Painted Memories Read Online Free Page A

bodies. It didn't sound very appealing when I thought about it that way, so I took off toward the treadmill area, hoping to get my run in before it got too busy. I scanned the floor trying to see, if by chance, Andrea was already here. But it was too early and I knew she was still teaching. Since I had the good fortune to teach elementary school, and we now had a newly named art teacher, I could look forward to free time at least once a week. It would also allow me the opportunity to avoid Mr. McGregor as much as possible. I'd be constantly reminding him of my embarrassing moments. Falling face first in the pond was probably the worst possible scenario, but I didn't want to take any more chances than necessary.
    Since Andrea was nowhere in sight, I decided to try out a few weight machines. My floundering like a fish out of water would have a limited audience, since only a few people were using the equipment. I kept it simple. First, I casually watched each person per machine and studied how to make it work; then I took their places when they left. I wanted to avoid looking like a complete idiot should anyone be watching me from somewhere on the floor.
    After about thirty minutes of doing various leg and arm curls, I decided to try one last machine before I hit the treadmill for some cardio. Feeling like a pro, I decided to go for a machine that caught my eye earlier, but I still hadn’t seen anyone use it. I sat down on the seat and looked up at the long, black metal bar above me. A soft grip padded each end of the bar, indicating where to place my hands. A cable stretched from the bar, straight up a pole, and back behind me, like an upside-down L. Logic told me to pull down on the bar so the pulleys working the cable would lift the weights up behind me, but when I pulled down, nothing happened. The bar didn't give an inch and I knew there was something missing. I stood up and studied the machine, trying to figure out what I was doing wrong, and feeling dumber than a brick the longer it took. I pulled at this and that before sitting down and trying again... still nothing moved. Determinedly, I went to the back of the machine and looked one more time before giving up altogether. “Oh, forget it,” I huffed out loud, throwing my hands to my sides. When I turned to walk away, my body slammed against something hard. I peered up to find Tyler smiling down at me. I jerked my body away from his chest and stumbled backwards. He grabbed my upper arms and tried to balance me.
    “Oh sorry, I... I didn't know you were standing there.” I said, embarrassed.
    “My fault,” he said, letting go of my arms. “I should have spoken up. Do you need help?” he asked, glancing from me to the machine.
    I eyed the machine, and gave it a dirty look. “No, that's okay, I've had enough of weight machines today. Besides, I've spent too long trying to figure this one out.”
    “Okay. Well, let me show you how to use it for next time. It is my job you know,” he said with a grin.
    He showed me how to change the weight, my first problem, and blamed it on the last person to use it, who didn't reset it. I was trying to pull one hundred and fifty pounds with my arms. Tyler stood beside me and placed his hand on my lower back. I was almost certain that employees touching customers, like he was touching me, had to be against the rules.
    But I'd never tell.
    “Okay, now come over and sit on the bench. I'll show you what to do next.”
    “Huh?” I was not about to work out in front of him. “I already know what to do. Really, I'll be fine.”
    “I only want to show you the proper form. People don't realize how easy it is to injure themselves lifting weights. Safety is our number one priority here at Body Fit.”
    I smirked at the hint of sarcasm in his voice when he used the gym’s tag line. Sitting down on the bench, I scooted back until the bar was directly over my head. “And does this safety lesson include the gym’s parking lot too?” I