Chapter 16

Derek clapped his hands together. “Today we’re doing more running and some core strength.”

“Excellent,” I said, and started walking toward the treadmills.

“That didn’t even sound sarcastic!”

I nodded solemnly. “Scary, huh? I’m starting to like exercising. You’ve turned me into a monster. First came the workouts, then the dieting, now dancing. Who knows where it’ll end.”

Derek laughed. “There’s the Pete I know.” He gave me a quick pat on the shoulder. “You’ve done really well to get this far.”

“Thanks,” I said, glancing at Rachel. “I’m doing this for myself ... but maybe, I doing it for someone else, too.”

He followed my gaze and gave me a small nod before turning his attention back to business. “All right, to get the blood pumping, we’ll start with a slow jog—two miles, no stopping. This one’s all about pace and consistency. I know you’ll want to walk, but push through it.”

I groaned. “I take back everything I said about liking this.”

He smirked. “No, you don’t.”

He started the machine, and I started jogging. Of course, Derek was right. I wanted to stop. I could feel my lungs straining already, and my feet kept threatening to betray me on the moving belt. But then—

“You got this, Pete,” Rachel said, standing next to the treadmill. She wasn’t jogging this time—just watching me. Cheering me. “Focus on me. Clear your mind, let your body do its thing.”

I couldn’t talk, so I just nodded, locking eyes with hers.

And somehow, it worked. My mind cleared, except for one intrusive, heart-pounding thought—kiss her. Her brown eyes stayed on mine, and suddenly the burning in my legs and the fire in my chest didn’t matter anymore. My feet kept moving. My lungs kept working. I was doing it. I was doing it!

When Derek finally slowed the machine, I staggered off it, puffing like a steam engine but smiling like a fool.

“I ... did ... it,” I panted.

Rachel clapped and actually jumped up and down like a cheerleader. She didn’t even flinch when she leaned in and kissed my sweaty cheek. “I’m so proud of you,” she whispered.

Derek read the treadmill screen. “Two miles. Nonstop. Twenty-five minutes and change.”

I wiped my face with a towel. “Is that good?”

“For you? That’s excellent.”

“For me?” I raised an eyebrow.

Derek shrugged. “The only person you need to beat is the guy you were yesterday.”

He was right, and I let it go. For once, that voice in my head telling me I wasn’t good enough stayed quiet.

“I’ll give you a few minutes to catch your breath and hydrate. Then we’re onto free weights.”

Rachel sat next to me on the bench and dabbed sweat from my face with a towel.

“I couldn’t have done it without you,” I told her.

Her smile grew. “Together is better.”

She touched my arm, and I had to mentally recite multiplication tables to avoid an awkward situation in my shorts. “Not now, buddy. Not here.”

By the time Derek came back, I was ready. He had me lie on the flat bench and guided me through chest flies with the 26.5-pound dumbbells.

“Keep your abs tight,” he said. “Even arms. Feel it in your pecs and core?”

“Yeah.”

“Good. Do another rep.”

Focusing on not dropping the dumbbells on my face was an effective way to kill off sexy thoughts. Ten reps later, I was shaky but proud.

“Nice work, Pete,” Derek said.

I sat up and caught sight of Rachel ... talking to some guy by the rowing machines. They were laughing. Smiling. He touched her arm and grinned.