The bright lighting and the black and neon-blue design made the whole place stick out like a sore thumb on this street. Imean, everything else was so picturesque and cozy, from the cobblestones and trees to old-style lampposts and muted colors.
I sighed heavily.
Unfortunately, tomorrow morning, I was marching down there to become a member.
I wanted the whole shebang with a personal trainer and dietitian. I’d already scrolled through their website. They had it all, it seemed.
Wine. I needed more wine.
You’re stalling, bitch.
No shit.
I gathered my hair in a messy bun at the top of my head, then dove into the next moving box. I was just gonna unpack my clothes and hang everything in my walk-in closet. I hadn’t had one of those in New York. I’d had a freaking clothes rack in the hallway.
I had to respond to some emails too.
And look up what kind of power tool I needed to put up photos on exposed brick walls. I loved them so hard, especially when they were painted white like mine, but they were a drag to do anything with.
Then I was definitely going down to the gym!
One box after another… Loose dresses, tees, tunics, button-downs, and so many pairs of leggings and jeggings. My leather jacket, lingerie, more tees, pajama bottoms. My work outfits, basically. Tees and panties.
My phone dinged on my newly assembled nightstand, and I walked over there and saw a message from Chloe.
Girls’ night Saturday the weekend after this one? Say yes! It’ll be you, me, Adeline, and Isla. xo
Saturday next weekend worked. It’d be nice to see Isla and Adeline again too. I’d been introduced to Chloe’s stepdaughter and best friend when she’d married Aiden.
Count me in. xo
Feeling a bit tuckered out, I slumped down on the mattress, and before I could start cursing myself out for not having put together the bed frame yet, I caught sight of my reflection in the full-body mirror on the closet door.
Fucking hell.
My chest tightened with anxiousness and revulsion. What the fuck had I done to myself?
I looked over at where some of my larger picture frames stood against the wall. One of them in particular—it was my favorite photo of me. The photographer had asked for a bit of attitude, and I’d dropped the smile. That photo was the first thing clients and customers saw on my website.Design by Nolan. My leather jacket had fit back then. My love for exposed brick showed in the background. My hair had been a little longer, not to mention styled by a professional.
God-fucking-dammit, I wanted to be her again.
No more stalling. I pushed myself off the mattress again and sent Chloe a text.
Where do you get your hair done? I need an appointment like yesterday. A nail salon too, please! xo
Then I changed into a pair of leggings and a top that flared out underneath my chest. A thin cardigan with that, and?—
Chloe texted back.
I’ll hook you up with my girl Kate. She’s amazing. I’ll text her at lunch. For nails, I go down to CedarPoint. There’s a place that just opened next to the pool hall.
Cedar Point, got it. I was familiar with that area by now. It was just south of here, and they had Target, Old Navy, Staples, and all those regular stores.
I sent Chloe a thanks on my way out the door.
Time to enter enemy territory—which had everything to do with the people and nothing to do with what you did there.
In my experience, joining a gym meant encountering two types of employees. Those who assumed you wanted a whole transformation, where you shelled out thousands of dollars to go from “miserable” to “ecstatic.” In other words, from “fat” to “thin.” And then the other staff member who spoke very little because they were either scared to offend or didn’t believe I’d make any progress, so there was no point in investing energy in me.
