I’d make sure of it.
* * *
“Come on, one more.”
Rae was lying flat on the incline squat machine, pressing an insane amount of weight for someone fairly new to lifting.
“I...can’t,” she panted.
“Yes, you can.” I squatted down next to her. “Don’t be afraid. Push.”
She did, extending her legs and squeaking out one more. Pulling back down, letting the plates clang together, Rae let out a breath and looked at me.
“I wasn’t afraid.”
“Yes, you were.”
She made a face. “Of what? It’s a machine. Worst case scenario, I drop it back down.”
Finished with her set, Rae stood up and I helped her take off the plates.
“You’re afraid of trying and failing,” I said. “Anyone who lifts heavy runs into the same problem. It’s not just you. I do the same. But I had a good trainer who helped me push past my own limits.”
She looked toward the front desk. “Shaun?”
“Yep. Was a professional bodybuilder for a while.”
“I can see why.”
We made our way upstairs, to the treadmills, to finish off the workout.
“Shaun’s advice is solid,” she said. “I thought you were crazy at first when you said I was afraid, but maybe not. I was probably afraid to get halfway up and embarrass myself if I couldn’t finish the set.”
“Embarrass yourself with me? Are you kidding? You’re crushing it.”
“You think?”
Rae still wore a baggy tee, but it was shorter than last time. She caught me staring at her ass so I quickly lifted my gaze back up.
“I do. In a week or two we’ll be adding two more forty-fives. That’s a lot of weight, especially for a beginner. Your legs are strong.”
She smiled. “I never knew that.”
The conversation quickly took a turn as I imagined other ways we could test Rae’s leg strength.
“You have that look,” she said.
“What look?” I asked innocently.
“The one that got us here in the first place.”
Good to know. I’d be sure to use that look more often. By the time we finished our workouts having agreed to take clothes with us and shower at the gym before hitting dinner, the image of Rae’s legs wrapped around my waist as I pumped into her was indelibly burned onto my brain.
I had no idea how many people were in the women’s locker room, but judging from the men’s, it couldn’t be many. If any. The post-work crowd was gone, and by now most people were enjoying the magic hour on a warm summer day. Which I fully intended to do. Later.
Grabbing my duffle, I stopped at the door and texted Rae.
Is there anyone in there with you?