AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He struts toward the free weights and flashes me a grin over his shoulder.
I hold my hands out. “You can’t leave me hanging like that!”
The bell smacks against the door as it opens and closes. The young girl from last week—the recovering addict—greets me with a smile. Her hair is slicked back in a ponytail, and her eyes are clear and bright. She looks healthy. Alive. Happy. A far cry from her disheveled appearance the last time I saw her.
“Hi. I’m here for my appointment with TJ,” she says.
“What’s your name? I’ll let him know you’re here.”
“Everyone calls me Kimmie.”
I walk over to where TJ is bicep-curling by the mirror. It takes everything in me not to stare at his rippling muscles, the way they stretch and contract with each movement.
I clear my throat and keep my gaze fixed on my shoes. “Kimmie’s here for your session.”
The metal bar clanks on the ground as TJ sets it down. “Tell her to give me a minute. Thanks.”
Beads of sweat trickle down his neck and my eyes follow them until they disappear underneath the neckline of his shirt. When I realize I’m staring at him—and he’s watching me with that damn smirk on his face—I whirl around and trip over a dumbbell.
TJ chuckles as he grasps my elbow and steadies me. “My bad. I shouldn’t have left those there.”
I point at the sign taped to the mirror that reads: Rerack your weights after each use. “You should follow your own rules.”
“And you should watch where you’re going instead of staring at me.”
“I was not staring at you,” I huff out before stomping away. I’m acting ridiculous. It’s just a nice body. A perfect body, actually. The right amount of muscle, not too big, not too lean. Everything is in proportion. Everything. Even down to his—no. Get it together.
I smile as I approach Kimmie at the desk. “He’ll be over in a sec.”
“Cool. You’re new here, right?”
“Yep. I’m Carla.”
“How do you know TJ?”
“I … uh … Through friends. What about you?”
“Met him at an NA meeting.”
“Don’t you mean AA?”
“Alcoholics go to Alcoholics Anonymous. Drug addicts go to Narcotics Anonymous.”
My brows lift. “Oh. Okay.” Why would he go there if he had a drinking problem?
“I’m pretty open about my addiction. TJ says it helps to be upfront about it. Don’t be ashamed of something that’s a part of who you are. It helps you take control of it instead of letting it control you.”
“Sounds like smart advice.”
“TJ’s the best. He’s such an inspiration after everything he’s been through.”
I nod, wondering what exactly happened in his past. My eyes find him across the gym. “It’s hard to imagine him any less perfect than he is now.”
“You like him.”
“Is there anyone who doesn’t?” I busy myself filing papers so as not to make eye contact with the perceptive teenager.
“Ready, Kimmie cakes?” TJ calls as he struts over to us.
