Page 10 of Not That Ridiculous

“I just think he should strap things down properly! Wear some tight briefs under there. Or a jockstrap.” My words faltered as my brain caught up with what I was saying.

Jockstrap.

Kevin in a jockstrap.

Jasper tugged me closer, ducked down and said in a low voice,“I forgot you’re a virgin?—”

I smacked his side.

He arched away, grinning. “Agymvirgin,” he continued, “and it’s okay that you didn’t know this, but I’m telling you now, you don’t look. In the changing room, in the shower, on the gym floor. General rule of thumb: don’t be checking people out.”

“I wasn’t checking him out, what? Whaaat? I’m concerned, that’s all.”

“About Kevin Wallis freeballing?”

“Yes.”

Jasper gave me a thoughtful look.

“No,” I said quickly. It was bad enough Adam knew how I felt about Kevin. I couldn’t stand for Jasper to know. I couldn’t. “Not concerned. I was curious.”

He squinted.

“Nope, not that, either. It’s a gym thing. A protocol/etiquette thing.” I scrambled to put him off the scent. “I’m a virgin, remember?”

Movement behind Jasper caught my eye and I had a straight shot over his shoulder into Kevin’s friendly gaze as he headed for the door. His lips were parted and he blinked slowly.

“I’m agymvirgin!” I said loudly.

Kevin hesitated, gave me a thumbs-up, and wandered off.

Fuck.

“Not for long,” Jasper said. “Put your bag in the locker. It’s time to go and pop your cherry.”

I glared at him.

Jasper wasthe most popular personal trainer at the gym. It was easy to see why. Instead of standing there and watching me flail around on the intimidating machines while barking out orders to push it, dig deep and give him another set or whatever else personal trainers yelled at people, he kept things light and casual.

“Admit it,” he said as we took a breather between stations. “You’re having a good time.” He tapped the bottom of my water bottle. “And drink your water.”

“I’m not thirsty.”

“Drink!”

“I’ve never consumed so much water in one morning,” I grumbled. “I’ll be running to the bathroom all afternoon.”

Good thing I had no plans other than maybe taking a post-gym nap on the sofa with Phil and my Kindle, until I had to go back to the coffee shop at five to close up.

“You’d be surprised. You’re chronically dehydrated. You drink too much coffee.”

“Coffee is a liquid. I’m perfectly hydrated.”

“Drinking eight cups of double-shot black espresso a day is not the same as drinking eight cups of water a day, and also, coffee is a diuretic. I know you know that.”

Yes, I knew that. I pulled a face. And I knew I drank too much coffee. Not only by the fine tremble in my hands at the end of the day, but also because, as I was leaving the doctor’s appointment that had resulted in me coming to the gym in the first place, Hannah had stopped me and said, “You don’t really have to cut the coffee out entirely, Charlie, but I’m telling you right now, you’ve got to dial your caffeine intake down. A moderate amount is fine. You’re not having a moderate amount. I want us to get ahead of your stress before it starts damaging your body. Trust me, small adjustments now can help avoid the need for big lifestyle interventions later.”

I didn’t want any kind of intervention, thanks.

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