Finding Home Read online

  Olivia smiled nodding her head, “I do feel comfortable.”

  “Let’s go back up to the front so we can show you the recovery area,” said Desi. “That’s really just a fitness term for a place to sit, relax, and have something to drink or a cup of coffee.”

  On the walk back to the front Olivia took a minute to walk through the different areas again while Sofia and Desi went to the drink area. Frankie stayed with her and gave her space to look around.

  “Are there any questions I could answer for you?” Frankie asked.

  “Do you teach classes?”

  “I do. Desi, Stella, and I own Your Way. You haven’t met Stella yet but, you will. We can teach every class we offer. There are some that I’m better at than others but, we believe it’s important that we all can step in wherever needed. Natalie is our other instructor that takes care of interns that we have from time to time.”

  “Do you teach the one-on-one sessions, too?”

  “Yes, we all do that too. Are there any classes that you’re interested in or did a training plan appeal to you?” As they walked Frankie realized that there was something about Olivia that made her hope she would join the gym. It was her eyes, she could see the kindness in them and they were the most beautiful brown eyes she’d ever seen. Not just brown, but soft and warm and welcoming.

  “I don’t want to appear pushy. I want you to know everything about us and that there’s a place for you here. Oh man, that didn’t sound creepy, did it?” Frankie said cringing.

  Olivia laughed, “No, that didn’t sound creepy and you haven’t been pushy. I can tell that you really love this place and what you do and want your members to, also.”

  “That’s true.”

  “Why don’t we go have one of your fancy recovery drinks and you can tell me about your different membership plans,” Olivia said smiling. She did feel comfortable here and hoped she’d gain more than just good health from Frankie.

  Chapter 2

  Olivia walked into Your Way and made her way to the dressing room. She had thought about texting Frankie with her offer to walk her in and the thought made her smile. To her surprise, Sofia had decided to join too, so she hadn’t needed an escort. Today they were meeting there because Olivia came straight from work. As she walked to the dressing room, Desi waved at her and yelled hello.

  She sat on the bench in front of a locker and changed clothes. As she was tying her shoes Frankie walked in.

  “Hey Olivia, how are you?” Frankie asked, picking up a towel and throwing it into the basket.

  “Actually, I’m still sore from that kickboxing class you taught a couple of days ago,” Olivia replied smiling.

  “Yeah, but I bet it’s a good sore because it means you’re getting stronger,” Frankie said smiling.

  “A good sore, hmm, I’ll have to think about that one,” Olivia said getting her clothes together and putting them in her bag.

  “What class are you taking today?”

  “I thought I’d take Stella’s yoga class to help some of this soreness.”

  “It will, good choice. How are the classes, is there one in particular you like?”

  “I haven’t tried them all yet but, I plan to. Are you about to teach a class?’

  “No, I’m cleaning up in here a little. Sometimes these towels seem to miss the basket,” she said chuckling.

  “I wanted to ask you about the strength class I saw offered.”

  “That’s one I’m teaching,” she said excitedly. “It’s a six week plan three times a week using free weights. It’s offered in the morning and evening. Have you done your one-on-one sessions yet?”

  “No. I wanted to be more familiar with everything before I did them.”

  “Please take advantage of them, they’re one of my favorite things.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, I can help you with specific things that I’m not able to in the group setting.”

  “Ok, I’ll make sure and schedule them soon.”

  “Good,” Frankie said smiling. “Maybe I’ll be able to do them for you.”

  “Maybe,” Olivia said, quietly thinking she’d like that. She had taken a couple of Frankie’s classes and thought she had caught Frankie looking at her in a way other than her instructor but, she knew there’s no way she’d be interested in someone like her.

  “Oh no, did that sound bad? I meant as your trainer,” Frankie looked embarrassed.

  “I know, why would you think different?” Olivia asked, feeling like Frankie had read her thoughts.

  “Trainers and gyms in general get a bad reputation sometimes.”

  “For what?”

  “Well, there’s a stereotype that people hook up with their instructors,” Frankie said looking away embarrassed.

  “Oh, I didn’t think that. Besides, I’m not the kind of girl you’d ask out anyway,” Olivia said.

  “Why would you say that?”

  “Because, look at me. I’m overweight and out of shape. That’s why I joined; I want to lose this weight so maybe someone would be interested in me.”

  “That would have nothing to do with me asking you out!”

  “Oh, come on Frankie, you know how important appearance is. That’s what people see first,” she argued.

  “Yeah, but just because someone looks good isn’t going to determine whether I ask them out or not. There’s a lot more to it.”

  “Maybe, but aren’t you in the appearance business, really?”

  “No. I’m in the health and fitness business. I want to help people improve their health and live their best life. Do you really think I’m like that? That it’s all about looks?” Frankie said, becoming upset.

  “You are a personal trainer, Frankie. That’s changing the way people look. And it’s easy for you, you’re fit and gorgeous.”

  “It’s so much more than that, Olivia. Please tell me how I have given you that impression,” Frankie said looking hurt.

  “You haven’t really, Frankie. I know you keep saying we get more from exercise than just losing weight but …” Olivia said, not finishing her sentence.

  “You know what, let’s pick up this conversation after a month and see if you still feel the same way. And just so you know, I ask women out that are kind and that makes them beautiful to me,” Frankie said walking toward the door. Over her shoulder she said, “There’s a lot more to you than your weight, Olivia. Your yoga class is starting.” And with that, she walked out. She couldn’t decide if she was angry or hurt or maybe both.

  Olivia walked into Stella’s yoga class thinking about what Frankie said. She felt like maybe she’d hurt her feelings and should apologize.

  “Hey, over here,” Sofia said waving at Olivia.

  Olivia walked over and took the mat beside Sofia, “Hey.”

  “What’s with you? Why so serious,” Sofia asked.

  “I think I messed up,” replied Olivia.

  “What did you do?” Sofia asked, eyeing her friend.

  Olivia replayed the conversation she had with Frankie.

  “Hmm, that kind of was a shitty thing to say to her about appearances,” Sofia said. “Is that what you believe, that she wouldn’t ask you out because of the way you look?”

  “I guess part of me does. No way she will ever ask me out now.”

  “What’s got into you? Where did your confidence go and why all of a sudden this desire for a girlfriend?”

  “I don’t know, I just feel like I’m overweight and no one would be interested in me like this. Have you noticed how many dates I’ve been on lately?”

  “Well, I have noticed that you’ve been working a lot the last few months so how could you have time to date anyway? And what’s stopping you from asking someone out, like Frankie?”

  “It’s been really busy at work, you know that. This subdivision is a big deal. And there’s no way she’d go out with me now.”

  “You are a big deal, Olivia. You’re a successful architect and anyone would be lucky t
o go out with you. Answer me this, why are you so confident when it comes to your job but not when it comes to women?”

  Stella walked in and said, “Welcome. Let’s get started.”

  Olivia was glad she didn’t have to answer that question. She was confident in her job because she was damn good at it but, women were a whole other thing.

  Meanwhile Frankie walked around the gym putting weights back on racks, picking up towels and tidying up the area while muttering to herself. She couldn’t believe Olivia thought she was so shallow. Surely she didn’t act like that. Why did it upset her so much? Actually, she knew why, she liked Olivia and wanted to ask her out but had hesitated until she got to know her a little better.

  “Hey, who are you talking to? Yourself?” asked Desi.

  “Why can’t people put their weights back and pick up their towels? Is it so hard to pick up after yourself?” replied Frankie sighing.

  “Well, you and I both know there are always a few that think they don’t have to. So, why is that bothering you? We do this every day,” replied Desi wondering what was going on with her.

  Frankie sighed, “Let me ask you something, Des.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Do I act like the way someone looks is important to me?”

  “What? I’m not sure I understand what you mean.”

  “I was talking to Olivia King and she said she wasn’t the kind of woman that I’d ask out.”

  “Yes she is. Do you want to ask her out!” Desi said getting excited.

  “Not now, there’s no way she’d go out with me. For some reason she thinks she needs to lose weight, that she isn’t pretty enough or fit enough for me.”

  “How did that happen?”

  “I don’t know! I encouraged her to schedule her one-on-ones and thought it came out wrong, she said it didn’t because she wasn’t the kind of girl I’d ask out,” Frankie said, shaking her head.

  “Hmm,” Desi said thinking about all Frankie had told her.

  Frankie continued, “The bad part is she’s taken a couple of my classes and I couldn’t keep my eyes off her.”

  “Wow. She must have body image problems because you’re not like that. You know that.”

  “I know but, it threw me,” Frankie said, looking miserable.

  “So what ended up happening?”

  “We had a conversation about appearance and working out and I told her we’d have another conversation in a month and see if she felt the same way.”

  “So what are you going to do if she’s in your classes?”

  “I’m going to make sure she hears me about the benefits of exercise besides losing weight.”

  Desi paused for a moment, “You know that sometimes it takes people a while to come around. They want instant results.”

  “Of course I know that, I’ve only been doing this for twenty fucking years!”

  “Dang Frankie, calm down. Let me finish this, you go home.”

  “Sorry, this is bothering me more than I thought. See you tomorrow.” With that Frankie left.

  She had ridden her bike back after lunch because she wanted to get a good ride in today. The local triathlon Your Way helped sponsor was coming up in a few months and she planned to enter. There was nothing better than being out on the bike; she rode down to a new subdivision that was being built not too far from the gym. This time of day the workers had gone home and she didn’t have to worry about traffic. One of her favorite things was to walk through houses as they were being built and imagine what they’d be like when finished. She’d always wanted to have a house built with her ideas and preferences.

  As she rode down the streets, several houses were in the process of being built and others getting ready to start. She could tell how some were going to look on the outside and was surprised that this didn’t look like one of those cookie cutter planned subdivisions where all the houses were similar. Whoever was designing these houses had a different idea what a neighborhood looked like and Frankie appreciated it. Who wants their house to look exactly like the one next door? She certainly didn’t.

  Chapter 3

  This was Olivia’s third week at Your Way and she was starting to feel a sense of belonging and ease when she walked through the door. However today she was a little nervous because she was starting the strength program that Frankie was teaching. She had taken classes that Frankie taught since their conversation, and Frankie didn’t seem to be upset with her, but this class was different because there would be some one-on-one time adjusting form as they lifted weights. Thank goodness Sofia was doing this with her.

  As she made her way to the free weight area she noticed Sofia waving at her from a treadmill, “Come warm up a little with me.”

  Olivia stepped on the treadmill next to her and said, “Look at you turning into an athlete.”

  “Haha, not hardly,” Sofia said. “Are you ready for this?”

  “Yep. I’m looking forward to an actual program planned by someone that knows what they’re doing. All these classes have been fun but, you know me, I like a plan.”

  Sofia laughed, “Says the architect. I actually meant are you ready for the one-on-one attention from Frankie?”

  “Yeah, I still feel like I should apologize to her.”

  “I did my last free one-on-one session yesterday.”

  “Who did it?”

  “Natalie. I did one with Stella and one with Frankie. They were all good. Have you done yours yet?”

  “No, I need to schedule them,” Olivia said sighing.

  “What are you afraid of?”

  “Nothing. My work schedule has been crazy again and I didn’t want to have to cancel once I scheduled it.”

  “Right,” Sofia said, looking skeptical. “Come on, we’d better go.”

  They walked over to the weight area and joined six other women. Frankie walked up smiling, “Welcome. We’re going to start with a few measurements. Everyone wants to lose weight but there are other ways to know that your body is changing,” Frankie said looking right at Olivia. She couldn’t hold Frankie’s green eyes and looked away but not before smiling slightly.

  “I have tape measures and forms to put your results on. In a month we’ll do this again and compare the results,” she said handing out the forms. “If you’ll partner up this will be easier.”

  As everyone spread out by twos Frankie said, “Ok, I want you to measure your upper arms, chest, waist, upper legs, and calves.”

  “Where exactly on our upper arms?” Sofia asked.

  “Let me show you,” she said, taking the tape and turning to Olivia. “Do you mind, if I demonstrate?”

  “Sure, go ahead,” Olivia said, her heart starting to beat faster.

  “You want to hold it up with a bend at the elbow, like this,” Frankie said gently raising Olivia’s arm. Olivia could feel her cheeks reddening and she could feel her pulse in her ears.

  “Measure around the bicep at the largest point. Don’t flex, just relax the muscle,” she said her fingers grazing over Olivia’s arm as she measured. Olivia thought her heart might beat out of her chest.

  “Here,” Frankie smiled, handing her the tape to measure Sofia’s.

  “Now, do the other arm,” Frankie said, walking around helping people where needed.

  “Next is the chest,” Frankie said, turning to Olivia. “May I use your tape?”

  “Sure,” Olivia said, handing the tape to her.

  Frankie wrapped the tape around her own chest and turned, “Would you pull that up my back, please.” Olivia took the tape and did as Frankie asked. She turned back around and pulled the tape tight across her chest. “You don’t want to pull it too tight,” she said. “Just until it’s snug right across your nipples.”

  Olivia forgot to breathe as Frankie looked directly at her. She could feel her nipples getting hard simply looking at the tape across Frankie’s chest. When Frankie handed her the tape their fingers brushed and Olivia couldn’t look away, her eyes burning into Frankie’
s.

  Frankie lost herself in Olivia’s beautiful brown eyes for a moment and then came to when Sofia asked, “Where next?”

  “Next we’ll do the upper thigh,” she said looking at Olivia questioning if she could demonstrate again. Olivia gave the slightest of nods and Frankie took the tape and kneeled in front of her.

  “You want to measure a little higher than mid-thigh,” she said, reaching behind Olivia’s leg and bringing the tape to meet in the front. Olivia’s eyes were glued to Frankie’s hands. Thank goodness she had on capri workout pants because she thought if Frankie touched her skin there she wouldn’t be able to swallow the moan forming in her throat.

  “Not too high and again don’t pull the tape too tight,” Frankie said, her voice a little lower. She handed the tape to Olivia to measure Sofia’s leg after she recorded the measurement.

  “Careful with those hands,” Sofia said, breaking the tension. The group chuckled and Olivia shook her head.

  “As if,” she said, writing down the number.

  “Ok, that leaves your calves,” Frankie said bending down in front of Olivia again.

  “Wait, what about our waist, didn’t you want to measure that too?” Sofia asked.

  “Sorry, I did,” Frankie said a little flustered. “To make it a little easier I want you to measure right across your stomach where your belly button is. That may not be your actual waist but it will be easy to measure in the same place again.” She waited while everyone finished and recorded their measurements.

  “Now, the calves. Olivia if you’d turn around,” said Frankie as she crouched down and looked up at her. Olivia turned around and closed her eyes as Frankie pulled the tape around in front of her leg and measured to the back part of her calf. “Try to measure at the largest part of the muscle.”

  Knowing Frankie was kneeled behind her with her head at butt level caused Olivia to hold her breath and when Frankie’s fingers touched her calf it took all Olivia had not to turn and find her lips with her own. She slowly released the breath she was holding and opened her eyes; Sofia was looking straight at her with a smirk on her face.