“Mm-hmm. And how long were you working there?”
“Uh, like two years?”
“So let me get this straight. Your first year went by fine? No depression yet?”
“Well, it was always festering a bit, but—”
“No buts, I’m telling you: your depression getting worse is not from your job. It’s from that asshole that doesn’t treat you right and makes you feel bad about yourself.”
“Sure, he treats me right! He’s the first guy I’ve ever dated that doesn’t live at home with his parents, he has astable job, he gets me little gifts all the time, the sex is … intense.”
“That’s what you’re rolling with? Okay, what was the last gift he got you? Go ahead, tell me.”
She sighed again. She was doing that a lot today.
“Last week he bought me a blender bottle so I could start drinking protein shakes.”
“Wow, what an incredibly unthoughtful gift that probably made you feel like you weren’t good enough the way you are,” she deadpanned. “And what the fuck is he doing saying you need to get in shape? Girl, you’re fucking hot. Anyone can see that. Here, I’ll show you.”
What?“No, please don’t.”
A man in his mid-twenties approached the desk to rent some shoes and as Bridget was checking him in, she decided to do what she does best: make her point in an incredibly embarrassing way.
“Hey sweetie, I got a question for you. And answer honestly.”
“Uh … okay?” This guy looked at her with curiosity and a little bit of fear, as he should have.
“Do you think this woman right here needs to lose weight?”
He looked super uncomfortable until he turned to look in Hailey’s direction. And his eyes widened when he saw her. He must have been so grossed out.
“Are you kidding me? Why would she need tolose weight?” His eyes darted back and forth between the two of them and then wandered around the gym like he was looking for hidden cameras. “Is this a trick question? I know like five guys at this gym that cannot stop looking at you when you’re climbing, by the way. I have a girlfriend soI’mnot one of them, and please tell my girlfriend that if she asks. Wait, why are you even asking?”
“Her boyfriend told her she could stand to get in better shape and work out more.”
The guy’s jaw dropped as Hailey’s face got redder.
“Geez, Bridget, of course he’s gonna say no, he’s not rude.”
The guy planted his palm on the counter like he was about to declare war, giving her another sweeping gaze. “Where’s this guy live? I’ll kick his ass. Or would you prefer a glitter bomb? Maybe he needs a neurologist because something is wrong with his head if he could possibly think that. But no, you don’t need to lose weight. Seriously. I can get a petition going if you want. My girlfriend will probably want to start a campaign of some sort…”
“Okay! Thank you for your help, you can go climb now.” Her face was really testing the limits of her blushing.
“Thanks so much for your help in proving my point,” Bridget saidwith a big grin.
“No problem,” he said as another guy joined him at the counter.
The first guy’s eyes lit up. “Ah, Chris! Thank you. You’re single. Do you think this woman needs to get in better shape?”
Chris looked super uncomfortable, “Danny, what the fuck are you talking about? You can’t say things like that.”
The guy who must have been named Danny kept a stone face and said a bit more sternly, “Apparently, her boyfriend told her she needs to lose weight. Do you agree?”
She had her face sandwiched between her hands trying to cover her red face as she whispered “Oh my God” to herself over and over.
Chris turned to her and had the exact same reaction as the first guy. Jaw dropped. On the floor. Needed assistance picking it back up.
He looked doubtful for a second, pointing at her and looking back at his friend. “This woman right here?”
