Relief sneaks into my chest before I can stop it. I hadn’t realized how tense I was walking in here until that moment. “Thank you. I wanted to tell you early because I’m planning to keep working as long as I can. But I also wanted to be honest that my morning sickness has been… aggressive.”
He winces sympathetically. “Yeah, I’ve heard that part can be rough.”
“Today was manageable. But some mornings are worse than others. I just didn’t want it to look like I’m slacking off if I have to reschedule a session once in a while.”
“That’s reasonable.” He folds his hands on the desk. “How far along are you?”
“Early,” I say carefully. “Still in the stage where my body is deciding it hates food.”
“That’s gonna suck for your gains.” For a moment, he studies me with the same practical expression he uses when evaluating new trainers. “So what’s your plan long-term? Pregnancy can derail trainers pretty fast.”
“I’ve been thinking about that. Actually, a friend helped me start building a website for online coaching. Workout programs, virtual clients, that kind of thing.”
He nods slowly, clearly considering it. “Smart move.”
“That way I can keep working even when my schedule changes,” I continue. “And once the baby’s here, I won’t have to rely entirely on in-person sessions.”
He leans back again, rubbing his chin. “There is one thing you should keep in mind.”
My stomach drops slightly. “What’s that?”
“Your contract.” He gestures toward the employee binder on the shelf behind him. “You signed a noncompete clause when you started here.”
I sigh quietly. “Right.”
“It doesn’t stop you from doing online training,” he clarifies. “But you can’t take clients from this area.”
“So… no Boston clients.”
“Exactly.” He spreads his hands. “If your online clients are outside the Boston market, you’re fine. But if they’re local, that gets messy. I don’t want the owners saying you poached clients, know what I mean?”
What I know is that noncompetes like that are almost impossible to enforce in reality. Half the trainers in this city probably have side clients they borrowed from their gym. Still, the idea of adding a legal argument to everything else currently happening in my life makes my head hurt.
“That’s fair,” I say finally. “I’m not looking to start a fight over it.”
He nods once, apparently satisfied. “Then we’re good.”
I stand up, feeling lighter than I did when I walked in.
“Thanks for telling me,” he adds as I reach the door. “And seriously… congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
When I step back out onto the gym floor, the noise of the machines and music rushes over me again. For the first time all day, the secret doesn’t feel quite so heavy sitting in my chest.
By the time I get home, I’m exhausted in a way that has nothing to do with the workout. But I need to talk to Leigh again. “One of the other trainers told me I look softer today.” I rub my face and sigh. “Apparently, I’m missing an ab.”
Leigh stares at me for a beat, then laughs.
“That’s not funny.”
“It’s a little funny.”
I sigh. Mostly at myself. “I snapped at him.”
“That part is also a little funny.”
“You’re a terrible friend.”
