Just Me

by Lexy Timms

  Hoping for an intense session, Ben stopped at the smoothie session, ordering his regular chocolate protein shake before running on the treadmill for fifteen minutes. There weren’t many people at Fitness Planet early in the morning, which was the major reason he decided to come early.

  Running was his time to reflect on his week, identifying places he could amp up his business to take things to the next level. Ben never wanted to get comfortable in his success, so he was constantly striving for ways to improve.

  Rachel had talked to him about being more open to building his life outside of work, but Ben struggled to see the value in that. Dating was such a gamble, and the idea of wasting time trying to get to know someone, only for it to lead nowhere, felt like too much to risk.

  His time was literally the most valuable asset he had. There was so much he could do at work, or even in the community, and each would have a strong impact, much better than if he took a girl out on a few dates. As far as Ben was concerned, Rachel didn’t know what she was talking about.

  For years, she had tried to set him up with girls and guilt him into including more than work activities in his schedule. What he never mentioned was that she was the same way. Rachel was the only person that knew more about his business than he did, and in the back of his mind he thought that maybe it was his turn to return the favor and set her up.

  The thought brought a smile to his face, imagining his oldest friend on a blind date. Rachel was too self-conscious to go on a date without first sending a picture, afraid the guy would stand her up after catching a glimpse of her stout frame, but Ben thought she was sweet, with a heart of gold. Any guy would be lucky to have her in his life, but they would always have to share her with work, because Rachel was the most dedicated employee he had ever seen.

  The treadmill slowed as the timer sounded, and Benjamin strolled to the weight room, the protein shake beginning to work its magic. Nodding to a group of men gathered in the back, Ben glanced at the brunette on the opposite end.

  She was turned slightly, hiding her face with her long hair, which left his eyes to wander. She had incredible form, squatting while lifting dumbbells in each hand. She was the perfect audience for his workout, so Ben walked towards the shelves of weights, lifting two thirty-pound dumbbells. Just as his fingers wrapped around the metal handles, his eyes landed on the icy blues that had been dominating his thoughts.

  It was her, the girl from the bakery who had been way less than interested in him when he popped in a few days back. Now she hadn’t even noticed him, focused completely on her squats. He could tell she was an athlete, if not now, then in the past. She moved with too much grace to be a beginner, her back straight as she bent her knees and lifted herself with the strength of her legs.

  He was staring without shame, struggling to believe that he had actually bumped into her again after thinking of their first meeting so often. How he could reconnect with her had been a mystery, assuming the bakery was the only place they would see each other.

  Now, with a fresh opportunity, Ben wondered about the best way to approach the woman. It wasn’t every day that he approached strangers looking to take them on a date. While he had been known to have a way with women, he typically didn’t have to put in much effort.

  Rachel’s warning replayed in his mind, fearing he could possibly be closing off his personal life by focusing on the business exclusively. Ben didn’t believe his assistant, but knew it looked that way. He wanted to prove her wrong, to show that he was still the young vibrant man she knew, even if he had grown more mature with time.

  When the young woman set the dumbbell down, seemingly taking a break, Ben decided it was time to make his move. She was breathing deeply as her fingertips dug into the curve of her back when he approached, his eyes on her from the wall of mirrors.

  “Excuse me,” Ben heard himself say as he nudged by the woman, pretending he was returning his dumbbells.

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” she muttered, shifting quickly to make more room as she pulled an earbud from her ear.

  “Sorry, I was being clumsy,” he explained, setting the dumbbells on the shelf.

  “It’s my fault. I should have made room for you,” she whispered, looking down at her feet nervously.

  Ben felt the energy was wrong, he could tell she didn’t know what to do. She was shy, or insecure about something and he just wanted to make her feel comfortable.

  “You work down at the bakery, right?” he asked, already certain of the answer. He could see the blonde roots, remembering his initial thoughts when he first saw her. It was like she wanted to hide her beauty, always looking away and even dying her long blonde hair. Why would she want to hide how gorgeous she was? He wondered what was behind it, as he searched her face for answers.

  “Yes, uh, do we know each other?” she asked, squinting as she searched her memory.

  “I came in for donuts the other day and saw you making a latte,” he explained.

  “Oh, yes! The latte guy,” she smiled, her cheeks blushing a bright red color.

  “It’s so strange to run into you again. They say the third time’s the charm, so maybe you should let me take you for dinner,” Ben suggesting, flashing the smile that always got him his way.

  To his surprise, the woman didn’t appear to be moved by his offering. Before she spoke a word, Ben could see the rejection coming. She was flustered, searching for the words as her hands moved quickly to place her ear bud back in her ear.

  “No, I’m sorry. No thank you,” she finally said, her words rushed as she looked everywhere but at Ben.

  “Oh, well—” Ben’s words faded as he realized she could no longer hear him, her body back in movement as she continued her exercises like he had never approached.

  Shocked, Ben sat there staring for a few long seconds before turning to see if the group of young men working out in the corner had witnessed the rejection. Thankfully, they were focused on their routine, unaware of the disaster pick up line Ben had fumbled his way through.

  He was taken aback as he walked back to the sit up bench, trying hard to refocus. Of all the possible scenarios he considered while walking across the weight room to speak to the mysterious brunette, being completely shot down and dismissed wasn’t among them.

  Halfway through his first set of bicep curls, Ben glanced across the room, hoping to catch the blue eyes watching him, but the woman was uninterested. She had gone back to exercising, turning her face away from Ben’s sight.

  It wasn’t like him to take no for an answer, and although he wasn’t sure how, Ben knew he would have another shot with this woman who had completely captivated him. For the next twenty minutes, he continued his workout, always hyper aware of where she was, and what she was doing.

  Taking comfort in the fact that she continued to exercise, he assumed she was playing hard to get and was glad to know he had not completely turned her off. The only thing worse would have been for her to run from the gym screaming. He still couldn’t understand why she had shut him down so swiftly.

  When she finally returned the weights to the shelf and made her move towards the door, Ben struggled to make eye contact with her, but she was focused on her steps as she watched her feet. It was bizarre how demure she behaved, considering her beauty. Benjamin felt his lip curl upwards as she drifted by, the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen.

  She had successfully eluded him again, leaving him to complete his workouts as thoughts swirled around his mind. Wondering if he could have lost a step with women, he upped the ante on his workout, switching to heavier dumbbells as he watched his muscles flex in the mirror.

  Considering his dismal results, he couldn’t help but wonder if Rachel had a point when she said he was becoming a boring tycoon. Work had been his girlfriend since his last relationship ended four years ago. There was no doubt in his mind, he was completely over her, but the idea of taking time from the career he loved so much to put in the effort to get to know a woman had sounded like a drag.
/>
  Until her. This mystery woman had changed his thinking, and Ben knew before he hit the showers that he had to find a way to impress her. There were plenty of perks to his lifestyle, and for the first time, he was ready to exploit every single one of them. Nothing was off the table, he thought to himself, and then it occurred to him that he didn’t even know her name.

  The shade of her eyes was forever ingrained in his memory, yet he didn’t even know her name. The realization made him chuckle, thinking the scenario sounded like a scene from a romantic comedy. She couldn’t possibly know the effect she was having on him, and that made it even more intriguing.

  Chapter Seven

  Katherine

  “SO, YOU’VE NEVER EVEN tried Joan’s Diner?” Talia asked Katherine, as she packed away the last of the day’s baked goods. The owner had established a relationship with a nearby women’s shelter, and every evening A Slice of Sicily donated any unsold products.

  “No, I literally just moved, Talia. I haven’t even unpacked,” Katherine fought her smile, amused by Talia’s confusion.

  For the past ten minutes, she had been trying to explain that she didn’t know anything about the hot places in the neighborhood. Talia explained that she was born and raised just a few blocks from the bakery, so she could introduce her to everything there was to know about San Francisco.

  “Here you are, Ian. Thanks for stopping by,” Talia announced, handing a pink paper box to the man waiting from the shelter. He smiled, bidding both women a good evening before leaving the bakery.

  Katherine was finishing up with cleaning the espresso machine when Talia startled her, turning to face her as the unruly strands of red hair fell over her left eye.

  “So, you need to unpack.” Talia announced, as if she were concocting a plan.

  “Yeah, but I don’t have much,” Katherine quickly explained, not wanting her new friend to feel sorry for her.

  “Oh cool. So, we can probably get through it in a night,” she responded, again speaking more to herself.

  “Yeah, but you don’t have to worry about it,” Katherine felt the worry creeping in her belly.

  “Of course, I do! You can’t move into the neighborhood until you’re all settled in. We can unpack everything together. I love unpacking,” Talia reasoned, pleading with her eyes.

  It was obvious that she wanted to help, but Katherine still felt uneasy about inviting someone into her home. Years of running from an abusive husband had taught her to keep her cards close to her chest, never giving too much information to anyone. But a life of secrets was draining and she was exhausted from the effort it took to avoid getting close to anyone.

  Katherine knew that although Talia was asking to help her unpack, what she was really saying was that she wanted to be her friend. It was too kind and endearing to reject, and before she knew it, she was learning how to lock up the bakery before setting off for a night with a new friend.

  Together, the two women walked down the steep street lined with colorful row houses. The sight was still so new and refreshing for Katherine, and she found herself short of breath each and every time she walked her new neighborhood.

  “So, where did you live before this?” Talia asked.

  Katherine instantly felt the panic begin to bubble in her stomach. It was a truth she had buried so deeply, the words had never fallen from her lips. Not once had she ever told anyone about the hellish life that used to be her reality. While Talia was the closest thing she had to a friend, she knew it was too much to put on her co-worker, and honestly doubted she possessed the courage that divulging the truth would require.

  “I’m from Los Angeles.”

  It was short and sweet, and most of all, it was true. Katherine was born and raised in the city of angels, growing up with dreams of being a star in Hollywood. She loved the glitz and glamor of the city, but when it came down to saving herself, she had left without so much as a goodbye.

  “I love LA!” Talia exclaimed, clapping her hands together.

  “There’s nothing like it,” Katherine smiled, it was a painful memory, thinking back to all the friends and happiness she used to enjoy in the city.

  “We should drive down some time. You can show me all the hotspots in your old stomping grounds,” Talia smiled.

  Katherine nodded, though she knew it would never happen. There was nothing or no one that could ever lure her back to the city Tim lived in. Most couples split their belongings after a breakup, but with Katherine and Tim, they needed to split the globe.

  As far as Katherine was concerned, there were places each of them could live, but there was no way they could both reside in the same city. If Tim wanted to continue his thriving law practice in Los Angeles, Katherine was happy to concede the city she loved in order to keep the peace.

  Only, that wasn’t acceptable to Tim. He had made it very clear to Katherine that he was never going to let her walk out of his life, or respect any boundaries or expectations she set. Listening was never his forte, so Katherine doubted he’d even heard her explanation when she explained why she was standing in the middle of their grand foyer, two suitcases at her feet.

  Things had gotten really bad in the last year of their relationship, when Tim had begun to get physical in his abuse. A police escort was the only reason Katherine had gotten away. Unwilling to fight him in court, Katherine decided against pressing charges. All she asked for was her freedom, and even that was too much for Tim to give.

  All the police had given her was a head start, asking Tim questions to ensure she left the home safely. And ever since then, she had been trying to evade him every step of the way. Maybe it was the hills of San Francisco, or the way the sunset fell over them. Whatever it was, the new city left Katherine feeling a level of comfort she hadn’t felt in a long time.

  “You’ve been to Hendrick’s, right?” Talia asked, pausing at a corner as she pointed towards a red and yellow sign.

  Squinting to make out the letters, Katherine shook her head slowly, unsure of what the Hendrick’s even was. Whenever she was with Talia, she felt as if everything was an adventure. Around every corner was a new restaurant or chic boutique she needed to see.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me! Where have you been getting groceries?” Talia yelled so loudly Katherine’s hands shot to her mouth, a rush of embarrassment racing through her. It had been a long time since she was out with a girlfriend enjoying herself. Her life on the run often left her feeling older than her years, but with Talia, Katherine felt young again.

  “I haven’t gotten any,” Katherine admitted, her cheeks blushing red. With all of her things still in boxes, she couldn’t cook, so she had eaten fast food and pizza since she moved in.

  “Oh no! That’s what we’re doing,” Talia started, wrapping her arm around Katherine’s as she looked down the street for incoming traffic. Satisfied with her chances, she stepped into the street, dragging Katherine along as she giggled loudly.

  “We’re going to get you some groceries. Then I can make a quick pasta dish and we’ll make a night of getting you all moved in.” Talia spoke with her hands, twirling her narrow fingers in the air to bend with her words.

  “Talia, you don’t have to do all of that,” Katherine reasoned, adding weight to her arm to slow their pace to a stop.

  “Yes, I do. When I first moved here someone did it for me. And some day, you’ll see someone with those big blue eyes like yours, looking around in amazement. Then it will be your job to show them the ropes. Now, let’s go. Oh, and we’re getting wine!” Talia announced with a tone that let Katherine know there was no use in arguing.

  They laughed loudly as Talia jokingly chastised Katherine after learning of her recent diet. Greeting every passing neighbor, Talia was exactly what Katherine wanted to be. She was comfortable in her community, but more than anything, she was safe. There was something different about a person free of fear.

  In comparison to herself, Katherine thought Talia glided across the sidewalk, her shoulder
s bopping with every step as her permanent smile remained plastered across her face. She was happy, and the longer Katherine stayed around her, the more she hoped it would rub off on her.

  “This is Hendrick!” Talia shouted, kneeling down to pet a golden retriever lounging at the entry way.

  “Oh my gosh! He’s adorable!” Katherine squealed, bending to pet the furry guy.

  “His owner knew he was a star, so he named the market after him.” Talia explained as she stood, reaching into her shoulder bag. “I’m going to get a few things from the bakery. You go to the produce section. It’s right back there,” she pointed. “Get red onion, garlic, and tomatoes. I’ll meet you in the wine section,” Talia winked before walking off.

  Katherine smiled, watching the fiery red head prance across the store. Unlike the typical grocery chain, Hendrick’s was set up more like a farmer’s market. Everything was housed in crates or wooden boxes, with chalkboards displaying the daily specials.

  Taking her time as she walked across the store, Katherine strolled around the deli counter, which was a circular island in the center of the market. There were so many options, with rows and rows of cured meats and an entire wall of cheeses to choose from.

  Katherine knew she planned to use the market for regular grocery shopping before she even saw the juicing station. A gray-haired man worked in a small booth, cold pressing vegetables and fruits into vibrant colored juices.

  This was just what she wanted in a market. Hendrick’s offered a diverse collection of organic products, and since Katherine had always been health conscious, it was right up her alley.

  The sound of loud laughter drew her eyes to the back, and she looked up to see Talia slapping a man on the shoulder as he roared loudly. Katherine laughed just watching the two of them, again admiring Talia’s ability to make everyone around her comfortable.

  “Can I help you with something?” A thin woman in a red shirt asked Katherine.

  “Just looking. Thank you,” she answered with a smile.