Page 16 of Bodybuilders for the BBW

“Great,” I growled. “I’m being vulnerable, showing my soft side here, and you’re?—”

“Giving you shit, like you always do me,” he replied. “Alright, so let’s think about this logically. You think you might be into her and want a chance to find out?”

“Yep,” I said.

“And the fact she’s not replying to you is kinda driving you crazy.” His eyes went to my hair. “So much you’re thinking about lopping off all that hair.”

“I gotta do something, right?” I looked him up and down. “Like how did you know Greg was the one for you?”

“I looked across a crowded bar and his eyes locked with mine.” Drew looked a little misty eyed then. “The loud music, the noise, the sweaty atmosphere, that all fell away and there was just him. I made my way over to him and introduced myself.” He shrugged. “And that was it.”

“See, that.” I stabbed my finger in the air. “That’s what I’m talking about. Sometimes this shit is just written in the stars.” I pulled out my phone, googling local florists. “I’ll ask Mandie where her sister works and have a bunch of flowers sent over.” I looked up for a second. “Two bunches. Not roses, they’re way too basic. Maybe sunflowers?” I scrolled through the flower shop’s catalogue. “What’s a lisianthus?” I turned the phone screen around to show him. “Do you think Katie would like these?”

“Whoa there, buckeroo.” He plucked the phone from my grasp and then placed it face down on the counter. “I get that you’re keen.”

“Keen was a day ago,” I replied. “I’m way past that point now.”

“Don’t let keen earn you a restraining order,” he advised. “Just take a breath and …oh.”

“Oh what?” I spun around to follow his line of sight, and that was the moment when the doors slid open. Not an uncommon occurrence at the gym, but this was no ordinary client walking in the door. Just like in the movies, the sunlight framed her head, turning that red hair of hers fire bright. “Holy shit, it’s her.”

This had to be fate. My feet started moving before I did, walking towards Katie. I caught the moment she looked around, then blanched at the sight of so many dudes lifting weights before looking down at her phone.

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “No, no, no. Goddammit, Mandie.”

“Anything I can help you with?” I asked. “We’ve got some fresh smoothies over there if you need something to toss around?”

“What?” That pretty pink flush had me grinning, and right then I swore I’d do whatever it took to make that happen over and over again. “Oh.” She took a step backwards. “Oh god…”

“Hey, I was just joking. You looked like you were having a particularly bad day.”

“In a way,” she admitted ruefully. “My stupid sister organised to meet me at the gym and then spaced without telling me. Apparently she’s got some ‘thing.’” Katie shook her head, then scanned the gym. “I’ll just go?—”

“Or…” I stuck my arm out like gents did in those horny period dramas women like. “I could take you through your paces. I’m a pretty good personal trainer, if I do say so myself.”

Say yes, beautiful, I thought furiously.

“New year, new me…” She muttered that under her breath, thinking I didn’t hear her, but I did. “So, I don’t think I’m ready to tackle anything weight bearing right now.” She flinched when someone dropped a barbell weighed down with hundreds of kilos of plates. “That looks… scary.”

“Not scary if you know what you’re doing.” I wiggled my arm, and she stared at it, then shook her head and put her hand on the elbow. “And I know what I’m doing, no matter what people say about me.”

“What do they say about you?”

I was doing so well, but her feet instantly slowed as she stared up at me.

Impulsive, headstrong, more balls than brains, they were a few of the insults levelled my way, but none of them mattered right now.

“That I always look after clients and we run a chill place here. Anyone tries to give you shit? I’ll sort them out for you.” I turned to face her. “Its important people feel comfortable here, but if you don’t want to try weights today, could I interest you in some cardio?” As I walked over to the treadmills, I turned and stared, realising why Katie seemed so familiar. I remembered now the hot girl walking past when I was spotting my friend, Noah. “You know how to use these just fine.”

“Yeah.” Her cheeks flushed brighter. “I came here a bit after…” She shook her head. “Last year. That’s when Mandie started to get on my case about working out with her.”

“Alright.” I turned on the machine, tapping on the screen so she could adjust the settings to suit herself. That bag was plucked from her grip and then I took her ear buds out of their base and placed them in each ear, resisting the urge to stroke her hair. “Got water?” I saw the water bottle stashed in a side pocket of her bag and placed it in the drink holder. “Need an iPad to watch Bridgerton as you’re walking?” I asked. “You could pretend you’re a fine lady taking a turn about the gardens.”

“You lend clients iPads?” she asked, climbing up on the stationary treadmill. “This is some gym.”

“Umm… I could look to see if we have one,” I said, “or I could change the channel on the TV screens.”

We usually played sports replays on the big screens and while I was fairly sure you’d be able to hear the guys’ howls from space, I’d throw on Netflix for Katie, if that’s what she wanted. I don’t know what it was, but as my hand came to rest on the rails of the treadmill, something in me wanted to move. I wanted to cover it with mine, claim it, maybe cradle it against my chest as I?—

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