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« The Insufferable Greek God »

Gabby's POV

I bit the inside of my cheek as Mr. Full-Of-It went over different meal plans for my body type. He kept insisting that eating the right foods and the correct portions was the key to losing weight.

I know this.

I've been on a weight loss meal plan for the past month and I've only lost a few pounds. I knew I wouldn't get the full effect until I started to hit the gym, and that's where my cousin Ryan comes into the picture. He heard through the grapevine, thanks mom, that I was trying a new diet and was inquiring about joining a gym.

We went to lunch last weekend and he sold me on the 12 week program. He said it was the most efficient and I was guaranteed to see results. He's seen struggles I've gone through. I've always been heavyset, as long as I can remember.    Always been bullied for how I looked and no matter what I did, I failed at any diet I tried.

Ryan assured me that he would be here every step of the way. He knew how I was mentally and that the simplest things could set me off and make me feel like a failure that I know I was destined to be.

So now I'm sitting across the desk from the most beautiful man I've ever laid eyes on and he's looking at me like a lost cause. It took all I had to keep my anxiety in check; my mind was screaming that this was a huge mistake and that this guy was just too perfect to help a soul like me. His eyes agreed with the thoughts running amidst in my mind.  

I'm just... so tired of everything.

I'm tired of waking up every day with no purpose. I'm tired of looking in the mirror and not liking what I'm seeing. I'm tired of not being able to go into any store that I want and try on the cute clothes that hang on the storefront mannequins, but most of all, I'm tired of being tired.

I want to be able to walk long distances without having to stop. I also want to be able to climb stairs and not lose my breath. I want the easiness of life again without any struggles, and I know sitting at home in front of the TV nightly binge watching Netflix is not going to do it for me.

I'm on my last shred of hope here and I'm praying that signing up for the gym with personal training sessions is my answer. I was just going to go with a gym membership, but Ryan insisted that I get on a program. That way I have someone who is on my ass for getting in gear.

However, I thought I would be talking to my cousin today, and not this Greek God who is wearing a muscle shirt that's open all the way down to his silky shorts. With every breath, I can see his muscles contract of their own accord and I know he's talking to me, but I stopped listening when he ran his hand through hair. My eyes didn't mean to land on his huge biceps, but yet, here I am, eye fucking someone I shouldn't even be looking at.

"Ready to get started?" I blinked up at Chase, but he wasn't looking at me, and I realized he hasn't since I set foot in his office. 

Just lovely. Make me feel worse why don't you.

I followed Chase out into the large area that held all of their machines. I didn't know the name of some of them and truth be told, they all look like torture devices and I wanted nothing to do with them.

"We're going to start with a little warm up before we jump into things. Let's do a few minutes of walking with some increased incline and then I'll show you some of the other cardio machines before we head over to the weights." Okay. I can do this, doesn't seem so bad.

Chase set me up on the treadmill and showed me how to set my weight, which I kindly declined today, and how to get the different settings to how I like them.

I started off at a slow pace, thinking this isn't bad until Chase leaned over and upped the speed. Walking more briskly now, I could feel my calves start to tense up on me but I made sure I wasn't showing any effects. I know deep down he thinks he's wasting his time with me, and I'm not going to give him the benefit of the doubt.

By the five minute mark, I was speed walking and the incline Chase has me on had me screaming inside. I couldn't help but hold onto the sides of the treadmill as I tried my best to keep my breathing steady.

I could see him side eye me as he continued to write notes down. What? I don't know. I'm sure it's alone the lines like this chick can't even walk fast without losing her breath.

"Okay, that should do it." Chase hit the stop button suddenly and I lost my footing, falling forward to where I had to grab onto the front of the machine from falling backwards on my ass.

Prick.

I glared at him when I climbed off the machine but he still wouldn't glance my way. I'm not sure what his problem is, but I really thought he would be at least more supportive or something.

I'm really starting to think this is a mistake. Especially when we get over to the free weights and he picks up the smallest set with just one hand. Chase made it look so effortless and there was no way I could pull that off with how flimsy I am.

"We're going to start out with 5 pounds for each arm and I'm going to show you some simple exercises that you can easily do here and at home." I nodded and watched as he showed me what seemed to be really easy exercises. "I want you to do two reps of 15 with 30 seconds of rest in between."

Chase walk over and picked up dumbbells twice the size of his biceps as he joined me. I couldn't help but look away when he did because holy fuck. He was seriously too much and I honestly didn't like the idea that this Greek God was training me because everyone was watching us and I know what they're all thinking.

I shouldn't be here, and someone who looks like that shouldn't even be talking to me.

My arms gave away at that thought and I dropped the stupid five pound weights to the floor. "Um, sorry," I said, quickly picking them up and when I stood back up, Chase was right there.

"Here, let me help. You're shoulders are too high when you bring them up to the side, you need to relax." I blinked up at Chase as he moved in, placing a hand on my shoulder and pressed down. It took all I had to not back up away from him because the moment he made contact with my skin, I felt a spark and I knew by the way his eyes snapped down to mine, he felt it too.

Chase blinked quickly and shook his head and all I could was swallow and try my best to relax while he had his hands on my shoulder. "Okay, now bring up your arms." I brought up my arms and extended them to the side. "Now hold." I did as I was told as he brought his hands down from my shoulders, his fingertips lightly brushing against my skin that was now breaking out in goosebumps. When both of his hands covered mine, I lost it.

Both of them dumbbells fell from my hands and judging by the yell that came out from Chase's mouth, one of them landed on his foot.

"Oh my God! Are you okay?" I covered my mouth in shock and embarrassment. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to do that." Chase sat down on a nearby bench, his face wincing in pain. "Is there something I can do? I..." I stopped talking the moment he held out his arm to quiet me.

"No, we're done for the day. You can go."

"Are you sure? Do you need some ice or?"

"Just go, Gabriella." Chase's voice was deep and angry and the man that looked up at me from where he was sitting from a few feet away was someone I wasn't going to argue with.

I mumbled a sorry, grabbed my water bottle and high tailed it to the locker room to get my things. Before I even made it out of the building, I already decided this was a huge mistake and what just happened confirms it.

Chase should be thankful though, because today was the first and last time I'll ever be a inconvenience in his life.