Two hours later, with every muscle in my body begging for relief, I stumbled on wobbly legs into the shower and blasted the hot water. Most people had already headed out, but a few still lingered. The change rooms are disgusting. I thought men were pigs until I opened this place. Turns out women are worse. Especially when they’re not the ones cleaning up. Although I employed an awesome cleaner who came through every night, I never felt comfortable leaving such a mess for them, so I tried to tidy up first. Every night before I left I made my way in here and scraped the thick globs of makeup from the counter and the speckles of toothpaste from the mirror. I mean seriously, who can’t brush their teeth without coating the mirror with splatters of toothpaste? Wet towels were left on the floor, plastic cups abandoned where they’d fallen, and don’t even get me started on the underwear. I swear each week I’d end up with at least four pairs of panties in the lost and found. Not just the cheap cotton boy leg briefs that I wore, either. Some of it was damn expensive lacy stuff. How the hell do you forget your underwear?
Stepping over another pair of forgotten panties, I unlocked my locker, stripped down, grabbed my toiletries, and headed for the stalls. Although this was a gym, it was my gym, and when I’d built it, I figured if it wasn’t something I’d feel comfortable with, then why should I expect anyone else to? Every stall had a door which almost reached the floor and the ceiling. I’d never liked those half ass doors. I was always worried someone tall was going to peer over the top and see what was going on. After hanging my towel on the hook on the back of the door, I stepped under the scalding spray and let my aches, pains and troubles circle the drain.
I don’t know how long I was in there, I didn’t really care. I was finished for the day after four morning classes, a couple of private PT sessions, and a stack of paperwork?I was more than ready to call it a night.
Tugging on an oversized pair of grey sweat pants and a navy hoodie, which was about five sizes too big, I felt refreshed and awesome. For some reason wearing baggy clothes made me feel better than when I was all dressed up. Maybe it was the comfort factor, or perhaps it was just the knowledge that no one in their right mind would ever look twice at me that made me feel safe. Either way, I didn’t give a shit. With my heels aching, I didn’t bother trying to stuff my feet back into my runners, instead I slipped on a pair of thongs and headed out.
Just as I was about to push through the front door I realized I’d left my phone on the charger in the office and spun around to head back to get it, only to crash into Zoe.
“Shit, Zoe! I’m so sorry. Are you okay?” I mumbled as I bent down and started picking up everything I’d knocked from her hands.
“Mia, it’s fine. I’m fine,” she assured me as she took her towel and water bottle back off me.
“Are you sure? I didn’t…”
Zoe’s face dropped. She turned an ashen shade of grey. I didn’t know whether to find something for her to throw up in or catch her as she slumped to the floor. But she was stronger than I gave her credit for. She did neither. Instead, she looked me straight in the eye. “He told you.”
It wasn’t a question. It was a statement. One that left no room for interpretation at all.
I couldn’t read her. Was she angry? Upset? Pissed off? Ready to punch someone? Punch me?
“Zoe, I’d never say anything…”
She shook her head, obviously she didn’t want to talk about it. At least not with me. “Have you got time for coffee?” she asked.
A feather would have knocked me over.
Here I was waiting for her to rant and rave, cry and howl, punch and kick, and yet again I’d underestimated her. Zoe was inviting me for coffee. As much as my bed was calling me, I couldn’t say no. Not now. I’d grab something to eat there. Everything else could wait.
“Absolutely. Lead the way.”
