That made him laugh.
He had a sexy laugh.
I beamed, suddenly in a great mood. “Okay, lead the way.”
“Yes, ma’am. We’re goin’ this way.” He nodded at the closest trail, its sign indicating it was five miles long. “We’ll walk for twenty minutes, and then we’ll head back.”
Oof, okay. So, forty minutes. I was going to need a shower when I got home.
The first few minutes were spent in comfortable silence, which was a shame. Because for as much as I didn’t mind soaking up the nature around me, I’d soon be too out of breath to speak. And he tended to have questions sooner rather than later.
The trail actually did have a handrail, though that disappeared five minutes in. After that, we had blue spots to go by. They were painted on the trees.
The trail was narrow, so he walked behind me.
Was that on purpose? Was he thinking that the pace I’d set was too slow?
“So, how do you think your first week has gone?” he asked.
My breathing was already picking up, dammit. “Um, good. Yeah. I’ve made progress, which is what I’m focusing on.” I threw him a cheeky smile over my shoulder, and he smiled back.
“That’s the spirit.”
But I had to be honest—as always. “It’s a little weird not to have weigh-ins, though,” I said. “In the past when I’ve tried to get into shape, Friday’s been the day I check my results.”
He hummed. “We can do that if you want, but I generally don’t recommend it for clients who’re trying to lose weight.”
As he’d told me. “Because we get stuck on digits,” I stated.
“Exactly. And especially you—your mood can tank easily at the slightest misstep.”
He had a big ol’ point.
“The results will show soon,” he promised. “You’ll notice it when you put on a shirt that’s suddenly too big. You’ll feel it when you exercise. You’ll notice your energy levels spiking.”
Big, big, big ol’ point.
I couldn’t wait.
One day, I was going to put on my black leather jacket—and those jeans—and they’d fit.
But that day wasn’t today. My heart started pounding way too fast for my liking, and Ethan picked that moment to ask how I was enjoying the Pacific Northwest so far.
“Big change from New York, huh?”
“Yeah.” I swallowed dryly and uncapped my water bottle. “Yeah, I like it.” I chugged quickly and tried not to slow down. “I love being out like this. Fewer cars honking and zero stone-faced New Yorkers.” Also, sadly, no Chinese food delivery in the middle of the night.
“Fewer people, in general,” Ethan chuckled. “I’m guessing it’s easier to make friends and get into the dating scene in a major city.”
True enough, but I was here for my family.
“I haven’t downloaded the dating apps yet. I dread the day.” I puffed out a heavy breath and pushed up the sleeves of my hoodie. “What’s it like dating in Camassia Cove?”
“Fuckin’ terrible,” he muttered. “Half the women are divorced and have a few kids already.”
Yeah, sure. I could see that. We’d reached that age. I preferred men a little older than me, and it was the same story. Most were divorced and had already done the kid thing.
“And what are the other half?” I asked, out of breath.
