“You’ll love it. Just make sure you have someone with you so you can throw dialogue back and forth.”
I swipe a hand in the air and almost miss a step. “Eh, I’m awesome and coming up with witty banter. It’s a hazard of the job.”
“Ah, that’s right. Well, enjoy. Though, I still think it’s more fun with someone else,” he says, laughing. “It’s more unpredictable that way.”
“True.” I nod.
His laughter encourages me, and I watch, fascinated, as his professional demeanor gives way to a more relaxed charm. He doesn’t just laugh—he gets it,and that’s more than I expected from Mr. Perfect Form and Function next to me.
Before I can stop myself from prying, I ask, “What about you? When you’re not making gym miracles happen—what do you do for fun?”
The question seems to take him by surprise because there’s a flicker of hesitation before he answers. “Believe it or not, I like to cook,” he confesses, and there’s a humility in his tone that makes me smile. “There’s something about the process, the ...precisionand creativity of it.”
I raise my eyebrows, pedaling in time with my growing intrigue. “Cook, as inchefcook?”
“Yeah,” he laughs, pressing a button on my console, and increasing the pace slightly. The sweat trickling between my boobs protests, however. “Sometimes after a long day, I’ll make risotto from scratch. Or a soufflé. It’s sort of meditative.”
My rhythm stutters as I imagine Adam, not in gym shorts and a tank top, but an apron, wielding a wooden spoon like a wand.
“Risotto, really? That’s impressive. I can barely manage mac and cheese without burning the pot.” I wipe the sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand.
Adam’s chuckle is rich and warm. “Well, everybody starts somewhere. I could give you some pointers if you’re interested.”
The offer hangs in the air, heavy like the gravity around planets, pulling me into an orbit I never anticipated when I signed up for personal training.
Cooking lessons with Adam—the idea is both terrifying and tantalizing.
The elliptical suddenly feels less like a torture device and more like a bridge, bringing me toward new territories, and new connections.
“Maybe I’ll take you up on that,” I reply, the words more breathless than I intend. But maybe that’s the cardio going on here. “Though, I should warn you now, it could end tragically.”
His expression turns thoughtful. “Everyone can cook, Carlie. It’s like following a story—you have the plot—the ingredients—you just need to put it all together.”
I glance at him, his analogy striking a chord with me. “If that’s the case, consider me perpetually stuck in the messy middle.”
He glances over to me, his eyes crinkling. “Maybe you just need a good editor.”
And just like that, we’ve slipped into a place where our conversation has depth, shared secrets between breaths and beats, creating a layer of something that feels an awful lot like the beginning of a friendship. Not just a trainer—trainee sorta thing.
By the time we’re done, my muscles are singing hymns of both protest and praise, and something in my chest feels lighter.
I step off the machine, and for the first time, it’s not my potential embarrassment that’s at the forefront of my mind—it’s the surprising connection forming between me and Adam.
“Looks like you survived the elliptical without any mishaps,” Adam notes, a touch of pride in his voice.
“Yeah, no comedy show today,” I beam back. “Guess I’m full of surprises.”
He mirrors my smile, and I can’t help but think, so is he.
Adam hands me a towel, his fingers grazing the back of my hand. It’s a casual gesture, but it sends my pulse into a frenzy. I dab at my forehead, trying to appear nonchalant, but my cheeks are hot, and I’m not entirely sure it’s all from the workout.
As we stand there, the comfortable silence stretches between us again, filled only by the sounds of the gym winding down from the morning rush.
Just when I think he’s about to say goodbye and move on to his next client, he leans in slightly, as if compelled by a thought he can’t hold back.
“You know, Carlie,” Adam begins, his voice lower, almost conspiratorial, “there’s a little-known gym secret I haven’t shared with you yet.”
I tilt my head, intrigued despite myself. “Oh? And what’s that?”