feel it later, but all right.” We pushed through the next ten minutes in relative silence, with the occasional pep talk when she started to slow. “You mentioned focusing on your arms today? Any particular reason for the request?” I walked alongside her down the stairs.
“I had someone tell me that my left hand’s grip wasn’t as strong as the right. I figured focusing on my arms could help with my problem.” She had a devious smile that told me there was more to this story than she was letting on.
“Danielle?”
“Mmmhmm?” Taking a sip of her drink, she played it off like she hadn’t just confessed what she just did.
“That’s perfectly normal for your dominant hand to have a firmer grip. Now, if your- uh, other hand is getting tired after just a small amount of exertion, we can work on that.” I tried staying as professional as possible, but her giggle told me that she knew she was trying to rattle me.
“Do you really think I’d care if some twenty-something told me that I needed to work on that? Fuck him. He can go play with himself for all I care. I really wanted to work on the arm flab. That’s all.” She walked ahead of me, showing her confidence in her gait.
After a successful session with Mrs. Smith and one other client, I went to my office and took a break for the first time all day. My next appointment had canceled, and Cylas, my buddy from high school, was supposed to be here any minute to play a round of basketball with me and a few other guys.
There was a handful of us who all played football together in high school and went on to play ball around the state for college. Somehow, we all ended up back within fifteen miles of each other and still got a good game of basketball going every now and then.
Cylas had been my most reliable and levelheaded friend. He was pretty much the exact opposite of the crazy, risk-taking Tyler. Hanging out with Cylas was probably in my better interest as he knew what he wanted in life and was a go-getter.
Tyler was the carefree, take life one day at a time guy, which was why I’d been hanging around with him more over the past year. He didn’t judge me on my ways with women and encouraged it.
“Isn’t that Mrs. Smith from down at the bank? She’s looking more and more like her daughter, bro.” Cylas shook his head in disapproval, and I couldn’t help but compare the two. Danielle’s daughter was a freshman in college, and I had to admit that he was right.
“Yeah, well, she’s hitting it from all angles. She’s dieting like crazy, already hit up the plastic surgeon, and is rounding it all off by working with me three times a week. At least she’s doing it right. How was work?” I asked as I updated my clients’ charts on our computer system. Being able to keep track of their progress was beneficial for both them and myself. I needed to know that what we were working on was effective, and if not, what needed to be changed.
“The usual. We’ve got the gymnastics coach there this week also so the kids got to do mini stations again today. A few kids in the younger grades could really be something one day. I’ll tell you, if you asked me ten years ago what I would be doing as a job, I’d never have told you a gym teacher. Now, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”
Cylas really did have a passion for kids and seeing them succeed in life. His school wasn’t in the best part of town, but I think he enjoyed it even more because of the difference he made in some of the students’ lives.
“You were made for the job. The boys want to be you and the little girls want to marry you. You’re their role model, Cylas. Plus, have you seen some of those moms? Yes, please.” He wouldn’t fess up, but I had my suspicions that he’d taken home a few of those moms.
“Thanks. And I’m ignoring your comment about the moms. They are not for touching.” Cylas chuckled, probably remembering one of the closeted, sex addicted single moms.
“So,