“Nothing, I’m all good. You continue your stretches.”
“Considering I’m the nerd, you’re acting weird.”
He laughed. “Stretch, baby.”
Elsa went through all of her stretches, and this time for weights, she used her legs and thighs. She liked that Noah always alternated, and what she enjoyed was the fact they talked about everything.
“Have you heard Kurt is stalking Kim?” she asked.
“I talked to him about that. He says he’s intrigued by her lack of interest in him. Sucker thinks he’s got a chance with her.”
She laughed. “He hasn’t. I can assure you.”
After thirty minutes on the weights, they headed into the treadmill room.
Climbing onto the machine, she waited for Noah to program her. He always ran beside her. She would start on a steady walk, building it up to reach a run. She hated running. No matter how tight she put her sports bra on, her boobs always bounced, and not only did it hurt, it made her aware of how big they were. The boys made fun of her running, whether it was her body moving, or her boobs bouncing. Ever since she’d grown breasts, she had avoided running at all costs.
Starting off on a walk, she accepted the water from Noah, and watched him out of the corner of her eye as he climbed on the treadmill, and started off jogging.
“You just like to show off, don’t you?”
“My smoking hot body is used to showing off.”
She closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of her body just taking a steady walk. The machine she was on beeped, and she picked up the pace. Noah always leaned over, messing with the setting to make sure she kept on walking. It was easier to do this.
More beeps, and she went a little faster.
He pushed further until she was running, and again, she did so with her eyes closed. It was strange at first, but she found the only way to run comfortably was by pretending no one was watching her. Also, it allowed her the chance to pretend she wasn’t running. It didn’t stop her from getting out of breath.
She wouldn’t open them until he started to slow everything back down to a walk. Time passed, she didn’t know how much, and when she was back to walking, she looked over at Noah and smiled. “I’m getting used to this.”
“You look weird with your eyes closed. Don’t ever go running in a park or something. You’d crash into stuff.”
“I trust you. Besides, I can do the whole running thing with my eyes closed, not open.”
“Is that some kind of sickness?” They had stepped off the treadmills, and Noah handed her some water.
“Not sickness.”
“Then why?”
“You really don’t know?”
“I wouldn’t ask if I knew.”
Elsa sighed, and then told him the story of the boys, and her body when she ran. She was even telling him stuff she hated admitting out loud. “You should know. You were there, and one of the guys laughing your asses off because some of us girls have been cursed with big ones. If I was allowed, I’d get them reduced.”
“Don’t do that!” He snapped the words out, making her jump.
“Whoa, where did that come from?”
“You don’t need to change yourself. Your tits are fine.”
She frowned at him, but decided to let it go. “There you have it, the reason I hate running, or working out in general. My body, it moves with me. I’m just not comfortable doing stuff like that, and a treadmill means I don’t have to worry about it. Are we stretching again?”
“Yes.”
“When do you want me to bring a costume for the pool?” She didn’t actually own one so she’d have no choice but to go ahead and buy one.
“A week after next?”
“I can do that.”
After they warmed up, Elsa made her way to the changing rooms, grabbed her stuff, and waited outside for Noah.
She didn’t have to wait long. Neither of them had changed out of their workout gear. There was no way she was going to take a shower here. She hated the feel of exposure while everyone was moving around.
They headed out, dumped their bags in their cars, and walked toward the deli. Elsa was starving. She looked forward to finding out what Noah thought of her diet. Personally, she didn’t think it was all that bad. Yes, there were a few snacks and stuff she could cut out, which she’d do easily.
The deli was busy, so they stood in the queue together.
“What are you in the mood for?” he asked.
“Seeing as you’re the guy in charge of my diet, why don’t you order for me?”
“Will do. Do you want to go and get us a seat?”
“Sure.” She left the queue, and found the private table toward the back. Checking through her cell phone, she saw there was a message from her mother.
Mom: I’m at the country club. Call me if you need me.