“Very true.” I chuckle, feeling more at ease. “Speaking of real, you do a lot of your writing here?”
Carlie nods enthusiastically. “Yeah, this place is my second home. Sometimes my Grandma can be a bit much—she’s my landlord and …” She breaks off, dropping her gaze to the table and shaking her head. “A-anyway, it’s peaceful here. Perfect for writing. Plus, I love people-watching. It gives me inspiration for characters.”
“Characters, huh? Ever base one on a clueless fitness trainer?” I ask with a playful grin.
She laughs, a genuine, heartwarming sound and a part of me feels like it memorizes it. “Not yet, but there’s always a first time for everything.”
“That there is,” I say, my eyebrows flicking upward. “You know, I have a secret love for fantasy novels. Sarah J. Maas is actually one of my favorites,” I whisper. “But don’t tell Dylan. He’ll never let me live it down.”
Her entire demeanor shifts at the mention of books. Her eyes, a vivid green, sparkle like emeralds under the coffee shop’s warm lighting, and she leans forward, the enthusiasm radiating from her as if it’s the most exciting secret she’s heard. “No way. I love her books too! A Court of Thorns and Roses is one of my all-time favorite series. But Crescent City is a close second.”
“Mine too,” I admit, feeling a connection that goes beyond trainer and client. “Her world-building is incredible.”
“So are her sex scenes,” she says, then clasps her hand over her mouth.
Her cheeks turn the color of her hair and I have to laugh, even while a certain part of me takes note. There were definitely some strong female sex-positive scenes in those books.
“You like the sex scenes, huh,” I tease with more of a shitty grin than I intended. “Noted.”
Carlie’s blush deepens, but she manages a shy smile. “Well, they are ... creatively inspiring,” she says with a playful glint in her eye.
I lean back, chuckling. “I’ll have to remember that. Maybe I can learn a thing or two for my own ...creative endeavors.”
She runs her lower lip between her teeth, but she doesn’t say anything to that. Yet, I can’t help but feel the atmosphere between us has definitely shifted a bit.
We talk more about books, diving into more of our favorite genres and authors. I find myself surprised at how much we have in common, and how easily the conversation flows when we leave the Instagram fiasco behind.
“So, Carlie, tell me something about you that most people wouldn’t guess at first glance,” I ask, curious to know more—dive deeper.
She pauses, pondering the question. “Well, I’m kind of a closet geek. I love video games and comic books. Not something people expect from a romance author, I guess.”
I raise an eyebrow, impressed. “Really? That’s pretty cool. I used to be big into gaming myself. Haven’t had much time for it lately, though.”
“Yeah, it’s my way of unwinding after a long day of writing. Sometimes, you just have to shoot some shit,” she says, her eyes lighting up. “Do you have a favorite game?”
“Used to be a huge fan of The Witcher series,” I admit. “I could get lost in that world for hours. Haven’t watched the show, though.”
Carlie nods enthusiastically. “The storytelling in that game is phenomenal. I love how immersive it is.”
Our conversation drifts to other topics, from our favorite movies to our hobbies. I find myself more and more intrigued by this woman—by the depth of her interests and the warmth of her personality. There’s a magnetic quality about her that I could totally get sucked into.
Eventually, the topic circles back to fitness, when I ask her how her latest session went. Carlie’s expression turns a bit more somber.
“Jillian’s session ... I have to admit, it was really tough. Not just physically, but mentally too. Is she always like that?” She makes a face and I can tell instantly that whatever Jillian did with that fitness test, it was not her normal behavior.
I lean forward, concern flooding in. “I’m sorry to hear that. I wish I could’ve been there to make it a better experience for you.”
She gives a small, appreciative smile. “Your sessions were so different. Encouraging, you know? I wasn’t even expecting that when I first walked in.”
I nod, feeling a mix of pride and frustration at her comment. “You know, I’ve been thinking about starting my own fitness business, but turns out I have this non-compete clause.”
Since I was let go, I’ve been doing a lot of contemplation into what comes next. For research, I was looking over my old contract with St. Mary’s and I found the non-compete clause. At the time, I didn’t have an Instagram following or any intention of creating a gym. So, none of that mattered.
But now …
Even if I wanted to get Foxx Fitness going, there’s a good chance St. Mary’s would sue if I don’t wait until it expires.
“That’s ridiculous. They can fire you and still expect you to stick to a non-compete?” she asks, concern etched in her features.
