“I meant her relationship to you.Is she your friend, girlfriend...”
“A friend who’s practically my sister.A lot of people say they’ve known each other forever after it’s only been a month or so, but I mean it with her.We’ve been friends since elementary school.”
Spencer felt his eyes widen.“Wow.”
“What about you?Who are you coming home to to tell about your clients and their fitness adventures?”
It was a simple enough question, but Spencer felt himself closing off.Mitch was only interested in Spencer’s gym job to the extent that he could compare and contrast it to his office job; his mom and sister were polite enough but not overly invested in stories about his workday; he’d either grown apart from or actively cut off everyone he’d known growing up; he was so serious about work that he didn’t have time to make a lot of new friends outside of it; and there hadn’t been a serious partner since he and his fiancée broke up.“No one.”
Her expression changed, but he spoke before she could.“Never mind.That’s not what’s important.What’s important now is that we get you ready.Follow me to the training floor.”
****
Spencer had only saidtwo words, but his tone and expression had made it obvious that there was more to his situation than simply not having a partner.A bad breakup?Widowed or divorced before thirty?Stuck in the States while the love of his life was doing an apprenticeship at an Australian winery with a sexy but surly viticulturalist who would inevitably steal her away?Okay, Misty had stolen that last theory from a book she’d read earlier that year for a commission (people could put the fictional winery’s stickers on real bottles), but it would still explain his reticence.The thoughts ran through her head as she went about her strength circuit.
“Wait, stop!”Spencer’s voice and extended arm kept her from fully forming another theory.“You’re done with this section, and you’ve logged your best time so far.We might even be able to switch to a band with greater resistance next time.”
The whole time she’d been making her way from one end of a track to another in a side lunge with a stretchy band above her knees, Misty had been so busy wondering about Spencer’s story that she’d barely noticed where she’d been going.But now she was aware of the strength of his hand and a slightly citrusy scent.
“What’s next?Pushups?”She thought back to the list of exercises the combine wanted applicants to demonstrate on video.
“Maybe later.”He moved his hand away.Before she could protest, he said, “I had an idea for something that would help you, and it looks like you’ve gotten strong enough for it.Ditch the band and follow me.”
In her few weeks of membership, Misty had noticed that more casual gymgoers tended to use the weight machines like the ones Spencer had had her use early on, while the more serious bodybuilders tended to take over the free weight section.As such, she was a little surprised when he led her over the unspoken line of demarcation.She wasn’t so sure about this, but maybe it would be okay if she had Spencer with her.
He left her side for a moment and came back dragging — “What is that thing?”
“A sled.”He looked proud of himself.“Not only will this help with your other goals for the combine video, but maybe it’ll help you when it’s time to push a bobsled.Watch.”
He loaded it with weights, grasped the poles on each side of the sled, and leaned over.The way his gym shorts fit over his ass was probably not the point of this demonstration, but it was the first thing Misty noticed.Then he took off down the length of the weights area, and the clatter of the sled jerked her out of her reverie.
After he brought it back equally noisily, he unloaded all the weights but one.“We’ll try you with 35 pounds for your first time and add more as we go.”
“Okay.”
She clasped the poles, and he gave her a critical look.“You don’t need perfect posture for this.Bend your knees and get low.It’ll help with speed.”
She followed his instructions.“And...go!”
Even with the so-called lightweight, Misty couldn’t believe how heavy this thing was to push from one end of the weights area to another.If she couldn’t handle this, how was she going to manage a 600-pound sled?She started to sag but forced herself back into action with Spencer watching her.
“Now push it back.”
Now that she knew what to expect from this thing, it seemed a little more manageable.As she returned to the opposite end, she looked up to see Spencer standing there.There was nothing on his face to indicate how well or poorly she’d done.“How do you feel?”
Surprised that she’d pulled it off.Exceptionally aware of her blood pumping to every part of her body, and a little wired for it.Like she was going to feel this in her arms, legs, and core tomorrow — she was more used to every move on the plan, but this was an entirely new one on her.Optimistic at the thought that if Spencer was having her do this, he must feel good about her chances of getting into the combine.
“Like I want to do it again.”That seemed to encompass everything.
He nodded.“That can be arranged.We can tack it onto your strength sessions going forward.”
