Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 62095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
It was too early. My eyes felt heavy, and I wanted a lazy morning. I’d earned it.
Just as I was about to doze off, my pillow vibrated, and I groaned. I couldn’t ignore his text.
You shouldn’t feel bad. Taking a longer walk sounds great, and I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. I’ll check in with you tonight. Have a good Sunday.
“You don’t make sense, you weirdo,” I whispered to myself. How could he be so kind and still so conceited? Even if these texts were part of the package I paid for, he was the creator of said programs. He had decided to include a texting service, both personal and automated. Once a day, I received helpful reminders to get up and move around, drink my water, and prepare healthy snacks. And some of those texts were so spot-on for my situation that I was certain he occasionally went into whatever software he used and altered the texts to benefit me specifically.
In the end, my curiosities got the best of me, and I replied again.
You seem to work very hard. Do you need someone to remind you to rest? ;) It’s Sunday, Coach!
I hoped the wink was enough to assure him I wasn’t complaining. If anything, I was amazed at his level of energy. Even if I didn’t see him personally every time I was at the gym, I knew he was around. His schedule was public, both printed on the event wall for that day’s classes and available digitally whenever I logged in to their site to record my workouts.
Ethan taught kickboxing, hosted various classes, worked as a personal trainer, offered rehab sessions, and did online coaching in nutrition and physical health. The latter was a service available to anyone in the country, explaining why he benefited from a large following. Plus, he’d shown multiple times that he understood the importance of maintaining good mental health as well, so he must’ve studied a crapload to be who he was.
Last but not least, he managed his business.
As a business owner myself, I knew how much shit was running in the background, all of it requiring attention and maintenance.
He responded shortly after.
Sunday is meal prep day for me. Already went to the grocery store, and the chicken is almost done in the oven. Don’t worry, I get plenty of rest. But it requires a fair bit of work to stay at my level. ;)
Okay, his wink was just weird. Unless I was being judgy again. I wasn’t sure, to be honest. I needed more sleep—
Oh. He was texting more. The dots were moving.
There. Today’s ab workout has been posted on Insta too. #GettingShitDone
“Oh my God.” I cringed and laughed into my pillow. Who texted hashtags? And was there any other reason to let me know he’d uploaded a photo of himself than wanting me to check it out?
Christ. I was going back to sleep. I’d give him a “Good for you!” later.
“You see that, Natalie? Twelve minutes. Last week, you couldn’t do half of that.”
Yeah, fucking awesome. I panted like a madwoman, hands planted on my thighs, zero composure. My God, kill me. Mondays were horrible. I hated Mondays.
I hated the treadmill too.
“Take a short break, and then we’ll hit the pool,” he said, handing me my water bottle.
Ugh.
I accepted the bottle and straightened up with a groan. My back hated me.
I kinda hated Ethan today too. He’d woken up in the mood to push; that was for sure.
He wasn’t bothering with a T-shirt today either. I’d gotten here just in time for him to finish his workout, and he’d just stayed shirtless.
It wasn’t like I minded the view, but it didn’t feel particularly professional.
“I’ll wipe down the machine—you can go change into your swimsuit,” he said.
“Okay.” I let out a labored breath and stepped down from the treadmill. “I already changed, though.”
He eyed the shoulder strap visible under my baggy T-shirt. “Of course you have. Then chug some water and stretch. I’ll see you down there.”
Hmm. I did as told and headed downstairs, but something about his response bugged me. Why had he said it like that? Of course you have.
Maybe I was overthinking.
The pool area was completely abandoned after the morning classes had wrapped up, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Not even the humidity bothered me, because I’d soon get to sink into that water and shield myself for the next part of my workout. Water was great that way. I was automatically more limber, lighter, and nobody could see me sweat buckets.
I dropped my bag on a chair in the corner, and I made quick work of shedding my tee and leggings. I wanted to be in the water before he showed up.
I’d grown to like the small size of the pool. It was intimate, certainly no bleachers around, and I was allowed to dim the lights. I didn’t this time, since he was joining me.