A huge thank you to Anora/MorbidOrb for all their feedback! I've been waiting to write this part and the following one for almost two years, so I really hope what I had in mind has translated well to the black-and-white. I hope you folks find it an enjoyable read.
*
I grunted as I racked the barbell back in place. Squats with weights were still really awkward, as I was mostly used to just using body weight at home. And being at a gym, in nothing more than red yoga pants and a t-shirt, squatting, I felt pretty exposed. Though, I don't know if the looks I got were entirely judgmental.
I didn't want to end up like a big-booty Latina, to avoid such annoying stereotypes, so I didn't have much weight on, focusing on higher repetitions instead. It was just to get back in shape for Josh. And Luna. And Linda, I guess. But mostly for Josh. You see, I've sort of had a revelation.
Two days ago, after Josh and Luna came back from New York, the two of them, plus Linda, sat down around the kitchen island and had a business meeting. This is not out of the ordinary in a business I guess, but something about being the only one in the household who wasn't in on it... well, it didn't feel great. Josh had of course asked me beforehand if I wanted to join and I had declined. But coming down to fetch some snacks, seeing them laughing and lively talking together, I felt left out, even if it was of my own volition.
Josh waved me over, including once again when he saw me, but all of what they talked about was way over my head. Apparently something with starting a PR / managing firm under the Entrendy "umbrella", but also making a webservice company as Linda was getting better and better. It all coincided in some way, I guess. I tried to engage, but it was just not me. I did compliment the idea, though, as it was probably a good idea to expand. I mean, we were silent partners in some smaller local businesses as well, so it wasn't a new thing for us to diversify ourselves like that, and we planned to build stuff to rent out in the future, and I think it was awesome that Josh was on the forefront on that.
But I felt a bit underwhelmed. Inadequate, if you will. Not a huge amount, just a small nagging feeling. So my revelation was that I tried to take measures to improve myself. Yeah, it was easy to grow dormant, but with so many ambitious folks around me, I tried to be inspired more than put down. And the easiest way for self-improvement, or among the first steps I should say, is to start improving one's health.
So here I was, three sets of ten with squats, followed by leg extensions, then I guess those watermelon-crushing-machines that I had no idea what was called.
"Hey, Kimmie, what's up!" an unpleasant voice suddenly said to my right. I looked in the mirror and saw the black-haired, dark-eyed Zach smile smugly at me, and in his shadow loomed a tall, slim, but fit guy with a douchebag haircut.
I scanned my brain. Alex. Right. Josh had tossed him out when he had touched me a bit at Josh's birthday party when Alex had become a bit too eager. I don't think I had put much stock in him, other than as a source to see where Josh was on the matter. Sure he was kinda handsome, but as basic as they came when it came to gym bros. However, I could still remember how my pulse shot through the roof as I felt his hand start to glide from my hips toward more sensitive areas, wondering for a split second where it might lead.
"Zach, how've ya been?" I said, clearly not pleased. It took a lot of willpower to even fake the pleasantries. And now both guys were flanking me. Ugh.
"Great, great. Oh man, last week was intense. Lots of stuff going down," Zach said, trying to sound like he had a lot of stuff going on. Maybe he did, but I doubted it.
"Right," I said, glancing sideways at Alex. He gave a smug somewhat knowing smile in return, having clearly checked out my ass. Yup, a pair of gym bros alright.
"Yeah, my portfolio is stacked. Gotta keep on top of all, but you know how it goes," Zach chuckled, pretending to inspect the barbell. What was there to inspect on a barbell, you might ask? Yup.
"How about you, Alex?" I asked, starting to put the plates back in place.
"Bruh. Been workin' out hard," Alex replied. He took the other side's plates for me, so that was nice. "Whatcha lifting?"
I glanced at the plates. It was a pretty easy math. "Like 130?" I said.
"You come here a lot? You look like you do," Alex said, smugly smiling as he inspected me from bottom to chest, back down to bottom.
"Nah, she's just naturally gifted like that," Zach chuckled, trying to remind Alex who knew her, me, first.
"Oh. Well, you're welcome to train with us if you need any tips or help in general," Alex offered, looking at my as more than anything.
"She's married," Zach chimed in.
"So?" Alex said. I didn't like the way he said it.
"I'm good. Thanks though," I said, walking over to the leg press.
"Okay. Well, I'll be around if you need a spotter," Alex said. "By the way, nice yoga pants."
"Thanks, my husband designed them."
"Man of class," Alex chuckled, getting a laugh out of even me. All class. He then turned to Zach to talk as if I wasn't even there. I shrugged and went my merry way.
I didn't see them for the rest of the workout, but the way they had obviously checked me out in front of everyone... well, there weren't really many at the gym right now, but I felt a bit exposed. Maybe I should have worn something a bit less revealing. But on the other hand, I kind of liked it. It was sort of flattering, I guess. I mean, I didn't like the way Alex didn't seem to respect my marriage, but I suppose that wasn't the biggest surprise.
And the flirting part. Well, it's not something I'm used to, but I guess I should realize it came with the territory. I was pretty much the only woman at the gym right now after all. And I had to admit, I was flattered. I mean, I'm married but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate some attention from people who probably see fit women all day.
So I finished up, showered, and got home. Linda had left to meet up with someone, and Luna was out to a party or something with her own college friends. I sat down in the living room, putting my feet up. Josh was working again, though in the TV room. Perhaps I could tease him. How would he react to both Zach and Alex checking me out? It was just some harmless comments and a few glances, after all. It wasn't like I was going to fuck them.
But Josh had a weird spot for people he didn't like who lusted for his wife. He may not like it, but he still got so horny from it. Jealousy in a man is a weird thing.
Just to test the waters, see if he'd get jealous, I decided to tease him a bit.
"Hey babe," I said, entering the TV room.
"Hey," Josh said absentmindedly, not looking away from the screen in his lap. I went to stand next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"How's it going?" I asked, glancing down at what he was doing. Just some email correspondence.
"Good. Almost done," Josh said, eyes not leaving the screen. I looked down at him. He had just showered and his hair was still slightly wet.
"Oh," I said, giving him a quick peck on the cheek, which finally seemed to distract him.