CHAPTER THREE — DAVID
I lift the bar once more, feeling every muscle in my upper body strain. I exhale, forcing out all the frustration of the last few weeks.
Sweat drips down my temple. Heat radiates from every pore in my body.
With a grunt, I push it up the last few inches, my arms lock, and I smile.
I gradually bring the bar down, and when it's a few inches above the holder, I release it.
It makes a loud clanging sound, which is surprisingly satisfying.
I stand up and feel my muscles ache. I glance at my phone and see a name flash across the screen: Stephanie. I smile. It's been two days now.
Ultimately, I decided not to say anything. I will do something, but not right away. I've been too off-kilter, too dysregulated to trust that I'll be able to handle things with composure, and composure is everything with a girl like Stephanie.
Not only because she's objectively a huge catch — insanely beautiful, smart, funny, and fucking interesting — but also because she's the kind of girl who keeps you on your toes. More than that, the kind of girl who can match you, who can outwit you, and who will laugh at you while doing it.
A girl like that is not only rare but has to be handled carefully. And the worst way to handle a girl like that is to lose composure. To lose composure is to show weakness, which will be exploited by a girl like Stephanie.
It's not malicious, either. It's not that she's trying to make fun of men for their weaknesses or anything like that.
In fact, I'm sure she would be very compassionate if a friend came to her, a male friend or relative, with an issue and needed emotional support.
No, but with men she dates, she won't be able to respect a man she can dominate.
And by dominate, I mean emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually, not physically, because she's as weak as a pipe cleaner.
Most men would probably hate it, but I love it. She's interesting. She's a challenge, and that's not something I've had in a while. Not in at least five years, which is when my ex and I broke up.
And even then, things were different with my ex. Yeah, she was smart, but she wasn't a firecracker the way Stephanie is.
Stephanie is one of a kind, and one-of-a-kind girls have to be dealt with in one-of-a-kind ways. That is, you can't just run the same playbook that works for 99% of girls.
No. You have to be intentional. You have to think outside the box. Which is why I'm making her sweat a bit.
I decide not to even read her text as I leave the gym and hop in my car. I turn the key in the ignition, and it roars to life. I decide not to turn on the air conditioning.
Even though I'm sweating and it's super hot, I'll be home soon, where I'll shower. And besides, there's something I like about feeling the sweat on my skin, the salt. It's a reminder of what I just did, the energy I just expended working my body. It's been a good outlet for me.
Once I get to my driveway, I turn off the car and pick up my phone. Part of me thinks I should wait until I'm inside, but a bigger part of me is too curious. I click on it.