Though we still need to talk about what we’re doing and where this is going, I’m serious about her. All in. No looking back. I don’t ever want to make her uncomfortable. Not about her body. Not about mine. Not about us.
She shifts slightly, her leg sliding over mine, and I tighten my arm around her on instinct. She sighs, nestling closer.
“You okay?” she murmurs, voice soft and drowsy.
“Yeah,” I say, brushing a kiss into her hair. “Just thinking.”
She makes a sleepy sound that could mean anything from tell me more to don’t you dare move. I take the risk.
“Remember earlier,” I say quietly, “when I asked if I could tell you something?”
“Mmmhmm,” she hums, barely opening her eyes, still running her finger in light circles against my skin.
My fingers pause in her hair for half a second before I keep going. “I, uh… I was wondering if you’d consider helping me with something.”
“Helping you how?” She lifts her head, propping her chin on my chest, eyes suddenly more awake. “Morning wood? I can help with that.”
She grins and waggles her eyebrows. And I almost take her up on the offer.
“We’ll get to that soon enough.” I chuckle, then clear my throat. I exhale slowly. “I’ve been thinking about what you said. About your business. And I was wondering if you’d maybe… consider helping me with mine.”
That wakes her up a little more.
“Your gym?” she asks.
“Eventually,” I say. “But not just that.”
She props herself up on her elbow now, studying my face with a healthy dose of curiosity. “Then what.”
“I have a side hustle,” I admit. “Right now. It helps cover costs while I save. Equipment, permits, all that fun stuff.”
Her mouth curves like she’s biting back a smile.
My stomach flips. I squint down at her. “Why are you smiling like that?”
“No reason.” She just shrugs, clearly enjoying herself. “And?” she prompts.
“And it’s… I’m not sure how you’ll feel about it.”
I stare at the ceiling for a second, choosing my words carefully. “It’s fitness adjacent. Online. People follow because they like what they see before they ever hear what I’m saying.”
She says nothing, just waits. But I notice she’s no longer tracing circles on my chest, and that doesn’t settle well with me. We’ve barely begun whatever this is between us and I’m already sabotaging it.
“I don’t like that part of it,” I continue. “I don’t want the foundation of my future to be my body. I want it to be based on trust and results. Helping people feel better about themselves—not just look at me.”
I register the rise and fall of her chest, trying to gauge the amount of damage I’ve already done.
“I want out of that lane,” I finish, quietly hopeful she’ll understand my logic. “But I don’t want to burn that bridge before I’m standing on solid ground.”
“So this side hustle,” she says. “Are you going to tell me what it is, or do I have to guess?”
Silence stretches between us
“Like I said. It’s embarrassing.” I let out a heavy sigh.
She smiles then, her eyes dancing with light. “You know, I follow this gym guru on socials. He’s got a lot of followers. A real hottie.”
Ouch. That stung.
