Page 93 of Captured Love

34

SELENE

Iwalk up to my regular treadmill with my earbuds already blasting my go-to workout playlist. I’m pumped up and ready to go before I head back to my place to get cleaned up and wait for Knox to come by.

And I can’t wait to tell him that I have proof that his ex-girlfriend is stalking him.

I crank up the speed on the treadmill, my feet pounding in rhythm with the heavy bass thumping through my earbuds. Sweat beads on my forehead as I push myself harder, determined to beat my personal best. I'm in the zone, focused solely on the digital numbers ticking upward on the display.

Thirty minutes later, I'm a sweaty mess but feeling triumphant as I cool down with a light jog. I hop off the treadmill and wipe the sweat from my face and neck.

As I grab my water bottle and start toward the area with the yoga mats, I can't help but glance over at the free weights section again. The usual crowd of regulars are there, chatting and laughing between reps like they own the place. A familiar knot of anxiety starts to form in my stomach, but I force myself to take a deep breath.

Before I can second-guess myself, I march right up to the rack of dumbbells. I can do this without Knox being here. The first thing I do is select a set of five pound dumbbells and remind myself that I'm here for me, not to impress anyone else. I find an open spot and start my first set of bicep curls, focusing on my form and breathing.

At first, I feel self-conscious, like everyone must be staring at me and judging. But as I power through the reps, I start to find my rhythm. The burn in my muscles feels good; I would even say it’s empowering. I catch one of the regulars giving me a subtle nod of approval in the mirror.

I finish my set and rest the weights at my sides and breathe out a sigh of relief. It's a small victory, but it feels huge to me. I'm not the same insecure girl I was just a few weeks ago. I'm stronger now, inside and out.

As I set the weights down and take a long drink from my water bottle, I start to think about Knox and the bombshell I'm about to drop on him. I still can't believe Isla and I found all the information she’s been tabulating for who knows how long in that little black book of hers. First of all, it’s creepy as hell. Second of all, why? Why go through all that trouble instead of just going to Knox?

Has she gone to Knox?

The thought makes me pause mid-sip. What if Tessa has continued to try and reconnect with Knox this whole time? The knot in my stomach tightens. I shake my head, trying to get rid of the uneasy feeling that is creeping into my body. No, Knox would have told me if she had reached out again. He's always been upfront about their history, even if he doesn't like talking about it much.

I grab my stuff and head to the locker room, my mind still coming up with questions. As I put on my outerwear, I try to focus on the positives. I faced my fear at the gym today. Schoolis going well. I'm making progress with my diet and in the gym, not to mention, I’m getting stronger. And Knox and I have been getting closer.

I finish getting dressed and check my phone. Nothing from Knox yet, which tells me I have enough time to probably jump in the shower and prepare a little before he arrives.

I hurry back to my dorm, taking the stairs two at a time. I unlock my door and toss my gym bag near the bed. I grab all of the things that I need, head to the bathroom, strip off my sweaty clothes, and jump in the shower. The soothing hot water does a number on my sore muscles, and I love every second of it. I debate whether it’s worth washing my hair before I decide it needs it. As I’m working shampoo onto my scalp, I rehearse what I'm going to say to Knox.

“So, Isla and I found something that you should probably know about...” No, too casual. “Knox, there's something important I need to tell you, and it's about Tessa.” Better, but still not quite right.

I sigh and rinse the suds from my hair. Maybe I should just wing it and see what comes out. It might be better than me overanalyzing this. With a heavy sigh, I step out of the shower and wrap a towel around my body and another around my hair. I dash back to my room and get changed. Just as I’m about to start blow drying my hair, I hear a knock at the door. My heart leaps into my throat. Is Knox early?

I quickly throw on a cozy oversized cardigan and try not to care about how my damp hair is leaving wet splotches on the shoulders. Taking a deep breath to calm my nerves, I open the door to find Knox standing there, hands tucked into the pockets of his worn leather jacket.

“Hey,” he greets me with that trademark smirk of his. “You're looking quite wet.”

I roll my eyes, but I’m not even remotely upset. “I just got out of the shower, smartass. You're early.”

“What can I say? I couldn't wait to see you,” he teases as I step aside to let him in. The scent of his cologne already has me wanting to melt into a puddle on the floor.

Knox plops down on my bed like it’s his own. “So, what's this important thing you needed to tell me?”

“Well there are a couple of things I want to tell you actually. Do you want to start with the good or the bad?”

Knox folds his arms across his chest. “Let's start with the good. I have a feeling I'm going to need it.”

I take a deep breath and sit down next to him on the bed. “Well, the good news is that I finally faced my fear at the gym today. I used the free weights without you there to hold my hand.”

Knox's face lights up and it’s so weird to see him this happy for me. “Selene, that's amazing! I knew you could do it. Hell yeah!”

“Thanks, Knox. It felt really good, like I'm finally making progress, not just physically but mentally too.”

“I never doubted that for a second,” he says softly, reaching out to tuck a damp strand of hair behind my ear.

I clear my throat and look away. “So, about the bad news...”

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