A warm pool of silica infused water was calling my name. and it would definitely smell less dangerous than Liam Rosehill.
4
Liam
This weight was stupid without a spotter.
I lifted the dumbbells and pressed, feeling the contraction in muscles I was probably overusing given I hadn’t done enough exercise until the last few weeks. I had a trainer, but he was over in London, so I’d been sent homework, or rather gym work, which I’d ignored until I needed something to take my mind away from the blonde explosion I’d seen in the bar.
I didn’t believe in coincidences. Fate was something you created yourself. When things happened it was because people had made certain decisions and seeing Sophie Slater in a high end hotel in Iceland didn’t shock me. Shit happened.
I felt the burn and I pushed the weights one last time and struggled not to drop them on myself as they were lowered. A pair of hands took some of the load and I managed to get them on the floor without braining myself.
“You might want to give someone a shout next time you aim for a PB.”
The voice wasn’t a familiar one, but when I rubbed the sweat out of my eyes I recognised the man who was pushed into the water by his fiancée the day before.
“I might take your advice on that.”
He gave a nod and picked up a set of dumbbells that were a few kilos heavier than the ones I’d been using, lifting them like they weighed no more than a bag of sugar.
“You working chest?”
I nodded, just about feeling human again after that set which was probably a step too far. “You?”
“Chest and shoulders. Won’t get a chance tomorrow as we’re doing some activity. I’m Max Callaghan, by the way.” He put one of the weights on the bench and held out his hand.
I shook it, feeling thankful that I wasn’t the tosser I’d been in my twenties that would’ve tried to show off and had a pissing competition over who could lift the heaviest.
I’d have lost.
This man was a tank. And yet his fiancée had no trouble pushing him into the lagoon.
“You dried out after yesterday?”
He laughed quietly and looked away. “Seph told me you were watching. I should know by now I won’t win an argument with her. Hasn’t happened yet.”
“I heard you crashed her hen party.”
He shrugged and then sat on the bench, the dumbbells on his knees, ready to raise. “It was a good idea to come here. And although the first three days apart are generally alright, after that we end up spending half our time on the phone to each other or Face Timing. Can you spot while I do this set?”
We focused on his chest press, although for the first set or maybe two, he wasn’t going to need me.
“You got more to do?”
I nodded. “Flies. Four sets then a drop set.” I lay on the other bench, using a slightly heavier weight than I would do usually, because I still had some of that arsehole twenty-something in me.
“How long have you been together?” I asked after doing the final rep.
“Just over two years. Hoping it’ll be another two years, preferably more, I’ve just sailed close to the wind with this. She was not happy.” He got ready for his next set, going up a weight.
“She’ll calm down though?”
I had never pretended to understand women. They were a strange species.
“Eventually. I’ll avoid her tomorrow and then she’ll decide she wants my attention.” He laughed. “How about you? Married? Or does the rock and roll lifestyle not allow for that?”
“Single.” I stood behind and watched him move the weights. His technique was better than my trainer. “What team do you support?”
