Page 9 of M.M. Scrooge
Will it never end? Grunting, I lower the weight to my chest and heave it up one last time. Done.
We rack the weights together, and I struggle to sit. The sweaty outline of my shoulders remains on the bench. Gyms are so gross. But there’s lemon spray and wipes at the ready, and I clean my station while Andrea prepares whatever torture awaits next.
I’ve booked my last couple of sessions with Andrea in order to avoid an awkward meeting with Max. Christmas is around the corner, and I want to cement this whole gym habit into my schedule before I go hog wild on sugar cookies and honey-baked ham.
A sinking feeling swarms my gut. Nothing’s going to be the same this year, not with Dad gone. My chest clenches, and not from the bench press. We’ve never had a holiday without him.
But if Mom can rally enough Christmas cheer to host all of us, then I sure can rally my appetite to partake. I wish I had a boyfriend to bring along with me, but that’s not in the cards this year.
“This way, Daniel. Let’s attack that core.” Andrea waves me over to a small piece of equipment on the floor with two handles and a little wheel in the middle, which I now know to be called an ab roller. “Four sets of twelve.”
My stomach is still sore from my last dance with this particular device, but I tell myself it’s worth it and hit the turf. Dad would be proud.
I’m on my third set, rolling away, breath coming with an embarrassing wheeze when a familiar voice says, “Yo, Andy. Board says you need someone to pick up your day-after-Christmas shift.”
“Yeah, Max. Can you take it?”
“Yup, but I want the weekend too, cool?”
“But I’ll be back by then.”
“Package deal. Take it or leave it.”
She huffs an irritated snort. “Fine, you can take those shifts too.”
“I’ll wipe the request off the board and change the schedule.”
“Thanks,” she says loud enough for him to hear. “Asshole,” she says under her breath.
I keep my head ducked low until he leaves, though he stands just as good of a chance at recognizing my ass as he does my face but whatever. I don’t think he noticed. Hopefully, I can get out of here without a stilted conversation. He gave me one-and-done vibes, and that’s fine, but knowing he’s seen me naked makes me feel shy around him now. Which is stupid, I know.
If my cheeks are flushed when I check in with Andrea, it’s because of the rollouts. Scout’s honor. “God, those are horrible.”
“Horribly good for your core strength.” She rolls her eyes, but her grin gives her away. Andrea’s a friendly person. “Did you die?”
Ouch. She must not know about my Dad. I suck it up and return the grin. “Not yet.”
“Then I’ll have to try harder. Let’s hit the rower to close out today’s session, and you’re all done.”
I throw the one-wheeled torture device into the bin and head for the cardio room. “Ready for Christmas?” Small talk isn’t my thing, but I try to be polite.
“Sure am. Going up north with the missus. We’re going skiing. You?”
“Sounds too adventurous for my blood. Family get-together. My mom and grandmother are cooking. My sister and brother-in-law are coming to town with the niblings in tow. Can’t wait.”
Andrea bends over the rower, setting the resistance and adjusting the footplates. “Give me a quick thousand meters and consider yourself ready for a holly, jolly Christmas.” She pats my shoulder before heading to the lobby.
Where Max probably is. I wonder what my chances are of slipping past without him noticing. Not that I’m avoiding him, per se, just that…okay, yeah, I’m avoiding him. It’s easier than getting rejected a second time.
I sit, strap my feet in, and grab the handle. A thousand meters? Seems like a lot. At least rowing is kind of zen. I pretend I’m on a boat, sailing past an overgrown coastline instead of in this noisy room with other people trying to better themselves. What’s that? An old oak tree covered in Spanish moss? Pretty.
Four minutes later, I’m finished and off to the locker room for a quick tinkle.
I can’t come in here without thinking of that shower. The fruity scent of the conditioner. My thighs trembling with effort as I squeeze tight. And Max, all hard lines and muscles, thrusting away behind me. Pity he got weird about it.
I’m washing my hands when he strides in. Because of course he does. Oh well, at least this reunion won’t happen in the lobby with witnesses.
“Hey.” I give that awkward bro nod in his direction. No big deal. Not a thing. See? I can be cool with a one-off.
