It has to happen today. I am now presented with the opportunity to let Tatiana know that I am no longer available for these casual hookups we have been having over the past year. It’s time for me to make my intention known about my relationship status with Liv, and I think it best just to let her know. Because I am a gentleman, I didn’t want to do it over the phone or through text message. I believe this situation necessitates an in-person talk. Of course, I think it best to make it a public venue, if you catch my drift. There will be no yelling or craziness. I also don’t want to give her the wrong impression, so I think of the best place I could do it—the gym.
“Well, I just headed over to the gym. Want to meet there?”
I start getting my gym bag ready and pull out some shorts. I need to do some laundry. I grab a T-shirt lying over a chair in the corner and give it the Dax sniff test. Not too bad, and I can still smell a lingering scent of Liv on it. It smells a little like happiness and sunshine. These are definitely two things I feel when I am with her. The heat radiated off her while I firmly held on to her this morning while she hung on to me like a spider monkey. I did not complain—only when I had almost woken her just to pry her off me.
“Sure, that sounds good. I am going to hit a pilates class too and we can talk after?”
I hear the sound of her blender going off, probably making her breakfast. The girl is in shape and has one hot body, but it’s not the body I want to be wrapped around me every night as I go to sleep or when I wake from said sleep.
“Great, I’ll be there. You can find me on the treadmill, I’m sure.”
With that, we hang up, and I feel one step closer to seeing this through. I’ll stop this before she asks me about being my date for the gala. When I tell her that Liv is my girlfriend or that I am in a relationship right now, that will give her the heads up that I am not an option for her date that night or any other night. I would have taken her with me to the gala. She was great arm candy. In fact, I enjoyed her company until I met Liv. My girl was everything I didn’t know I was missing.
I decided to press the limits of my endurance. I have a lot on my mind with the upcoming conversation, so I sprinted on the treadmill for the last mile of a five-mile run. It was a nice distraction. I feel good, like I could keep on running. My quick lap or quarter-mile cooldown on the treadmill helps bring my heart rate down. I grab my towel, wipe off my sweat, and clean off the machine I was using. I see Tatiana walking toward me with a sway in her hips. I see a few guys eye her in appreciation as she walks up to me. She goes to touch my chest and drags a fingernail down my sweaty arm. “Hey Dax, you ready.” I don’t stop her because I don’t want to cause a scene. The conversation we need to have requires less of an audience. I grab my water bottle and follow her out the door to where they sell drinks and protein shakes.
“Do you want anything?” I ask as we make our way to a table off to the side.
“Umm, no, I’m good.”
I reach for the back of my neck as I begin to form the letdown speech. I notice Tatiana shift uncomfortably in her chair and eye me suspiciously.
“Do you have something on your mind, Dax?” She cocks one perfectly sculpted eyebrow upward, and I grimace.
“I know you think I have been avoiding you these past months, but that isn’t true.” She seems to visibly relax until I continue. Before she can say the words, I hold my hand up to stop her. “I know that I told you I didn’t want anything serious with anyone or to be in a relationship. That was also true, until now.” I see a glimmer of hope in her eyes, so I quickly correct this direction of our conversation. “I met Liv last year on spring break, and well, let’s just say we reconnected and decided to pursue an exclusive relationship between us.”
She looks at me in shock.
“I met someone, and we are exclusive.” I reiterate this part so that there is no confusion of my spoken words. If a verbal slap existed, then, that is what Tatiana’s face looked like. It looked like my words slapped her, and the red that came up after that verbal slap started to spread up her face as she looked angry enough to kick my ass, hence meeting in a public place. I am high-fiving myself for being so insightful as to see the crazy in her and realize it straight away.
Just then, I noticed a man walking up to us. I look up and see a familiar face. Jameson’s friend, Eduardo, is looming over us and taking the scene in front of him. He looks at Tatiana with an amused expression and then shifts his face back to me.
“How’s it going? Dax, right?”
I nod and shake his extended hand. “Eduardo, good to see you. Thanks again for your generosity at the club the other night. Eduardo, this is Tatiana, one of my work colleagues.”
Tatiana turns her gaze to Eduardo and extends her hand in front of her for him to shake.Ah, always the well-mannered professional.
“Good to make your acquaintance, Tatiana,” Eduardo says while calculatingly eyeing her.
There is laughter in his eyes. I wonder how long that bastard has been listening to my conversation with Tatiana just now.
“So, you don’t look like you were exercising here? What brings you over? Looking for membership?” Eduardo does now laugh at this comment.
“No, I don’t need one since I own this gym.”
Now it’s my turn to look surprised. “I had no idea. The club, too, right?”
He nods and continues. “Yeah, I have my hands in a little bit of everything, I guess you should say. Emma was telling me about the gala. Are you guys going?”
Tatiana must think he means her, not knowing he is leading this into a deeper discussion by his smirk. I scowl, knowing that he is referring to Liv naturally. It doesn’t stop Tatiana from answering, though.
“Well, I thought I was going, but it appears I am out of a date.”
Eduardo looks over at her, up and down. She seems to perk up at this.
“Well, that’s too bad. A beautiful woman like you shouldn’t be waiting on anyone that doesn’t put you first. Unfortunately, I am already promised to another; otherwise, I would take you.” He gives her an academy-award-winning smile and gives her hand another shake. This time as a goodbye.
“It was very nice talking to you. Dax, I thought you should know that the girls will show up at the club for a girls’ night. I have everything set up to ensure they are well taken care of if you understand my meaning. You're working that night, right?”
