A Boyfriend Like Him

Chest Day

Chapter Forty-Four
-Chest Day-

Staggering, and that's what I was doing at five in the morning, to the gym, I had a crappy cup of homemade, instant coffee in one hand and my school work in the other hand. Why did I agree to work a full day here? Why does a gym have to open so fricken early? Why was someone already standing at the door before I had even got there? Most importantly, why did it have to be Taylor Cadley?

Sighing to myself, I found a little extra pizzazz I wasn't aware existed in me before the sun came up and strutted with a little more purpose towards him.
"Here, hold this," I muttered, and shoved my coffee cup at him. I went for the element of surprise and it seemingly worked because he had been bouncing around, not really paying attention to anything before and now he'd stopped dead and was staring at me with wide eyes as he held my coffee as I found my keys in my bag.
"What are you doing here?" He demanded, finally. Unlocking the door, I didn't even bother to glance at him.
"Walking my dog, what does it look like?" I asked dryly, finally getting the door open and deactivating the alarm. Turning back to Taylor he still stood where I had found him.
"Where's Colin?" He demanded.
"He swapped shifts with Allie and then Allie got sick, I'm all they had," I told him, holding my hand out for my coffee.
"But you have classes today?" He was thoroughly confused as he handed me back my coffee and if I didn't want to set him on fire, it may have been adorable.
"Mainly lectures. Nothing I can't catch up on, thanks for the concern. I'd appreciate you respecting the fact that I hate you and would like to work today without you anywhere near me," I forced a smile and left him standing outside as I moved inside to turn on lights and set the music system up.
When I got back to reception he was standing by the desk.
"What?" I asked, moving around him to turn the computer and scanning system on.
"What time do you finish today?" Taylor asked and sighed.
"When I lock the doors and set the alarm," I told him.
"You're working all day?" He asked, and I nodded. "Then what do I do?"
"Go find a cactus to sit on and twist for all I care, Taylor," I murmured, dryly.
"So I can't work out today?" He demanded, getting annoyed.
"Sure you can," I turned to him with as pleasant a smile I could manage. "You mentioned there a gym just off campus once, didn't you?" I asked and his face dropped into a scowl.
"This is bullshit," he growled.
"Yup, so is walking into a pub to find your boyfriend dry humping any female he can find. You need to leave now, I feel uncomfortable," I told him, finally unable to hold back my glare.
"When does Toby get in today?" He asked, glaring back at me.
"While I'm still working, just fuck off Taylor. You're not currently welcome here," I told him, staring him down until he finally turned on his heel and stormed out of the gym, slamming the door closed for good measure as he exited.

Hah! Take that.

Moments later, Jake strolled through the door and laughed while holding his stomach.
"Was that just Taylor I passed, swearing and muttering his plans to kill you as he went?" Jake asked and I nodded, unable to hide my grin.
"He wasn't happy," I laughed.
"I wish I was here from the beginning. You told him you were working all weekend?" Jake asked and I shook my head.
"Must have slipped my mind, he's fully aware I'm here all day, though."
"What did he do?"
"Got pissy and asked when Toby was going to be here," I smirked.
"He is going to lose it when you're still here tomorrow morning, and then Sunday too," Jake laughed, while scanning his member's key ring. "This is thoroughly enjoyable to watch now that I'm not in dog house." I gave him a smile and watched him wander into the gym.

People with gym memberships must be certifiably insane, I declared this at seven when the gym was almost packed full of people. Person after person scanned into the system and went out of their way to sweat before they'd even had breakfast and I watched with equal parts fascination and horror as they seemed to actually enjoy it. Why weren't these people in bed, enjoying the most primal, basic need of our species? Sleep. These people needed an intervention.
"Why are you frowning at everyone?" Toby asked, dropping a takeaway coffee cup on to the bench in front of me.
"I'm wondering what sort of twisted game this is," I looked up at him. "These people must be here against their will, because who gets up and sweats on purpose in the morning?" Toby only laughed in response.
"Didn't know your coffee order, so I just got you a flat white," He told me.
"Any coffee will do at this point," I grinned. "Thank you."
"And, no. They're not here against their will, you get past the beginning stages of getting fit and, believe or not, exercising becomes addictive," Toby told me.
"I choose to believe not," I snorted and he shook his head at me, obviously amused.
"Everything fine, otherwise?" He asked and I nodded. "Taylor isn't here," He noted looking around and I shook my head.
"Nope," I verbally responded.
"Has he been here?" Toby asked slowly, studying me.
"When I opened up this morning, yes."
"Is he still actually breathing?" Toby asked with a smirk and I rolled my eyes.
"Not if I had my way, he wouldn't be; but the boy left unharmed and of his own accord," I confirmed and Toby smirked at me.
"It's chest day, Taylor loves chest day," Toby told me, slowly.
"So I have heard. I promise I did not harm him or kick him out. I asked to him leave as I still did not feel comfortable being around him and he appreciated that enough to leave on his own," I told Toby, conveniently leaving out me telling him to fuck off... and to sit on a cactus and twist... and that Taylor was welcome to go a rival gym. Those were unimportant details, in the grand scheme of things.
"Is he ever going to be allowed to be in the gym while you're here?" Toby asked with his face full of humour.
"With the right amount of grovelling and public humiliation, anything is possible," I replied and Toby snorted to himself.
"He chose the wrong girl to pick on, huh?"
"That is the general consensus, currently. Yes," I nodded, taking a sip of my coffee.
"When would you like to take your breaks?" Toby asked. On paper, I was working ten hours, but I was techniquely working fourteen hours. I had four hours throughout the day to take breaks and recharge. The trainers got them because of the physical nature of their jobs, it meant they could take time to properly eat or even take a nap if they needed. I got the lengthy break because I was working a trainer's shift, but I could see the possibilities involved in a four hour siesta after lunch.
"I'm happy to take my breaks during the down times and while you're still here," I told him. "I'll take an hour at nine, if that's okay?" I asked and Toby smirked at me.
"What time does Taylor start classes today?" He asked and I adopted the most innocent wide-eyed look I could manage.
"Nine, why is that?" I asked and Toby only snorted loudly and shook his head.
"You're evil," He announced and picked up a stack of papers and strolled into the office. Either Toby knew something I didn't know, or he legitimately did not care that a casual employee was dictating when and where his customers could use his product, which may very well end up in a lost customer.
The door to the gym slammed open and made me jump; I looked over to see Taylor coming towards me. I couldn't hold back the extremely unladylike gargle that came from the back of my throat from disgust.
"Where's Toby?" Taylor asked.
"No idea," I shrugged. "I don't even know if he's here." Taylor stared at me for a moment and then picked up my coffee and shook it at me.
"Then how did you get this?" He asked, full of attitude.
"The coffee fairy paid a visit."
"Then why does it have Toby's name on it?" Taylor demanded.
"It's a common name," I glared at him.
"What is going on out here?" Toby asked, leaving the office. Ugh. Good timing.
"You. There you are," Taylor put my coffee down and stepped towards Toby. "Why is she working? I need to work out, but I can't while she's working. Look at her, why is she here? She hates mornings, its chest day, Toby," Taylor prattled, although making his reminder about what day it was in his workout regime sound vaguely like a threat. "Chest day," He repeated, looking at Toby like it should have some ultimate universe secret meaning I wasn't aware it was capable of having. Toby looked vaguely amused as he watched Taylor unravel before him.
"It's not up to me, Cadley," Toby sighed. "You made a member of staff feel uncomfortable and therefore breached your membership contract with the gym. She can't stop you from being a member, unless you have done something seriously wrong, but she has every right to ask that you not be in the gym while she's working," Toby paused for moment, I glanced at Taylor who's eyes were wide and panicky. "Unless you find a way to make her comfortable in your presence again," Toby finished and I nearly choked on Toby's words.
"She's working all day," Taylor whimpered, which was extremely satisfying.
"... all weekend," Toby corrected him.
"He didn't know that," I added and Taylor looked at me wide eyed and then back to Toby.
"Chest day," Taylor reminded Toby.
"It's not up to me, bud," Toby replied, looking at Taylor sympathetically.
"Fuck," Taylor murmured softly. "Fuck, shit, fuck," Taylor repeated a little louder and with more venom. His gaze slid over me and I saw fire in his eyes, but it wasn't solely directed at me. He rubbed his mouth and jaw in an obviously frustrated move, and turned around, facing the door. "Faaark," he groaned quietly. "God damn it," He finally growled in his normal voice, before storming out of the gym and slamming the door for the second time today.
"Do we have cameras around here, so I can watch that again?" I looked at Toby who only gave me a parental-like look and went back into his office.