302 Forbidden Ave. (A Cherry Falls Romance)

“When I mentioned I wanted to experience new things, I wasn’t really talking about this.”

Keely was looking at the brochure, concentration on her face. “I didn’t even know Cherry Falls Fitness offered these, but I mean, look at the people in this thing.” She opened the trifold and showed me the fit and muscular men and women who graced the glossy pages. “They look like they know what they’re doing.”

I pursed my lips again. “You and I both know we’ve never even stepped foot in a gym, let alone done anything like this.” I shook my head, but I knew this was a losing battle. She had too much determination written across her face.

“Come on, just one class this weekend? I really want to get some self-defense classes in.”

I narrowed my eyes and really looked at her. She was picking at the edge of the brochure as if she couldn’t sit still, as if she had idle hands. And then I realized what was going on. “You’re into somebody there, aren’t you?”

She snapped her head up from looking at the pamphlet, her eyes round and... guilty.

I felt my grin widen. “So that’s why you’re so adamant on doing these classes. Who is it? Somebody actually in the class, or…” I paused for effect and suspense, and when she started biting her bottom lip, I knew what I was about to say was the truth. “Is it the teacher?” Her cheeks instantly got red, and I threw my head back and laughed, wiping tears out of my eyes. “Oh my God. It is the teacher.”

“Shut up,” she mumbled, but there was no heat in her voice or behind her words.

“Keely, you got the hots for your teacher?”

Her lips thinned, and she kept quiet as she folded the pamphlet up before shoving it in her bag that sat by her feet on the floor.

“If you saw him, you’d want to take this class too.”

I curbed my laughter when it started again, but my smile was still in place.

“Why do you need me to go with you?” Although I already knew the answer to that. Keely was just as shy and reserved as I was, probably wanting me there for moral support. And although I was not the gym-going type, and certainly didn’t ever see myself taking any kind of self-defense classes, I wouldn’t leave her high and dry. No matter how many times I told her it wasn’t for me.

But she must’ve seen that realization on my face, because she gave me a small smile and said, “Thank you. I know this isn’t your thing, but I’ll be a spaz and a freak around him if I don’t have some backup.”

“Not sure I’ll be any kind of backup. I’m just as spazzy as you are.” We both started laughing.

But, as I thought about going, I likely wouldn’t see anyone I knew. So the embarrassment of sweating profusely and making a fool out of myself was pretty slim.

Yeah, this would be fine. It would. Right?

What’s the worst that could happen?

5

Amelia

As soon as I stepped into Cherry Falls Fitness, I knew this was a mistake. I should have taken it as a bad omen when Keely had gotten called into work at the last minute and couldn’t come to the self-defense class. So here I was, doing this on my own, too proud and independent to not show up after I already committed.

The smell of testosterone and sweat filled the gym, and I tightened my hand on the bag that hung over my shoulder. I’m so out of place and out of my element.

The gym was packed with people working out. The music playing overhead was loud but couldn’t cover the sounds of grunts and loud shouts as people pumped each other up. I felt like I was in a totally different world.

I was frozen in place as I looked around. Everything from the sights, sounds, and smells had my skin tightening, but I didn't know if it was a good or bad kind of tightening. Men sparred with punching bags, and others were on blue mats doing push-ups and sit-ups. I was starting to sweat just by watching others work out.

Here I was, my sweats having a hole in the knee, my shirt oversized and something I wore when I cleaned. Yeah, I felt out of place.

“Hi.”

I was startled when someone spoke behind me, and I looked over and up at the beefy guy grinning down at me. “Are you here for a membership?”

I licked my lips and shook my head. “Um. No. Actually, I’m here for the self-defense class. I signed up online.”

He nodded and stepped aside. “Sure thing. Just come to the front desk, and I’ll bring up your information.”

I followed him and stopped behind the stainless steel, sleek counter as he started typing on his computer. I kept looking around the gym as I rattled off answers to his questions.