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“I’m not mourning.”
Morgan gives me a look that suggests I’m lying. “Yes, you are. You’re mourning the career you thought you would have, and you feel like you can’t do anything else.”
I cross my arms as I regard Morgan, completely shocked that she can read me so easily. “What? Are you studying to be a psychologist?”
Morgan chuckles and spins back around. “No. I am actually doing this.”
With one click of the mouse, a website pops up showing a man and a woman, both lean and wearing workout clothes. It looks like an advertisement for a gym, but at the top of the page, it reads: Want to Become a Personal Trainer?
“You’re a personal trainer?” I ask Morgan incredulously.
“Not yet. I’m still taking some courses. It takes about two years. There are loads of gyms that will hire you while you’re taking the courses, though. They definitely pay more than this gig.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Then why are you still working here?”
“I can’t leave you alone with the dimwits, now can I?” Morgan says with a chuckle. “Anyway, maybe you should give this a try? It’s not the cheapest, but so far, I think it’s the best. And once you get the certificate, you just need to ensure you’re keeping up with your skills to renew it.”
“How often does it need to be renewed?”
Morgan taps her chin thoughtfully. “Maybe once every five years. Maybe ten.”
“And I’m sure that costs money, too.”
Morgan shrugs. “Personal trainers make a lot, so that shouldn’t matter when the time comes. You should try it out. I know you’re a runner, but I’m sure you know a lot about training. Probably more than me, and I’m already a few months in.”
“You really think this is what I need?” I ask while gesturing toward the computer. “More schooling?”
“Learning is never a bad thing, and the is really flexible. Courses are online with one monthly meet up with the instructors. And you kind of get an expert at the start to help you out. Then you need to find a gym.”
I shake my head. “I don’t know.”
“Well, it’s just a thought. You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to.”
It’s not that I don’t want to try it. It’s the money. I don’t want to pay money into something that isn’t going to work. Not to mention, I need to be there for Rachel and Maria. I feel like I’m already missing out on so much since I’m at work all the time. Lucas, since he can be home pretty much whenever he wants, gets to enjoy Maria all to himself, which sucks, since I’m her father. But I need to provide for my family somehow.
Personal trainers do make a lot of money, depending on who they’re training. I could work for the average person, or I could work for the wealthy. Maybe athletes who need to learn some new skills in order to perfect their form.
This would definitely open up doors for me. I’m just not sure if this is something I would enjoy.
***
Usually Alex and I run together outside in the mornings and the evenings, but the weather today has been absolutely terrible. The low clouds hang over Fitness Express. I try to park as close as possible to the entrance, but since it’s raining—very hard—all the parking spots at the front have been taken. Rain has never prevented us from running outside before, but when it’s raining this hard and it’s below zero out, we move our runs indoors. I was tempted to cancel our evening run altogether, but when Alex said he would go without me, the rival inside me just couldn’t let it be. So here I am, trudging through the rain, to meet my lover for our usual evening run.
Alex is already standing inside when I enter, completely dry since he had been smart and brought an umbrella. Unlike me, who is completely drenched.
“Hey,” Alex says sweetly as he wraps an arm around my shoulder and kisses my cheek.
My heart is slamming in my throat. I look around the gym, but see that no one is even sparing us a look. I know I need to let this go, but there are some things I still want to keep between the two of us.
“You’re wet,” Alex says while stroking my soaked hair.
I lean into his touch, unable to stop myself. He looks so handsome in his raincoat and running leggings. It makes me sad that we’re not out in the wilderness, where we could have make-out breaks between our sessions. Can’t really do that here with people watching and people wanting to use the equipment.
“How was work?” Alex asks while swiping his card at the turnstile.
“Boring,” I say as I follow after him. “Kevin and Sally are still driving me crazy.”
“Ah, good ol’ Kevin and Sally. Was Morgan at least helpful?”
