they can move on.” She leaned in and hugged me. “I gotta go to my session with Jake. I’ll see you at home.”
Nodding, I watched her walk across the room toward the door where Jake had disappeared. I had a lot to think about. But the one thing I got from Toni’s speech, was to not give up hope, to have faith, and to own up to my mistakes. I could do that. I was definitely not too proud to own up to my mistakes.
Feeling lighter for the first time in a long time, I took in a deep breath. The smells of sweat, deodorant, and the metallic scents from the machines assaulted me. It wasn’t all bad, but it wasn’t all good either. But I loved this place, and knowing Jake could still care, I wouldn’t leave for anything.
I went to the next machine and worked hard. A plan – I needed to come up with a plan to earn his trust again. Exercising helped. I could always think more clearly when I was working out. I placed my earbuds in place and was immediately lost in my thoughts and the sounds of a recording of an endless thunderstorm that drowned out all other noise.
Even some of the noise in my head.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Jake
“You know, I’m sick of havin’ to keep my friendships with you and Mia separate,” Toni said the moment she burst through the private gym door. She paused, her brown eyes glared at me, and just waited. Probably waiting for me to make an excuse, but I had nothing to say. I tried to keep my face flat and not let her see what I was feeling. Toni didn’t need to know how much I still wanted Mia. And she definitely didn’t need to know how I could still feel her in my arms since our dance. She sighed and narrowed her eyes at me. “She’s seein’ someone, Jake.”
“Yeah, someone who is more worried about drinkin’, makin’ her uncomfortable, and lookin’ at other women,” I retorted harshly. I instantly felt bad for snapping at Toni. She didn’t deserve my shitty attitude. “I’m sorry, Toni. But, that asshole flirts with every woman in here. I saw them at the club the other night and he was all over her. She was obviously uncomfortable, but he didn’t give a shit. Then when I helped her out, I saw the asshole hittin’ on other women at the bar.”
Toni just smiled, she knew me better than anyone. Toni could always just read my moods, a long time ago, Mia also had that skill. “She told me you danced with her.” Toni paused a moment. For a silent moment I started to analyze what I was doing when it came to Mia. Then Toni’s next words hit home, hard. “Maybe it’s time for you to make a choice. Maybe it’s time to either move on or step up. You’re never gonna be happy if you’re always sittin’ there glowerin’ when she’s around.”
Maybe it was time to move on. The problem was, other than my friendships with Toni and Monique, I hadn’t met a single woman who I could deal with for more than a couple hours in a very long time. At least until Mia reappeared. Now I found myself looking for her. I wanted to see her and be around her, but I wanted to get as far away as possible. Self-preservation I guessed. “Yeah. I don’t know. Maybe you’re right. I just don’t know if I can be friends with her. But I also don’t know if I can ignore her either.”
“I get why your feelings are so jumbled when it comes to Mia. For the record, I think she’s just as confused,” she paused. “Anyway, you ready to get started?”
One of the things I loved about Toni was her direct-to-the-point personality. She didn’t feel the need to harp. She said what was on her mind and let shit go. She knew I’d do what I wanted no matter how much she debated, so why argue.
“Yeah, let’s get your reps done, my interview is gonna be here soon.”
“Hey! Y’all in here?” a deep voice bellowed from the back entrance. Julius Fuller came through the door with a huge smile on his face. I sighed inwardly. It
Nodding, I watched her walk across the room toward the door where Jake had disappeared. I had a lot to think about. But the one thing I got from Toni’s speech, was to not give up hope, to have faith, and to own up to my mistakes. I could do that. I was definitely not too proud to own up to my mistakes.
Feeling lighter for the first time in a long time, I took in a deep breath. The smells of sweat, deodorant, and the metallic scents from the machines assaulted me. It wasn’t all bad, but it wasn’t all good either. But I loved this place, and knowing Jake could still care, I wouldn’t leave for anything.
I went to the next machine and worked hard. A plan – I needed to come up with a plan to earn his trust again. Exercising helped. I could always think more clearly when I was working out. I placed my earbuds in place and was immediately lost in my thoughts and the sounds of a recording of an endless thunderstorm that drowned out all other noise.
Even some of the noise in my head.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Jake
“You know, I’m sick of havin’ to keep my friendships with you and Mia separate,” Toni said the moment she burst through the private gym door. She paused, her brown eyes glared at me, and just waited. Probably waiting for me to make an excuse, but I had nothing to say. I tried to keep my face flat and not let her see what I was feeling. Toni didn’t need to know how much I still wanted Mia. And she definitely didn’t need to know how I could still feel her in my arms since our dance. She sighed and narrowed her eyes at me. “She’s seein’ someone, Jake.”
“Yeah, someone who is more worried about drinkin’, makin’ her uncomfortable, and lookin’ at other women,” I retorted harshly. I instantly felt bad for snapping at Toni. She didn’t deserve my shitty attitude. “I’m sorry, Toni. But, that asshole flirts with every woman in here. I saw them at the club the other night and he was all over her. She was obviously uncomfortable, but he didn’t give a shit. Then when I helped her out, I saw the asshole hittin’ on other women at the bar.”
Toni just smiled, she knew me better than anyone. Toni could always just read my moods, a long time ago, Mia also had that skill. “She told me you danced with her.” Toni paused a moment. For a silent moment I started to analyze what I was doing when it came to Mia. Then Toni’s next words hit home, hard. “Maybe it’s time for you to make a choice. Maybe it’s time to either move on or step up. You’re never gonna be happy if you’re always sittin’ there glowerin’ when she’s around.”
Maybe it was time to move on. The problem was, other than my friendships with Toni and Monique, I hadn’t met a single woman who I could deal with for more than a couple hours in a very long time. At least until Mia reappeared. Now I found myself looking for her. I wanted to see her and be around her, but I wanted to get as far away as possible. Self-preservation I guessed. “Yeah. I don’t know. Maybe you’re right. I just don’t know if I can be friends with her. But I also don’t know if I can ignore her either.”
“I get why your feelings are so jumbled when it comes to Mia. For the record, I think she’s just as confused,” she paused. “Anyway, you ready to get started?”
One of the things I loved about Toni was her direct-to-the-point personality. She didn’t feel the need to harp. She said what was on her mind and let shit go. She knew I’d do what I wanted no matter how much she debated, so why argue.
“Yeah, let’s get your reps done, my interview is gonna be here soon.”
“Hey! Y’all in here?” a deep voice bellowed from the back entrance. Julius Fuller came through the door with a huge smile on his face. I sighed inwardly. It
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