Page 58 of The Weight Of It All
“It’s not a date, Henry,” he said coolly. I think he even shrugged. How can he shrug while he’s planking? Is he even fucking human? “It’s no different from any other time we’ve hung out together. It’s a non-date. So it’s okay if you don’t want to. You can just say no.”
I shook my head. “Can’t. Talk.”
He chuckled and inspected the floor between his elbows until the timer put me out of my misery. I collapsed onto themat. My stomach muscles were trying to kill me. I mumbled into the floor, “I better have abs of steel by the time I get to work.”
Reed laughed then leapt to his feet like a cat. I’m pretty sure he wasn’t human. I rolled over onto my back, and he held out his hand to me. I took it, revelling in the warm, calloused feel of it, and he pulled me to my feet.
“Are you still gonna come watch the trainer’s challenge tomorrow?” he asked, the invite for dinner afterwards seemingly forgotten.
“Yeah, of course,” I answered. “How long will it go for? I mean, what time is our non-date?”
He smiled. “I can be at your house at six o’clock?”
“Perfect.”
It was then we both realised he still had hold of my hand. “Oh,” he said, quickly dropping it and taking a step backwards. “Great workout today, Henry. You’ll do the Bay Run next weekend easy.”
“Or I’ll die trying.”
“You won’t die, I promise.”
I was totally going to die. “Just so you know, if our non-date will be my last supper, this lamb salad you’re making better be good.”
He chuckled warmly but looked over at his next client who was waiting for him. “I should go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I checked the time. Jeez, time seemed to fly when I was with him, and if I didn’t hurry, I would be late for work. “Crap. So should I.”
I collected my gym bag, and on my way out, Emily was behind the reception counter. She and Reed seemed to have some silent eye conversation, then she smirked at me. “Bye. Henry.”
“Are you doing the trainer’s challenge tomorrow?” I asked her.
“Yep. Gotta show these boys how it’s done.”
“I’ll see you here then.”
Her eyes lit up. “Are you coming to watch?”
“Yeah. Reed asked me to, so…”
Her grin was wide and warm. “Excellent. I’ll see you then.”
God, were fit and healthy people always so damn happy and cheerful?“Bye.”
I flew home, showered, and dressed for work. My suit pants were loose now, and I had to cinch them with a belt. I noticed the shirt button at my throat wasn’t tight, and I could even fit a finger or two underneath my collar. My jacket slid on easily, and I could do my shoelaces up without having to reach over my stomach.
I jumped back in my car, feeling better?thinner?than I had in a long time. I knew traffic would be slow going into the city, and given I had about twenty minutes before I got to work, I waited for my phone to connect to Bluetooth and hit Anika’s number before I’d reached the end of my street.
“Henry,” she answered. “Let me guess: you’re stuck in traffic and the man in the car beside you is picking his nose.”
I snorted. “Not today. Well yes, I’m stuck in traffic but no one’s nose picking. I’m running a little late.”
She paused. “You sound happy. What happened?”
“Reed asked me out on a non-date.”
“Eeeeeeeee,” she squealed, making me laugh. “Wait. What’s a non-date?”
“Dinner at my place tomorrow, but it’s not technically a date.”
