*
The next day I woke up at the crack of dawn as usual, had a shower, and got ready for my “date”. I was sure it wasn’t a real date, just a way to spend the day with someone. It was a weird feeling, I was actually looking forward to it. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d looked forward to anything. It had been so long, I had almost forgotten what it felt like, and I instantly felt guilty. I didn’t deserve to go to the gym and have fun. I regretted that I had agreed to it, but I was still looking forward to it. Not to mention bailing now would have looked rude. Conflicting feelings seemed to be ruling my life these last few days.
I threw on my shorts and a workout shirt and looked at myself in the mirror in my bathroom. I hadn’t actually checked out my appearance in a long time. I didn’t look too bad, I guess. I still had a pretty good body, my hair was silky smooth, and all of the terrible results alcoholism had ravaged on my body were a thing of the past. No, my outward appearance was fine, it was just my brain that was broken now. In fact, I’d even venture so far as to say I looked good.
I made my way down to the basement gym. This being one of those expensive rehab centers, it’s kind of like expensive hotels: there’s always a gym, even though you never see anyone in them. The only times I had ever been here was when I first arrived and been shown around, and one day when the trainer for our sports group that met once a week decided we should learn how to use weights and showed us all how to do some exercises one afternoon.
Sure enough, as usual, there was no one down there except for me. Daniel was nowhere in sight. I was alone in this enormous room. Fluorescent lights shone down upon me, seeing as the room got no natural light. Mirrors lined all four walls of the gym. To my left was a row of dumbbells, going from one pound all the way to 100. The far wall was lined with machines that looked like torture instruments. To my right was the cardio section. There were at least a dozen treadmills, elliptical machines and spin cycles, which I imagined had never, ever all been used at once. Against the other wall to my right was a section for yoga and other mat-based exercises, with stability balls and agility equipment. Even for me, someone who had rarely ever spent any time in a gym, I could tell this place was very well equipped.
Suddenly Daniel emerged from the dressing rooms behind a door to my right. He was drenched in sweat, rubbing his wet hair with a towel, and it only made him hotter. I felt my knees going weak, a tug in my nether regions, and I scolded myself to get it together.
“Hey” he greeted me with a grin. He wore shorts and a tank top that showed off his incredibly muscular body. Daniel was even more ripped than I had originally thought. His biceps bulged as he continued to wipe himself down, his pecs moved slightly, and under the tightness of his shirt I confirmed my original suspicions: there was indeed a six pack underneath.
“Ready for a big day of training?” he asked enthusiastically, throwing the towel to the side.
“I guess so...” I stammered, looking around apprehensively. I was only too aware of the fact that despite knowing a fair bit about the human body, I had never really trained mine that well.
“Don’t worry, the gym’s always intimidating the first few times. That’s totally normal. Luckily for you, there’s no one else here except me, so you don’t need to feel self conscious or anything. In like a week you’ll be strutting around here like you own the place.” I looked up at Daniel. In a week? Did he expect me to do this again? With him? Regardless of what he thought, I appreciated his desire to put me at ease.
“Thanks. I’ve never really been here before. Just once, the trainer showed us how to do some exercises.”
“Cool. Did you like any of the stuff you did?”
“Not really. I mean, I can go on the treadmill and run for half an hour, or hop on the bike and do something, but I kind of hated it. It was boring.”
“Did you try lifting any weights?”
“No, I don’t want to get big and bulky. I’d prefer it if your biceps stay bigger than mine.”
Daniel laughed, a good natured laugh. Every time I heard that sound I wanted to say whatever I had to in order to get him to repeat it.
“Don’t worry, Kylie. There isn’t a chance in hell you’ll get bulky like me by accident. Plus lifting weights rules. Let me take you through a routine. If you hate it, we’ll find something else.”