Any movement I made hurt, but I couldn't miss any more work. Not only did I owe the thugs and other debtors, but I still needed to eat and pay bills too. If I couldn't fight soon, I would need to take another job, or perhaps three at this rate. The amount Delgado wanted from me kept getting higher, and I couldn't see a light at the end of this deadly tunnel. I was in way over my head, with no clear direction of escape.
"Oof, man. You've seen better days!" One of the other trainers snickered when they caught sight of me in the locker room.
Pinning him with my eyes, I conveyed the pain I wanted to rain down on him for his asinine remark. Commenting on obvious facts always brought out my sarcasm. Add in my perpetual dark cloud, and my looks were deadly. Based on his swallow and quick exit, it seemed he got the picture.
Slowly, I placed my bag in my locker and sat down on the bench. I had two more sessions today, and then Loren. My feelings were a mixed bag with her, and the weekend hadn't made anything clearer. I hated her most of the time, but then her fire would ignite the pain inside, and I wanted to burn with her. It was dark and didn't make a whole lot of sense, but it was what I felt.
Taking a deep breath, I mustered the strength to get off the damn bench. The Advil I'd taken earlier wasn't cutting it, but I wouldn't take anything else. I couldn't go down that path. It was a future I didn't want for myself, even if my future was bleak. Pushing through the doors, I swallowed the pain down to deal with these last two clients.
Think of the dogs, think of the dogs, think of the dogs.
"Cynthia, are you ready to burn those calories today?"
"Oh, yes. Let's do this, Wells." She licked her lips, thrusting her chest out toward me as I approached. These MILF's all had fantasies of bagging a trainer, but I had no interest in them. This job was a means to an end and nothing more.
Ignoring the sexual undertones, I got to work. Lunge squats were in her future and perhaps would keep her away from me for a time. Running her through the warm up, I zoned into the process and tried to ignore everything else. The pain, the loneliness, the guilt.
* * *
"Great job today,Karen. I'll see you next week."
Smiling, I walked to the locker room, finally finished with my second client. Once I was through the door, I dropped the fake expression and collapsed onto the bench. My whole body hurt, and I wanted to do nothing but sleep for hours. How was I going to do this day in and day out? I might as well start digging my grave myself because I would be in it by the end of the week, either from Delgado when I didn't pay or the pain.
Both options felt about the same at the moment.
"Wells, you in here?"
"Hmm?"
"Wells?"
Footsteps followed the voice as they came around the lockers, but I couldn't find the energy to open my eyes to see who it was. Part of me hoped it was the Reaper finally coming to collect my soul. I'd welcome it at this point. A slap to the face had me blinking my eyes open a few seconds later, finding two Monroes in front of me. Lights shone around him in whites and golds.
"Mo?" I whispered, my head spinning. "Am I dead? I'm sorry I screwed everything up. It makes sense you're an angel. You always were the best thing in my life," I mumbled, my head falling back.
"Wells, can you hear me? You're not dead, buddy. Just in pain, I think. Can you keep your eyes open for me?"
Opening them again, I hadn't realized they'd been closed, and Monroe swam in and out of focus as I tried to find him again. Blinking helped some, and I found him kneeling down between my legs, his hands on my thighs as he watched me in concern. Thoughts I shouldn't be having about him started to form in my mind, and my cock took notice. Thankfully, Monroe was focused on my eyes and not my dick.
"There you are." He smiled, erupting butterflies I didn't want to admit to. Locking away my emotions, I shut down my wayward thoughts. I wasn't good for him. I wasn't good for anyone.
"What are you doing here?" I questioned. It came out harsher than I intended.
My words had him pulling back and standing. His hand slid down my thigh as he stood, and I prayed he didn't feel the erection I still had from his proximity. Monroe leaned back against the other lockers, blowing out a breath of his own before he answered.
"You haven't responded to my texts, and I was worried. Plus, Brittni's causing problems, so I thought I'd hit the bag for a few rounds and get out some aggression. I need to start back anyway. Hockey practice will be starting back up in a few weeks."
"What's the bitch doing now?"
There was no love lost between her and I. She'd never liked me, and after my fall from grace, it gave her even more reason to push me out of his life. Finding us together the way she had, only added gasoline to the fire where I'd been concerned. If she got hit by a bus, I'd buy the bus driver a cake. The bitch was trouble, and I didn't trust her.
Blowing out a breath, Monroe looked up at the ceiling, his tell he was about to hide something from me.
"Oh, just the usual. She's trying to fight me for full custody. It's like she forgets I'm a lawyer except for when it's about child support."
"She's a fucking bitch, and you never should've married her."
"Yeah, well, too late now. Besides, I have Levi. He's worth it."