Size Matters (Chaos and Carnage MC 1)

At the sound of bikes fast approaching, Maddie froze. There was nowhere for her to go, and there was only one bunch of people who rode bikes around town, and they were all connected to the Chaos and Carnage MC.

Glancing to her right, she saw the sign for the gym.

It was enter the gym or see Bull. She had gone a week without seeing him, and the thought of seeing him now, well, it terrified her.

Maddie walked into the gym, allowing the door to close right behind her as the first bike rode on past.

Her heart raced, and she leaned against the door. Closing her eyes for a few seconds, she composed herself.

“Can I help you?” a male voice said.

Opening her eyes, she came face to face with male perfection. He was dressed in gym wear, a tight tee, and a pair of sweatpants, that again, were rather tight-fitting. If she even attempted to wear something like that, she would be kicked out for indecency. No one wanted to see her lump and bumps.

“Er, I…” She had no idea what to say. She’d never been inside of a gym before. Glancing past his shoulder, she saw some of the workout equipment, running machines, bikes, and there appeared to be something to do with weights as well.

“Look, some guy is going to want … that. It’s not me. I’m sorry. I’ve found out what I really want. No guy wants a fat chick, ever.”

“Here comes the chubby bitch.”

“Fat cunt on the loose.”

“Don’t let her fall on you, she’ll squish you.”

“No one is ever going to want you, Maddie. You’re too fat and too ugly.”

Each horrible taunt rolled around in her head. After years of hearing what a disgusting person she was, she had to believe it.

“Er, do you think you could help fix this?” she asked.

“Fix what?” The man looked slightly confused.

Maddie grabbed her jacket and opened it up. She wore her diner uniform that was way too tight, and she was waiting for the size upgrade. “This.”

The man stared at her, and she waited.

No one else was around, and she just wanted to know if she was wasting her time. Pushing her jacket closed, she shook her head.

“Forget it,” she said.

She went to turn away, but he grabbed her arm and spun her around.

“No, you don’t have to leave. Is someone outside, following you?”

“No. No one is following me.” No one wants me.

“How about we go and discuss this in my office,” he said.

“Can you help me?” she asked.

“I need us to sit down and to figure out what you want. My name is Jase,” he said.

He held out his hand, and she stared at him for a few seconds, not really sure what to do.

Shake his hand, duh.

Putting her hand within his, she forced a smile to her lips. “Hello, I’m … Maddie.”

His grip was firm. The moment he let her go, she shoved her hands back into her coat, and he held his hand out for her to follow. Stepping in beside him, she couldn’t help but feel out of place. He led her away from the workout equipment, and they went to a room with his name on it, which she assumed was his office.

Sitting down in the chair opposite him, she noticed there was no clutter around. Only a couple of pieces of artwork were on the walls, and they were still forms of men and women. They looked perfect, as she imagined most people who came here were.

She’d never been to the gym. Had always been afraid to even step foot inside one.

“Please, take a seat,” he said.

She perched down in a chair and tried not to feel odd.

“Shouldn’t I meet with a personal trainer?” she asked.

Jase sat down. The tips of his fingers pressed against one another. “I will be your personal trainer. A slot has opened up three days a week. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. They will be yours if we can find out why you wish to begin at my gym.”

“What do you mean?”

He leaned forward, resting his palms on the table. “I have been in this business a long time. If you’re here to lose weight because of a boyfriend, then you can leave. I need to know your reason for stepping foot inside that door.”

She wasn’t going to tell him it was to hide from a boyfriend. The one she was still very much in love with and who had broken her heart.

Maddie pushed some of her hair out of her face. “I … I’m here for me,” she said. “I’m tired of everyone judging me at size value. It doesn’t matter if I’m a nice person, kind, all they see is the size, and I’m tired of it. I’ve tried diets. They don’t work. I want to stick to a good regime, and I guess this would be the best place, wouldn’t it?”