Page 24 of Guarded

She’d own this bitch. I roll my shoulders back and call in that energy before facing the class again. The music starts, and I lead the class through the first song and warmups.

The energy in the room is radiating. All the women keep up, and I stop to show modifications for those struggling. One of the girls looks familiar. She’s wearing a long graphic tee that says, ‘Call your momma’ on the front, and when she turns, I read the back that says, ‘I’ll rock her ass too.’

I let out a small laugh. The more I look at the girl, the more I recognize her as one of the new front desk girls. She works the night shift. I remember seeing her the few times I stayed at work late.

The forty-five-minute class ends, and I feel more than accomplished. I actually did it! I led an amazing class and didn’t freeze up or completely embarrass myself. Several women thank me at the end of the class, and that was more than enough encouragement. Their smiles were the reason I was here. I wanted women to feel confident and sexy in their own skin and to love exercise as much as I do.

I grab my gym bag and rush after the girl from the front desk.

“Hey, wait up!” I shout, and she turns around.

“You really kept up with me in there! Thanks for coming!” I exclaim.

“Ya! That playlist was dope! I’m Cooper,” she replies, sticking out her hand.

“I’m Ariella, or Ari for short. You work at the front desk, right?”

“Yeah. I see you sometimes with the little dog and your boyfriend leaving the office.”

“Oh, no. That’s not my boyfriend. That’s my bodyguard.” I laugh nervously.

“Oh, damn, I thought that was your man,” she says, walking with me to the main lobby.

All these words cause a wave of embarrassment to wash over me.

My boyfriend.

My man.

“That’s funny. He’s like way older than me.” I reply.

“Girl, age is just a number. Plus, bodyguard or not, that man stays looking at you like he’ll kill anyone who even sneezes in your direction.”

“Oh. Well, that’s his job. I’m as single as a pringle here.” I rhyme and immediately want to punch myself.

“Good for you. I’m single, too. Men’s personalities are literally the only birth control I need.” She jokes.

I instantly decide I like Cooper. She’s one of those people that I tend to gravitate towards. We’re both extroverts, but I was an introverted extrovert. I wanted to be around people cause I didn’t want to be lonely. But I could only handle so many people at once.

Cooper, I’m learning quickly, is more blunt than I am. One of those super extroverts. In retrospect, I’m like the jalapeño lime Cheetos, and she’s the flaming hot Cheetos.

On our way to the main lobby, Cooper tells me everything about herself. I make a quick mental list so I don’t forget any details.

Cooper Calvo

Half Haitian, half Dominican, but as she stated, a hundred percent Texan.

She is going to school at the University of Houston, where she is studying Political science.

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