“Have a good workout and let me know if you want me to spot you,” I say to her with a friendly smile.
That’s me. Always friendly.
Dylan shuts off his treadmill and turns around. Marina blushes and waves at him, but he’s literally two feet away, so it’s awkward.
“Hi,” he says, and then she’s running off.
“So,” I clap my hands together. “That was great. See you on Wednesday?”
He nods. “Yeah, what time?”
“I was thinking in the morning?” I say it like a question, not sure what his schedule is like.
“Mid-morning sound okay? Say like ten-ish?”
I nod. “Ten is good.”
“Are you hungry?” he asks politely, and a rush of embarrassment floods me.
I shake my head, rejecting any idea that this will go beyond the gym.
“I have food at home. Oh, we should talk about nutrition. Eat your weight plus half your weight in protein, okay?”
“So, I’m bulking.”
I nod. “You’re going to be Cory’s muscle mommy by the time I’m done with you.”
He starts laughing, and it rumbles from deep inside his belly and then comes out forcibly. “You’re setting me up with Cory?” he whispers.
I nod, leaning in. “He is in search of a muscle mommy. He’s a union worker. And get this, he’s barely thirty. He’ll be giving you the male gaze in no time.”
He laughs, stepping back to give me personal space. “This was fun, Cecily. I’ll see you on Wednesday.” He walks off and then turns around and flexes for me.
I crack up, pointing at him. “Go get’em, Dylan.”
5
Dylan
It’s Wednesday at ten, and it’s my second time meeting with Cecily, and I’m not so intimidated anymore. My brain is well aware that we did not imagine her. Nope. This is real life.
She’s currently correcting my form, telling me to fix my posture.
I do as she says and then mutter, “Yell at me to push.”
Her eyes flare, placing her hands on her hips. “I can’t actually yell. It’s gym rules.”
“Well, encourage me. Yell at me. It helps.”
She nods as I push a heavy fucking weight. I’m struggling, but she says, “You can do it, Dylan. Keep going. Focus on the low control movements. Feel the burn, and know it only makes you stronger. This is easy. Push. Harder. Stronger.”
When I’m at the top, I nod. “That’s helping. That’s good.”
I go again, and she spits out the same encouragement but in different words.
When it’s her turn, I encourage her. “Good form. You’re strong. Keep pushing.”
When she’s at the top, she smiles. “This is helpful. You’re so right.”
