seeing me there. "Nothing's wrong. I'm fine."

"Don't lie to me." I put my hands on her leg. "Where does it hurt?"

"It doesn't. It was just a leg cramp. It's gone now."

"Your leg cramped because you were using too much weight." I step back. "Get off the machine. You're done."

"I was already finished anyway. Hamstring curls are next but that guy's on the machine." She motions to him. "Maybe I'll do the calf press." She slowly gets up.

"You're not doing any more today. You've done enough."

"I'm not done. I have the whole circuit to go through." She takes a step and her right leg buckles. I catch her before she hits the ground. "Another leg cramp," she says, holding onto me as she stands up.

"That was more than a leg cramp. You shouldn't have been lifting that much weight. Now you hurt your leg."

"I didn't hurt it," she says in a hushed, angry tone. "It cramped up. Everyone gets leg cramps. Now would you let go of me?"

"Only if you don't do any more."

"But I'm not—"

"You're done." I keep hold of her arm. "You still have to bike to campus, then walk to class. Trust me, your lower body will get plenty of exercise."

She sighs. "Fine."

I let her go. "I'm gonna go get cleaned up for work, then I'll drive you back to your apartment so you don't have to take the bus."

"I don't mind taking the bus."

"Just let me take you. I guarantee you'll like my truck better than the bus." I smile. "And if you ride with me, the driver will give you a kiss when he drops you off."

She smiles back, that angry look finally going away. "Okay. I'll get my stuff and wait by the front desk."

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