14. Charli
CHARLI
Since I was off yesterday and I owe Oliver, I’m on the early shift for the next two days.
I thought he might spread it out, but no.
Nothing like getting up at four, two days in a row.
I can’t even see the sunrise from the kitchen at the bakery.
We’re busy, but not slammed; the full summer crowd hasn’t yet arrived because it’s only early June.
During the day, the fog rolls in and by lunchtime it’s starting to drizzle.
Looks like I’ll hit the gym today instead of doing something outside.
My watch buzzes on my wrist. It’s Gage.
Gage: Hey, since it’s raining, is there a gym around town that’s good?
I was wondering when I would hear from him again after the friend-zone speech.
He took it pretty well, but he was obviously disappointed.
He did say I was beautiful, which definitely made my heart flip and boosted my ego.
And I can’t say that I haven’t been replaying how good he looked in his bathing suit.
There would be something wrong with me to not notice the broad shoulders, ripped abs, and round ass.
Plus that sweet smile and dark brown eyes.
My insides clench. Friends. Friends. Friends.
Me: This weather sucks. I go to Empower Fitness- pretty much the only gym in town. There's also a yoga studio too, up near The Wave Sports Shop.
Gage: Thanks. Are you going to workout today?
As if watching him paddle wasn’t enough to get me drooling after him. Now he wants to work out. Well, he’ll have to keep his shirt on there.
Me: Sure, I was going to go about 4, after I run some errands. Want me to pick you up?
Gage: That'd be great. See you then.
We’re just friends. Friends go to the gym and workout all the time.
* * *
After work, I stop by Mimi and Pop’s house, and dash up the steps to try to avoid the rain. I walk in the door and yell, “Hi Mimi, it’s me.” I take off my coat and hang it on a wooden hook in the mudroom.
“Hi, honey, I’m in the kitchen,” she responds with a shout.
I can smell the cookies from here. She’s probably making oatmeal raisin, Pop’s favorite.
The kitchen is where I spent countless hours baking with Mimi during my childhood.
It still looks the same, black and white checkered floor and white cabinets, with a big wooden island in the center.
The only thing my mom ever cooked well was frozen pizza. “Smells good, Mimi.”
“I’m making Pop’s favorite. This weather calls for something sweet to eat.” She wipes her hands on her pink floral apron before giving her batter a stir.
“Pop will be happy. Is he working today?”
“No, he had the day off, and he actually took a nap this afternoon.”
I have a fleeting pang of worry. Pop never slows down. “Is he feeling okay?”
“Oh, yes, we’re just not as young as we used to be, honey. His back was bothering him this morning. It happens to everyone.”
She must have been working in the garden today before the weather set in, as she’s wearing her green overalls.
I snag a cookie from the rack. “I heard from Ian. He’s busy, but I still asked him about coming down to visit.”
“Well, your brother will get here when he gets here. So, tell me what’s new with you?” she asks as she scoops up a dollop of batter.
“Funny thing, Mimi, I met that guy you and Pop were talking about the other night, your friend's nephew, Gage. He’s here for the summer.”
“Oh really, that’s wonderful. Is he nice?”
“Yes, very nice. He told me about his dad passing away when he was so young.” I cross my arms over, hugging myself. “I guess that’s worse than your mom moving away from you.” It’s a wound that’s still hard to heal from.
Mimi’s face softens, her green eyes filled with love. “Yes, that’s a terrible thing to happen to any family. And, well, I love your mother because she's my daughter, but you cannot make people’s life choices for them. I’m just glad that Pop and I could be here for you and your brother.”
I give Mimi a squeeze and grab another cookie. “Excellent as always.”
“Would you like any tea?” she asks.
I shake my head no, my mouth full of soft cookie deliciousness as I settle on a stool opposite from her.
“So, tell me about this Gage fellow.”
Mimi, going right for the juicy stuff. “Well, he’s a little bit younger than me, but he’s been working for his uncle since his dad passed away when he graduated high school. He’ll be heading down the waterway in the fall to meet his uncle.”
“You know Pop and I did that before, it’s a big adventure. He can’t go it alone though. Has he got a crew member to help him?”
“I’m not sure. I bet that he’s got it figured out though. He’s pretty easy-going.”
“So, is he handsome?”
I grunt and roll my eyes at Mimi. “Yes, if you like tall guys with blond hair and brown eyes.”
Mimi continues to scoop batter and drop it onto her next tray. “Hmmm. It sounds like you do.”
I cough and nearly choke on my cookie. “Mimi, we’re just friends.”
“That’s fine. You can be friends with whomever you like. I’m just glad to see you sticking to your ideas and moving on from Tyler. He’s a good man, but maybe not the man for you. Your first love is special, but you can have more than one love in life you know.”
I get up to get a glass of milk. “I thought that you and Pop grew up together?”
“We did, but I was actually from Port City and had a steady boyfriend all through school. I didn’t meet Pop until after I finished my secretarial studies.
” I grab another cookie. How did I not know this?
“And Pop had many different lady friends in his early days. He kept asking me out and I kept saying no because of his reputation.” She finishes dropping cookies onto the tray and pops it into the oven.
“What? Are you serious? You’ve got to be kidding!”
“We were all young once you know. And we have our stories to tell.” She shifts to put the cookies from the first tray onto the cooling rack.
I’m on the edge of my stool now. “Well, I’m glad that you finally went out with him. What did he do?”
“He convinced me to go on a sunset sail with him, and he brought a picnic, and that was it for us.” She faces me, her hands on the butcher block island.
Interesting. “So do you need any help cleaning up after this weekend? I’ll have some time tomorrow. Or, I can come back later. I’m just going to the gym.”
“Maybe tomorrow, honey. I had Debbie come in to do the cleaning and change the beds for me. I’ve got her booked for the summer.” She wipes her hands on a towel and takes a sip of her tea.
“Oh that’s great. I’ll call you tomorrow.” I give her a quick hug and kiss and head out the door. I’ll stop home to change before I go pick up Gage.
* * *
Friends can totally work out together. That’s why I choose something I'd usually wear. Black bike shorts, a black sports bra, and a blue tank top is a safe combo. I’m not trying too hard and I don’t usually work out in just a sports bra or crop top —it’s not my style. I’m just going to be me.
However, when I look in the mirror to check my hair, that’s another story.
After getting it wet twice in the rain, my waves have turned into curls and they’re getting out of control.
It’s either going to be a bun or a hat today.
The hat might get too sweaty. I’ll do a bun and headband to tame the wispy hairs by my face.
After filling my water bottle, I grab my jacket, a power bar, and my gym bag and I’m ready.
I give myself a little pep talk as I drive to meet Gage.
Stay platonic, stay casual, stay just friends.
We can be at the gym at the same time. We don’t have to work out together.
Maybe he’s a gym bro anyway. He can work out with those guys.
Right, there’s only two of them at Empower Fitness anyway. Stop overthinking it.
He’s waiting by the parking lot. There’s no missing him, he’s so tall. The rain has picked up a bit, it’s running right off his navy coat. When he sees me pull up, he dashes across the street, avoiding a puddle and climbing in, a little breathless.
He snaps the door shut, flicking raindrops on me. I flinch at the cold droplets. “Hey, sorry about that,” he says with a sheepish smile. “Thanks for picking me up. My uncle’s trying to find me a vehicle to use for the summer, but there’s been no luck yet.”
“Well, it’s a small town and we’re friends, so . . .” I don’t finish the idea as I pull away from the wharf.
“Friends who hang out?” he asks.
I pause, the only sound is the wipers as they slap away the rain on the drive up the road to the gym. “Yeah, friends who hang out.”
I glance at him quickly and he’s grinning. “I thought it was going to be nice today.”
“It's supposed to rain all night too. I’m obsessed with the weather. I’ve got four different apps on my phone, and of course the weather radio.” He rests his hand on his knee. It’s massive, like double the size of my hand.
“Right, for work.”
“Mm-hmm,” he rumbles.
I concentrate on the road, there’s a line of traffic waiting to drive by the park where the farmer’s market happens in the afternoon. We snake past there and I pull into the gym parking lot.
“I hope you like Empower. That's all we’ve got here. You can probably get a summer membership if you think you might use it often enough. They should have deals going on now.”
“I might do that. I go running a few times a week and have some free weights on the boat for when I’m traveling, but it’s not ideal.”
The gym is busy; it must be because of the weather. Jed is at the desk when we go to sign in. “Hey, Charli, what’s up? Did you have good business this weekend?”
“Hey, Jed. Yeah, it was pretty busy, hopefully the sign of a good season. This is my friend, Gage. He’s new in town.”
“Hey man, what’s up? Do you want to get a membership?” Jed asks.
“Yeah. That'd be great. Can I get it monthly?” Gage replies.
They start doing the registration at the desk so I say, "I'm just going to warm up on the treadmill.”