Gemma smiled and relaxed. Isaac had a lovely way of making them feel at ease, and he hadn’t batted an eyelash that they were two women together. At the second gym they had gone to, the trainer had flirted outrageously with Gemma and ignored Rory. He had also completely dismissed the program they wanted to follow and tried to push Rory towards something that would make her ‘toned and slender’.
“Can I ask which influencer you are following?” Isaac asked with a smile. “I follow several on Insta, and it’s always fun if I’ve heard of them.”
Gemma took a breath to answer but was surprised when Rory spoke up.
“I like the look of Jak and their programme.” She fixed Isaac with a look that discouraged any form of challenge. “They have one for couples, and I think that will suit us.”
Gemma felt her breath hitch in her throat, not only inanticipation of how Isaac would react to Jak’s pronouns, but also that Rory had said they were a couple. Her rational brain knew that it was just for the gym, so they could join together, and so Gemma could support Rory. But the thought of them actually being a couple poked at her heart. With a small sigh, she folded that thought up and tucked it away. She was Rory’s friend, no matter how wonderful it felt to sleep next to her last night. Gemma put her night of restful sleep fully on Rory’s luxurious bed and million thread count sheets, but secretly knew it had something to do with the woman sleeping next to her. She shifted in her seat and dragged her attention back to Isaac, who was suddenly very animated.
“Oh, I’ve seen them!” Isaac looked thrilled with himself. “Fantastic programs and solid in their science.” He looked from Gemma to Rory. A moment passed before he gently asked. “Is that the sort of physique you want to build?”
The air in the room seemed to get thicker, and for a moment the silence hung around them. Outside the office door, the music of the gym pounded away, accompanied by the metallic clang of weights.
“Yeah.” Rory’s voice was tight, and Gemma could feel her tense up next to her.
“Awesome.” Isaac grinned. “A friend of mine is doing a similar program, looking good on it as well.” He picked a flyer off the desk. “If you’re interested, we have an LGBT+ get-together once a month. I’m sure some of them will give you some pointers.” At Rory’s startled look he added, “What, you think you’re the only person who wants nice muscles to impress their girlfriend?”
Rory blushed, and Gemma relaxed.
Isaac pulled another flyer off the desk. “Now, assuming I’ve impressed you with the tour, and you want to join, thereare a variety of membership options. If you’re a couple who live together, then you can get a discounted rate if you both join.”
“Oh, we, um, don’t live together.” Gemma managed to get out and then giggled at his startled expression.
“Oh my, you wait until I tell my husband I’ve met lesbians who haven’t U-Hauled yet!” He winked at them. “Honestly, just register at one of your addresses, and that will be fine.”
“Is that allowed?” Rory drew her eyebrows together, and Gemma smiled. Since they had started spending time together as adults, Gemma had come to realise that Rory hated breaking the rules. It was kind of adorable.
“Yes, that’s fine.” Isaac grinned. “And it will save admin when you do eventually move in together.” He flashed a cheeky grin at them, and Gemma couldn’t help but smile with him. Part of her wanted to protest that not all couples moved in together immediately and that some people were just not destined for that kind of happy ever after, but this had been the first time today that Rory had looked comfortable enough to banter back and forth with someone. It warmed Gemma’s heart to see her friend relax.
Isaac gave them a moment alone, ostensibly to grab them some drinks, but likely to give them time to talk together.
“What do you think?” Rory turned to Gemma, her dark eyes soft and almost pleading. Gemma instantly knew that Rory wanted to join this gym.
“Well, you are more relaxed and talkative here than anywhere else we’ve been.” She took Rory’s hand. “It has a nice vibe, especially for a big chain.”
“I agree.” Rory absentmindedly rubbed her thumb overGemma’s hand, making Gemma gulp. Just that small touch sent flames of want shooting over her. She had to get a grip.
“I like that there’s a pool, hot tub and steam room.” Rory continued, obviously oblivious to Gemma’s distraction. “And they have small gyms in the city that are closer to work if we want to use them.”
“And they seem very LGBT positive.” Gemma tilted her head. “And Isaac looks like a great ally who will support you.” Gemma gulped. A small prickle of irrational jealousy poked at her. Like letting someone else in on this journey of Rory’s would take something away from her. It was silly, she told herself. Rory would need a village around her, a team to support and love her as she found who she was. She needed more than just Gemma, and that made Gemma inexplicably sad. She bundled those thoughts up and pushed them far down inside her. This was all for Rory and what she needed. Gemma tapped the table. “Right then, let’s get signed up.”
A few hours later they were back in Rory’s kitchen, and Gemma surveyed the collection of work-out gear they had bought on the way back. Rory had signed them up for a three-month trial membership. They had then sat in the gym’s cafe and read the workout program she’d bought from Jak She was so excited to start the program that she’d almost bounced out of her seat. Gemma loved seeing her like this. She was fully alive, and her eyes sparkled with joy. Isaac had suggested a shop where they could get everything they needed for the program, and Rory had suggested to Gemma that they buy everything this afternoon so they were ready. Gemma smiled inwardly. Rory hadn’t asked somuch as pleaded, and it had reminded Gemma of an excitable toddler with a new toy.
“Are you going to stay for dinner?” Rory looked up from checking her weightlifting straps and quirked an eyebrow in question. “We could watch a movie after?”
For a moment, Gemma wanted nothing more than to say yes but knew she had to decline.
“I can’t.” Her heart clenched at the look on Rory’s face. The disappointment she saw there almost made her change her mind, but she had been with Rory since yesterday morning and needed some space. “I have to get ready for work tomorrow, and Teagan might think you’ve kidnapped me.”
Gemma stood from the kitchen table and went to hug her friend. If she didn’t leave now, then she wouldn’t make it out of the house tonight, and that wasn’t something she wanted to think about. Today had already been too couple-y and too much like the relationship she knew she couldn’t have.
“Are you going to be okay?” Rory’s brows knit together in concern. “I can drive you home if you want?”
“Oh, don’t be silly,” Gemma tried to keep her tone light even though her heart clenched. She absolutely knew that Rory would be more than happy to drive the hour each way to make sure Gemma was home safely, and it made her feel very loved. No one else would go out of their way to look after her, not even some of her previous girlfriends.
“At least let me walk you to the station.”
Rory had a determined look on her face, and Gemma knew there was no arguing with her friend when her mind was set on something. The ball of warmth in her tummy grew as Rory pulled on her trainers and grabbed her house keys. Again, she wondered what on earth Darcy had beenplaying at giving up a woman as caring and loving as Rory? If this was how she looked after her friends, she could only imagine how loving she would be to her girlfriend.
