04

#####04

I yawned the sun beaming on my face.

I grabbed my phone, unplugging it as I saw a text.

9 :40 AM

Gabriel : Text me when you’re up

12 :30 PM

Me : sorry I slept in today

Gabriel : That’s good, when I texted you I was bored.

Me : still bored ?

Gabriel : Yep.

I moved to my kitchen while calling him and putting it on speaker.

« Well isn’t this a change in dynamic. » He joked.

« Something like that. » I smiled as I grabbed a chocolate protein smoothie from my fridge.

« What’s happening for you today ? » I asked.

« Well, I got done with work shit, now I’m on my way to try to get this money from this bastard who owes me 30k. Then I have to go to the gym. » He explained.

« That’s a lot of money. And same I have to as well, I actually have time today. » I shook it and began drinking it.

« I have a home gym if you don’t wanna pay. » He said.

« I don’t wanna-« 

« Stop being nice god it’s annoying. » He complained.

« Fine then. » I said.

« Good. 2 I’ll send you my address and I’ll be there too. » He hung up.

I groaned feeling myself become accustomed to his company. Maybe he’s only nice because he wants a one night stand.

I frowned.

-

I got there and I tried to ignore the size of his home.

He opened the door and smiled.

My eyes immediately fell to his tattoo covered abdomen.

« Come in. » He moved and I walked inside.

« Have you eaten ? » He asked crossing his arms.

« Yea. » I nodded.

« You ready then ? » He asked and I hummed.

He walked to a door under his staircase and opened it revealing a basement.

It was conditioned down here causing it to feel freezing.

« Jesus. » I whispered.

« It’ll be useful when your sweating. » He responded and we got down there, three treadmills, weights, lifting, pull up bars, he had it all.

« If I can’t hear you I have an earbud in, I won’t do both but I listen to music. » I told him and he just nodded.

I went to the treadmill and put the speed up as I played my favorite songs playlist.

I began jogging and I looked in the giant mirror in front of me to see his back to the reflective glass and he was lifting 50 pound weights in each hand.

I just watched his back muscles work as his skin became glossy.

He was a great distraction from being out of breath.

He turned and smiled at me.

« You’re not subtle. » He told me and watched me run as my cheeks heated.

He laughed and dropped the weights coming directly next to me on the treadmill as he put his speed at mine and ran with me.

His eyes were glued to my chest as I watched his abdomen.

« The tension is high. » I laughed and he nodded.

« Very. » He answered and I clicked the speed down so I was fast walking.

« What’s your cycle ? » He asked.

« 12-3-0 » I told him.

« Ahh. » He nodded.

12 minute jog, 3 minute walk, no sprint.

I got off and laid myself on the floor, stretching.

I touched my toes, my hands hooking under my shoes as I stayed there. I then moved into the middle splits, stretching my body to my left side, grabbing my foot. Then my right.

I moved forward so my forehead was near the floor as I felt the stretch on my inner thighs.

I felt eyes pierce my skin as I looked up and he was staring at me.

My face burned profusely.

I stood and did lunge stretches, the child’s pose, and the seal or cat stretch. Can’t remember the name as I then stood and stretched my arms and shoulders.

I got on my back, doing crunches, leg scissors, dead bugs, weighted Russian twists, and a 2 minute plank before moving to legs.

I did leg lifts, sumo squats with weights, lunges, and calf raises where I stood and went up and down on my tip toes, lowering myself slowly.

I moved back to cardio as I watched him do sit ups and push-ups.

This was a bad idea. I felt distracted by him being here with me.

« What’s with the face little love ? » He asked and stood.

« What ? » I asked.

« Your face is screaming deep thoughts. » He moved by me and stopped the treadmill.

« I think it’s weird. All of this. » I said and he smirked.

« How so ? » He asked.

« Nearly three weeks ago you threatened me, stalked me, complimented me, horrified me, and now we’re working out together. » I said and he laughed, the sound soulful and echoing through his gym.

« Ugh Dahlia. No one said I was hurting you or going to. I didn’t even say it. I told you I’d make you watch while someone else is brought harm. I still stand by that. » He shrugged.

« Isn’t that mental-« 

« Ah ah ah. Don’t pull abuse cards baby. They don’t work. I told you I won’t hurt you. Not that I was a good man or a saint. Not that our relationship would be healthy. Healthy relationships are boring. I’d rather live a toxic one and be happy than a healthy one and be unhappy. I’d hope one day you’d find a part of yourself that’s as crazy as me and you would sit by me as I harmed the bad people in this world. The man I hurt today, gambler addict and thief. The guy I hit the night I met you was a rapist. I’m not saying that justifies my action but you babygirl aren’t gonna get a Prince Charming ending. It’s not meant for you. » He touched my chin.

« I don’t know, what you do seems awfully dangerous. » I shook my head.

« Come to work with me then. One day. See how I am with other people, see how bad I am. I doubt that’s gonna change the small piece in you that takes interest in me. » He told me.

« I doubt it but fine. » I said.

« I’m not saying you won’t be scared. Know that. » He touched my face lightly.

« Okay. Tomorrow ? » I asked.

« That’s a perfect day actually. Two men to chase down. » He smiled.

« I’m telling you Dahlia. You’ll know it’s bad but I don’t think it’ll change shit. Just wait I’ll have you making excuses on why I am good even though I’m plain awful. I bet a date on it. » He grinned.

« A date ? » I asked.

« Yea. If you get scared and come near me for comfort I get to take you out. If not we don’t go out and continue the way we are. » He told me.

« Fine. » I whispered.

« Pretty girl. »