Amy
Ten of us sit around the staff room table pretending to listen while Trey explains the training courses taking place on Monday and Tuesday. The man could make fireworks sound in a staff meeting. It’s so out of character.
Everyone has zoned out as he drones on and on about health and safety requirements and a customer awareness course we’re all being subjected to. Sitting here, I remember why I preferred my own little gym.
It might have been small, but it was mine. I miss my regulars who stayed for Pilates then went out for cake. Before, every week was filled with hilarious stories. Here, it’s a revolving door of strangers. Even after six months, I still struggle to remember everyone’s names.
“Amy,” he snaps, breaking my chain of thought. “Are you coming to the Halloween party on Saturday?”
“Sure, are we all dressing up?” My work colleagues nod like dogs, a ripple of excitement sending sparks into the dull day. “Where is it again?”
“Fuck’s sake, you’d think your ears were full of wax.” Trey glowers, which only makes me giggle. He’s become my anchor again, stepping up as soon as the man I should’ve relied on let me down. “Caesar’s Palace. Wear what you want. All employees and members are invited.”
“Yes, sir.” I salute him dramatically.
He rolls his eyes, then returns to the agenda. We endure the miserable silence for another ten minutes before our release.
Trey, placing his hand on my arm, stops me from leaving. “Have you thought about what I said?”
I shake my head. “Trey…”
“Please come back to the circuit. There’s a competition in two weeks at one of the smaller centers. Get back on stage.”
“I don’t know. It feels as though that time in my life is over.”
“Why? Because you broke up with your boyfriend?” He arches a brow. “He hardly ever goes to events anyway. I’ll manhandle him if he comes near.”
“No, of course not,” I argue, but we both know I’m lying. He speaks to Ivan; I know he does. They’re friends of a sort. “I’m just not sure bodybuilding is for me anymore.”
“Well, I’ve entered you in the veteran women’s bikini contest,” he announces, smug. “So, you better find your mojo before then.”
“Trey, you shouldn’t have…”
He leans in toward me, his nose almost touching mine. “Because listen to me, Amy Corrigan, I amnotletting you give up your passion for any man. Especially for fucking Ivan Harley. If I have to drag you there and wrestle that G-string onto you… I will.”
I gape. The edges of his mouth curl upward. “You know I would.”
***
The PVC black jumpsuit clings to me like a second skin. My body has softened slightly over the past few months. I’m not as lean as I was, but part of me prefers it. I feel more…womanly. No longer a concoction of strict diets and press-ups.
I zip up the thigh-high red boots and pop the devil horns on my head. With a spin in the mirror, I check out my rear view just as my phone pings with a message.
Send me a picture, hot stuff. Have fun tonight. I need to know all about it so I can live vicariously through my single friend.
Katie is such a goof. It’s such a relief to see her more like her old self. I snap a quick mirror pic and send it to her. Her fire emoji hits my screen instantly.
I sip the glass of wine I poured to steady my nerves. My first real night out in months. Since I told Ivan to leave.
We haven’t spoken. Not once. There has been no phone calls or text messages?he literally walked away and ghosted me.
That’s what you told him to do, and you haven’t contacted him. It just goes to show, you can’t rely on anyone.
He’d had his assistant drop off my things at my door and collect his stuff from my place. And that was that. It was over. Whateveritwas.
I’m cramming my makeup, perfume, hairbrush, and condoms?you never know, best to be prepared?into my minuscule bag when a knock rattles my door.
I pull it open to find Terry standing on the other side.
