Page 5 of Mending Me
I looked up from my phone and knew it was her. I’d spotted her from the other side of the gym and was walking this way specifically so I could walk by her. The last few weeks I’d made sure I was at the gym right as they opened so I could watch her come in. I’d watch the door waiting for her to walk in like a dog waits for its owner to come home after work each day. I always knew it was her when she walked in, her blonde hair was a distinct shade of golden yellow that I could spot from anywhere. When she would finally walk in, I’d watch her as she walked around, found a space to stretch and then start her lift. Then, I would intentionally make laps around the gym, slowing down as I passed her just so I could be close to her, before going back to my workout.
Could I have gone up to her and said hello?
Yes.
Was I too much of a chicken shit to do so?
Also yes.
Instead, I dubbed her as ‘Blondie’ in my mind and fantasized about her way more than a man should fantasize about a woman he’s never even said hello to.
But here she was now, looking at me expectantly while some jacked up dude who reeked of Axe stood a little too close for comfort. It shouldn’t make me as angry as it does to see him so close to her seeing as how I don’t even know what her name is. But it did and it made me even angrier seeing how uncomfortable she clearly was because of it.
“Sweetie…did you hear me?” She forced a smile and her eyes darted back and forth between me and the guy caging her in.
“Oh, yeah. Sure, I’d love to, babe.”Babe? Where the fuck did that come from? You don’t even know her name you fuckwad.I took a step between her and Axe guy and offered my hand for him to shake.
“Thanks so much for lookin’ out for my girl, but I got it from here.” I gave him the smuggest smile I could. One that said“back the fuck up before I lay you out”while also still trying to not cause a scene.
“Uhh…oh, yeah,” he sputtered. “Sure, no problem.” This guy must be a complete idiot because he couldn’t form a full sentence as he shook my hand. Once he was gone, I turned towards Blondie. She watched Axe guy until he was clear on the other side of the gym before audibly exhaling.
“Oh my god, thank you,” she breathed. “He wasn’t taking the hint and normally I would just tell him to fuck off but he’s like, twice my size. I really appreciate you playing along and helping me out.” When she smiled at me, the entire world stopped spinning.
The mix of her golden hair, big smile, and slight Southern accent had halted everything around me and had me completelytransfixed. There was nothing I wanted more than to see her smile or listen to her talk.
You are so fucked my man, I heard the voice inside my head say.
“Hey, it’s no problem, blondie. That guy was a tool and way too close. I would have laid him out if you asked me to.”
“Blondie?” Her voice perked up and she raised an eyebrow at me.
“What?”Oh shit, I didn't mean to let that slip.
“You called me blondie.” She had a smirk on her face as she finally stepped away from me, walking behind the bar of her weight rack.
“Oh yeah, uhh…”
“It’s Bailey.”
“What?” She laughed as she slid a plate onto the end of the barbell and I had to try to keep my dick from giving me away. Hearing her laugh was like music to my ears.
“My name isBailey.” Her eyebrows were arched and she was still giving me that wide smile of hers that would cause any sane man to drop to his knees in front of her.
“Oh.”Oh? Dear god man, you need to pull it together. Why are you so flustered, you’ve spoken to women before.
“You got a name, soldier?” her southern drawl teased.
“A name? Yes! I have a name. My name is Hank. Hank Martínez.” I jutted my hand towards her. When she took it, sparks of electricity shot up my arm and into my heart.Fucked. You are so fucked.
“Bailey Brown.” She smiled at me before dropping my hand. “Well, I’m going to finish my set now. Thanks again for helping me.”
“Yeah, no problem.” I tried to think of something else to say to extend the time I could spend next to her but came up withnothing. I was starting to head back to my own space when I heard her call out to me.
“Hey, soldier.” I turned to see her leaning against the bar, her lips pulled up in the corner and her feet crossed in front of her. “Those are some nice boots you got there.”
I looked down at my feet and smiled at the dusty, worn in combat boots I had on. Suddenly, I was glad I decided to keep wearing them.
“Thanks, blondie.” She shook her head with a smile and pulled her over-ear headphones back on and I took that as my sign to leave.
