By the time the ambulance arrives, and I turn her over to the EMTs, the bar has pretty much emptied out. I look for Josie, but she’s gone, and I realize that I didn’t even get her number. I feel bad about not being able to take her home, but in the heat of the moment, when I’ve got a human in distress in front of me, I can’t think of anything but fixing the situation. I hate to think of what Josie must be thinking of me at the moment. I’ve gotta find a way to get in touch with her. She said that Colt’s girl is her bestie, so maybe I can get her number that way.
I’ll take a nice long time making it up to her. Just thinking about that sweet and sassy redhead has me all hot and bothered again. Hopefully she won’t be mad that I had to rescue a damsel in distress.
Josie
I check my look in the mirror before I leave the bathroom, and I fix the lip gloss that Chug kissed off, little thrills of anticipation running through my body. This guy is so freaking hot, and he’s shy and cute and sweet, and he actually seems very into me. Well, he’ll definitely be ‘into me’ if I have anything to say about it.
My hair looks great still, and my eyes are sparkling as I smile at the mirror, thinking about Chug. What a hilarious name for such a smart, sexy guy. It’s adorable. He’s adorable. And I’m gonna hit that tonight.
I cruise out of the bathroom, give Holly and Colt quick hugs, and head for the door. There are a few firemen out front, and a couple of women too, but I don’t see Chug, which is odd. He should’ve been here by now. I frown and look at my phone to check the time. I took a little bit longer in the bathroom, but I still made it out here in six minutes. Did he seriously not wait for the extra minute? When I didn’t come out here in precisely five minutes, he just ditched me?
I let out a sigh, pissed and super disappointed. He seemed like such a nice guy. I guess I should have known that it was too good to be true. What a great way to start the new year…being dumped by a guy who just wanted a one night stand to begin with.
“Screw him,” I whisper, tears springing to my eyes as I hurry to the car.
It hadn’t seemed so cold outside earlier, but now, somehow, the winter cold gathers me into its steely fist and shakes me. My nipples are hard again, but it isn’t pleasant this time. My stomach is clenched, and I feel a headache coming on. I feel damn sorry for myself, but I should’ve known better than to get my hopes up anyhow. 2020 is going to be the year of ME, I vow, settling into my car and cranking the heat. No men, no worries…just growth and accomplishment. Who needs men anyhow?
Chug
It’s been a couple of days since I met Josie. I finally tracked Colt down, and he got her number from his girl and gave it to me. I’ve called twice, but she isn’t picking up. I’ll give it a few days, then I’ll text her, and if she doesn’t answer that, I’m just going to have to make Colt wrangle an address out of his girlfriend for me. If Josie won’t answer her phone, maybe she’ll answer her door. One thing is for sure, I’m not giving up on her. No way.
Josie
I’ve had nothing but plain yogurt, salad, and homemade vegetable soup since New Year’s Day. I miss real food, I feel like hell, and I’ve had one heck of a power cleanse, but I’m determined to stick it out. This is my new life, my new normal. I found a gym that’s close to my house, and I joined it online. I took a virtual tour on their website, and it looked clean, so I figured why not? Maybe if I’m paying money to work out, it’ll actually motivate me to go. They are also giving out a free consultation with a fitness trainer and nutritionist for new clients, so I signed up for that too. My appointment with them is today, and my stomach is churning just thinking about it. I hate being the fat chick at the gym. I love my body, but I hate it when people stare at me like I don’t belong. Screw them, I have just as much right to be there as they do.
I dress in black yoga pants, which makes my long legs look even longer, and I put on a fitted nylon tank top in an awesome shade of turquoise. I slip on my brand new running shoes, along with a sleek work out jacket, and head for the door. I know that I fill out my clothes in all the right places, and I refuse to be intimidated by the fitness crowd. I’m doing something good for me, and they can just suck it if they don’t like it.
“Hi, I’m here for my appointment with the trainer and nutritionist,” I say to the spandex-clad twig behind the front desk.
She takes my name and disappears, returning a few seconds later.
“You’re going to go down this hall and take a left,” she points with her pencil. “The trainer’s office is the first door on the right. Have a good session,” she smiles and I wonder if she’s mocking me or if she’s actually as nice as she seems.
I give her the benefit of the doubt and smile back before I head down the hall. The door that says Trainer on it is right where she said that it would be, and I knock lightly on it, halfway hoping that the trainer is out to lunch or something. Before I have time to bolt, the door swings open and I gasp. Chug is the trainer.
Chug
Fate is smiling on me today. I haven’t stopped thinking about Josie since New Year’s Eve, and she just opened my office door. She looks as hot as ever, even with her red cheeks and gym clothes. Those yoga pants fit like they were made for her, and make me want to peel them off of her and see what’s underneath. I smile at her, this electric jolt of adrenalin shooting through my body, and it’s weird…she looks like she’s mad at me.
“So my wish did come true,” I say, hoping to make her smile.
I fail.
“What? You wanted to work with a real challenge?” she says, shooting daggers at me with those icy blue eyes.
“No, I wanted to see you again,” I frown. “I never got a chance to explain why…” I begin.
“Why you ditched me at the bar?” she hisses, clearly upset.
I stop and stare at her. Even angry, she looks amazing.
“Come in and have a seat,” I invite her, sitting down on the couch in front of my desk.
She takes a chair across from me and stares me down. She’s determined not to make this easy. Hopefully once I have my say, she’ll understand. There’s obviously a fiery temper that comes along with the fiery hair.
“So, about New Year’s Eve,” I try again, and she interrupts me again.
“Just forget about it,” she snaps. “Give me my workout tips and I’ll be out of your hair.”
She won’t meet my eyes, and her jaw is set. I can tell she’s hurt, and that makes my stomach tense up. I hate the thought that I’ve hurt her.
“First of all, I do more than give you fitness tips,” I say, trying to get her to meet my eyes.
It works. She looks up and her eyes flash, like brilliant blue lasers, trying to gun me down.
“And secondly, I’d like to explain what happened that night. If you still want to be mad at me after that, I’ll go get you an alternate trainer, although honestly, I can’t really see why you’re wanting one,” I say, my gaze traveling all up and down every soft, sexy curve.
“There’s no excuse for ditching someone like that,” she says, folding her arms over that big, beautiful rack of hers.
I shift my weight to the side and lean back, letting her see the effect she’s having on me. The front of my workout pants tent out, and she pretends not to look, but I see her shift in her chair.
“I agree,” I nod. “There’s no excuse, but there is an explanation, if you’d care to hear it,” I say.
“You don’t owe me an explanation,” she says, still stubborn.
“True enough. But I’m gonna give you one anyhow,” I say.
She sighs and stares at me while I tell her what happened with the drunk chick. About halfway through the story, she blushes and starts to look a little bit ashamed of herself, which is actually a really good thing. It means she isn’t thinking I’m the world’s biggest ass anymore.
“So, I’m really sorry that I wasn’t out there when you came out, but the ER doc straight up told me that I saved that woman’s life by staying with her a
nd getting her to the hospital.”
I finish my story and wait for her to say something. Anything. She nods, thinking.
“I was really disappointed that it went down like that,” I say. “I wanted to take you home and show you how much I like you,” I smile at her, my cock going rock hard at the thought.
“I was looking forward to that too,” she says finally, blushing like a schoolgirl, which looks amazing on her pale, creamy skin.
“Can we just start over?” I ask, leaning forward and gazing into those beautiful eyes.
She nods.
“I’d like that,” she says.
I watch her lips when she speaks, and I want to kiss her. I want that beautiful mouth to be all over me, and my cock twitches against the front of my pants. When I stare at her, not saying anything, Josie speaks again.
“So what did you mean when you said that you didn’t know why I’d want a trainer?” she asks.
“I meant that your body looks amazing, so, if you’re wanting to get stronger, or have better stamina, or something, that’s cool, but if you’re here for appearance, you really have nothing to worry about,” I shrug, feeling very warm, even in the climate controlled office.
“You don’t think I need to tighten and tone?” she says, her eyes widening.
“I think you are gorgeous just the way that you are,” I say, wanting to throw her down on the sofa and show her how I feel.
She blushes, then looks up at me with this incredible fire in her eyes.
“I think you’re pretty hot too,” she murmurs, her nipples straining against her tank top and jacket.
“Let’s hold that thought,” I say, taking a deep breath to try and focus. “I’ve gotta get a plan for your workouts and then pass you on to the nutritionist. Are you free for dinner tonight?” I ask, not knowing what I’ll do if she says no.
“If the nutritionist approves,” she grins.
I can feel my heartbeat in all sorts of places, and a dab of moisture from the tip of my cock seeps into my boxers.
Josie
Oh wow, unless he’s the best liar on the planet, this guy is actually amazing. Yes, he stood me up, but it was to save someone’s life. How can I be mad at him for that? And apparently he’s still interested. We soar through our appointment, and he takes me over to see the nutritionist, a couple of doors down, across the hall. His hand on the small of my back is making me so wet that I hope I don’t soak through my yoga pants, and he doesn’t kiss me when he heads back to his office, but he darts away quickly, so that the nutritionist doesn’t see his huge erection. It’s our guilty little secret.
The nutritionist is a strawberry blonde Barbie, named Cameron, who appraises me with a cold look when I come in. Her smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes, but she acts professionally enough, I guess. She tries to sell me different weight loss products, snack bars and shakes and microwave meals, and seems astonished when I tell her that I’m not joining the gym to lose weight. Once she realizes that she’s not going to be making a commission off of me, she hurries me out of her office and I stash my stuff in my locker, then hit the gym.
I take it easy…like my trainer advised me to, and when I jump into the shower afterwards, I feel great. He’s picking me up for dinner at seven, and I can’t wait.
Dinner is going great. We’re having good wine and fun conversation, he keeps running his fingers over my knees under the table, making me hot as hell, and the food is amazing. I shove a forkful of perfectly prepared chicken piccata into my face, and as though the universe conjured her, the nutritionist from the gym strides up to our table, and she looks pissed.
“Oh, hey Cameron,” I greet her with a slightly intoxicated grin. “I didn’t know you made house calls,” I tease, chuckling at my own cleverness.
Oddly, neither Cameron, nor Chug, seem to be amused. They both keep looking at each other and then at me. She ignores my fabulously witty comment and speaks to Chug.
“You know this is against policy,” she snarls, her perfect face turning quite ugly with emotion.
“Technically, it’s fine. She’s not my client, because she didn’t sign up for my program,” he shrugs, looking smug.
“Well, if this is your sort of thing, it’s clear why we didn’t work out,” Cameron snaps, her tone ice-cold.
My stomach drops to my knees, and my libido disappears like dust in the wind. Cameron is Chug’s ex? If she’s the type of woman that he dates, I don’t stand a chance. My food rests uneasily at the base of my throat, and I take a big gulp of wine to try and wash it back down where it belongs.
“That’s entirely inappropriate, and you’re causing a scene,” Chug shoots back in a low voice, his eyes narrowed.
“Were you just going for something easy, rather than something quality?” Cameron smiles at him in a way that reminds me of a snake about to strike, and his eyes go dark and stormy.
He looks at me apologetically, like he feels sorry for me or something, then turns back to his ex.
“Shall we take this conversation outside?” he says, standing up and tossing his napkin on the table.
I’m sitting here, with my cheeks burning, wanting to lash out at this bitch and wanting to tell Chug to just stay here with me, but I don’t say anything. I’m too humiliated. Cameron turns and makes a beeline for the front lobby, and Chug follows her out, leaving me sitting there by myself, with people staring at me.
I’m on autopilot now, too embarrassed to even think clearly. I set my napkin on the table next to my plate, forgetting about how delicious my dinner is. I couldn’t eat now if you paid me. I stand and stumble toward the side door of the red-velvet lined Italian restaurant. Once outside, the cold air hits me and I shiver, taking deep breaths and trying not to cry. I hail a taxi and head for home, my night a total disaster. He’d made his choice, and of course he’d chosen Barbie. Don’t they always?
Chug
I want to throttle her, but I keep my distance from Cameron, when we get outside. It’s frigid, and she’s shivering, and all I can think about is how Josie must be feeling right now.
“That was totally uncalled for,” I growl at her. “You don’t insult clients of the gym like that, and more importantly, you don’t insult my date like that. Who I see after work hours is none of your business. We are not in a relationship, and you’ve gotta stop stalking me like this,” I demand, trying hard to keep a lid on my temper.
Every protective bone in my body wants to be inside with Josie, comforting her, not out here in the parking lot with my vicious ex.
“I have no idea what you see in her. She doesn’t even take care of herself. She refused to buy any of our program products,” Cameron sniffs, acting superior.
“She doesn’t need our products. She’s healthy and happy just the way that she is, and just because you didn’t make a commission off of her doesn’t give you the right to criticize her,” I warn, my teeth clenching at the end.
“Oh…I get it,” Cam smiles nastily. “You feel sorry for her. Isn’t that sweet?” she mocks me. “Well, go have your sympathy piece, but don’t come crawling back to me afterward,” she sneers.
“I’ve crawled over better women than you just to go jack off,” I snap, regretting the harsh words the minute that they’re out of my mouth.
“You dick,” Cam screeches, reaching out and slapping me before I can block it.
My face is on fire because of the cold and the slap.
“Yeah, of course. It’s my fault. It’s always my fault,” I say, turning to go back into the restaurant, my hand to my cheek.
“Glad you finally realized that, jerk,” Cam taunts me.
I don’t even turn around. When I get back to our table, I see that Josie, her purse and her jacket are all missing. I stop the server and ask about her.
“She left right after you followed the blonde out to the lobby,” the server shrugs, looking at me like it’s my fault. “Went out the side door.”
I run outside to see if Josie is still there, bu
t of course, she isn’t. Frustrated as hell, I go back into the restaurant and ask the server to get me the bill and box everything up. Cameron ruined everything again, just like she had been for the past two years, since we broke up.
I want to go over to Josie’s tonight, to explain what happened, but something tells me that my fiery little miss won’t even open the door to me tonight. Tomorrow is another day. I’ll have to bring her the dinner leftovers in person. And this time, I’m going to stay for a while.
Josie
“I just don’t need the drama, you know?” I tell Holly on the phone, after I fled from the Italian restaurant.
I’m in the bathtub with a bottle of sangria and sappy songs from the eighties playing on the radio. I lit every candle in my bathroom and turned out the lights. It’s time for a little ME time.
“But, he’s a really nice guy,” Holly protests.
“Yes. He’s a really nice guy who’s into skinny blondes. This strapping redhead does not need a man to survive. I’ll be quite fine without him, thank you very much,” I insist, swiping at the tears flooding my eyes.
“Mmhmm..” Holly’s tone is skeptical.
“It’s true,” I exclaim. “I was fine before I met Chug and I’ll be fine tomorrow. Now, I’m just thinking of him as a beefcake who works at the gym. He’s pretty to look at, but too dangerous to touch. He’s like one of those beautifully colored rain forest frogs who look amazing but touching them causes you to die within minutes,” I grouse, patting at the mounds of bubbles in the tub.
Kiss My Resolution Page 2