I check my phone and see a few messages from Peyton. I call her to see what she’s up to, since she’s always talking about coming with me so she can check out my hot instructor. I brighten at the thought of Jake. Maybe this is just what I need. A distraction to get my mind off Chase.
“Hey. I’m leaving work and going to the gym now, if you want to come?” I frown when she doesn’t answer. “Peyton?”
For a second, I think she’s hung up on me, but then she snorts. I smile because that’s just the reaction I was expecting, aside from a few missing curse words.
I’d started going to the gym nearly a month ago, after coming to an agreement with the chocolate I couldn’t resist buying every weekend: I’ll eat you, so long as I do my three workouts a week. I owe most of my success to Jake, my instructor. Not only because he’s a great teacher, but also because he’s incredibly hot. There’s no better incentive than knowing you’re going to be sweating it out in front of a god.
Slowly but surely, I’m starting to notice a difference. Not only in how I feel but also in how I look. I was happy with myself before, but now I’m really happy. And the added energy comes in handy for when Chase decides to send me out as his errand girl every five minutes. Of course, I can think of much better ways to spend that excess energy.
“Sorry, I was too stunned to reply. Who the hell goes to the gym on a Friday night?” Peyton finally grumbles.
“Me,” I say with a grin.
“Ohhh,” she teases. “I get it. You’re only going so you can see Fabio, aren’t you? And here I was assuming that you’d developed some sort of crush on Chase.”
“Of course not,” I scoff, my face heating up. Thank God she can’t see me. “And his name is Jake. I’m going there for no other reason than to work off some tension.”
“Tension from spending the day lusting after you know who?” She snickers. “How did that go, by the way? We won’t talk about how jealous I am that he took you over me. Bitch.”
“It was great,” I say after a moment. “From a work perspective, I learned a lot.”
“And from a Chase perspective?” she pries.
“I have no idea,” I admit with a sigh. “The tension that has been rising between Chase and me…”
I shake my head and swallow, my throat constricting. I’m sure I’m totally imagining that there’s anything there, because I’m pretty sure he’s not sitting at home thinking about me right now. I need to put him out of my mind, but that’s proving really hard to do. Especially when I can’t stop thinking about him.
“So, given a choice, who would you do? Hot gym instructor or Chase?” Peyton asks with a giggle.
“Considering that I have no chance with Chase, I'm going to say Jake,” I retort.
“Wow, that's a big call.”
“Did you see me yesterday when I totally humiliated myself?” I ask her with a frown.
Is it really such a surprise that I don’t even consider Chase an option?
If I thought I had a chance with him, then things might be different. But even if he was interested in me, it certainly wouldn’t be for anything other than a casual hook-up. That’s the last thing I want with someone I have to face at work every day. Especially my boss. If I went there, then I could kiss any chance of a promotion goodbye.
Jake, on the other hand, is perfect casual hook up material…
“So, do you still cringe when you think about yesterday?” Peyton giggles, snapping me out of my thoughts. “You pretty much offered the guy head,” she reminds me.
“I’ll still be cringing fifty years from now,” I mumble, rubbing my forehead. “I can’t imagine anything will ever top that as my most embarrassing moment.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that. The week isn’t over yet.” She points out. “Anyway, have fun at the gym and come over later if you like.”
“Thanks, I might do that.”The gym is on the other side of town from work, not far from my apartment. It's after six by the time I get there, and aside from the few other people with no social life who have also chosen to attend tonight’s class, it’s pretty deserted.
The class begins as usual at six fifteen, and like every other class, Jake spends half of it smiling at me. I’m standing next to the wall tonight, so there’s no chance of a repeat of the barista incident.
Twice he uses me to demonstrate what he wants the class to do, which I’m sure is just an excuse to touch me. I’m fine with that, but what confuses me is the usual thrill I feel against his touch just isn’t there tonight. And his smile, which usually sends my insides into a spin just isn’t doing anything for me tonight.