Chapter Three The Treadmill Incident
Chapter Three
The Treadmill Incident
Amy
At five twenty-seven on Tuesday, May sixth, Iron pride required evidence that I belonged in the room. I increased the speed.
“You’re sprinting,” she said.
“I am jogging.”
“You’ve been moving for forty seconds.”
“I don’t require commentary.”
She lifted both hands. I faced forward and accelerated again.
At two minutes, my breathing was loud. At two and a half, my stride shortened.
Then my right foot landed too far back, the belt caught it, and the room tilted.
Dani hit the emergency stop and caught me around the waist. My shoulder struck her chest. One hand gripped her shirt; the other landed against the warm skin above her shorts.
“Got you,” she said.
For one suspended second, she was not teasing.
Then her mouth curved. “Geraldine doesn’t like being challenged before sunrise.”
I stepped off the treadmill and discovered the safety cord was attached to me but not the machine. Dani noticed.
“You have to connect the other end.”
“I was going to.”
“After the emergency?”
“There was no emergency.”
“You almost left the cardio floor horizontally.”
The man on treadmill four laughed openly. I reached for my water. Dani reached at the same time. Our fingers touched, and I withdrew mine.
“Thank you,” I said.
“You’re welcome.”
“I would have recovered.”
“I’m sure.”
Before I could answer, a voice called from behind us.
“Amy?”
A tall person in coordinated black athletic clothes approached carrying a tablet. A whistle hung around their neck.
“Yes?”
They smiled. “I’m Blake Turner, general manager. Welcome to Iron & Ivy.”
“Thank you.”
Blake looked from me to Dani, then at the stopped treadmill.
“Everything all right?”
“Perfect,” Dani said.
“I was warming up,” I said.
“At high speed,” Dani added.
“I did not ask for an incident report.”
Blake’s eyes narrowed slightly at Dani.
“Have you two met?”
“Briefly,” I said.
“Dramatically,” Dani said.
Blake appeared pleased. “Great. That saves time. Amy Price, this is Daniela Reyes, your marathon coach.”
I waited for someone to correct Blake. No one did.
“This is Dani?”
Dani lifted one hand.
“Apparently.”