~The Gym.~
"Purple?" Adrian's message pops up.
"Yeah, I like it," Lexi types, her fingers dancing across the screen.
She engages in a playful text exchange with Adrian, the words on her screen mirroring the playful banter that often characterizes their interactions.
"I thought you were busy," she continues a hint of curiosity in her words.
"Yes, but not too busy for the gym," Adrian responds.
"The gym, huh?" Lexi types, her lips curving into a knowing smile.
With a contented sigh, she walks into the gym, her heart light and her mind already picturing the upcoming moments they will share.
Despite their demanding schedules, the gym offers a welcome respite where Lexi and Adrian can come together and share moments of togetherness.
As she enters the gym, the determination is evident in her eyes, ready to face the challenges of their workout routine side by side. Lexi's gym bag slung over her shoulder, she walks with purpose towards the designated changing area. The soft thud of her sneakers against the polished floor is the only sound that marks her entrance.
Adrian's gaze is drawn to Lexi as she walks in, a warm smile tugging at his lips when he spots her in the vibrant purple gym wear she had mentioned earlier. The color suits her well, and he's glad to see her embrace it.
"So now we're just casually working out together? she asks, as she quickly puts her bag in her locker and walks towards Adrian.
"Yeah, this is the only time that we're both not busy, so it works out," he says as she stands up to greet her.
He hugs her since they are alone in the gym. He had been in the gym for 10 minutes so he was just doing his warm-up routine as he waited for her.
They break the hug and Lexi sees the dumbbell in his sides and sees that they seem heavy.
"This is what you mean when you say you were warming up?" she genuinely asks.
"Yeah,' he smiles as he takes one with his right hand and hands it to her, her hands immediately fall once she tries to pick them up and Adrian helps her and they both laugh, She takes her mat and places it down in front of the mirror.
"My definition of a warm-up is some light stretches," she stretches as Adrian mimics what she does. She proceeds to jog on the spot, then arm swings, side bends then leg swings.
She laughs as she sees Adrian doing it too.
"I want to try your workout routine," she says as she finishes her warm-up.
Teasingly, he says, "Okay, let's see if you can handle them,?"
Lexi's response is lighthearted yet determined, "You'll see."
She takes a moment to hydrate herself with hot water before they dive into their exercises, sharing the camaraderie of pushing their limits and encouraging each other along the way.
Side by side, Lexi and Adrian engage in a challenging workout routine. Lexi quickly realizes that Adrian's approach to fitness is quite intense, evident especially in his impressive display of push-ups. His strength and endurance are on full display as he effortlessly performs a series of them, leaving Lexi both impressed and slightly out of breath just watching.
"You have to work out like this every day?" she manages to ask, a mix of curiosity and amazement in her voice.
Adrian, while catching his breath between sets, smirks playfully. "Yes, I'm used to it."
Lexi falls on her back and waits for him to finish. She is trying to catch her breath.
"I thought my body could handle it but I was wrong," she turns her head to her side and looks at him. He has finished the last set.
As Adrian resumes his workout, Lexi takes a moment to catch her breath. She lies down on her mat, still watching Adrian with a mixture of admiration and appreciation. His determination is evident in his every move, and she can't help but be inspired by his commitment to maintaining his fitness.
"You just get used to it after doing it for years, just like your routine," he says.
"Yeah, I've been working out for years and I still have to try hard to finish the sets," she says.
"They're hard, the only thing you need to do is to never stop," he says.
"Yeah," she smiles at him and wakes up from lying down, with more determination.
"Let's continue, though I'll do it at my own pace," she says and he agrees with her.
Meanwhile, Adrian's gaze roams over the gym's interior, taking in the array of exercise equipment that lines the walls. Dumbbells of varying weights are neatly arranged on racks, benches beckon for use, and resistance machines promise a rigorous session. He follows Lexi's lead, finding his locker and retrieving his workout attire.
The spacious workout area, where a sea of exercise machines and mats stretch out before them.
Her matching leggings hug her form snugly, the fabric hinting at the toned muscles beneath.
Lexi takes a moment to secure her long hair into a practical ponytail, tucking a few rebellious strands behind her ears. She adjusts the straps of her sports bra, ensuring a snug fit before moving to the mat.
They begin with dynamic stretches, their bodies flowing through a series of movements designed to warm up their muscles and increase flexibility.
Lexi's movements are graceful and fluid, with her years of dance and physical training. Adrian matches her stride for stride, his focus is unwavering as he mirrors her motions.
As the warm-up concludes, they transition to the heart of their workout – a combination of strength and endurance exercises. Adrian approaches the dumbbell rack, his eyes scanning the array of weights before selecting a pair that challenges his muscles without sacrificing form. Lexi positions herself on an exercise mat, her core engaged as she prepares for a series of planks and crunches.
The sounds of controlled breathing and exertion fill the air as they push through their sets. Adrian's muscles tense and ripple as he lifts the weights. Lexi's abdomen tightens with every crunch, her focus unwavering despite the burn that gradually builds.
They move from one exercise to the next, seamlessly transitioning between lunges, squats, and push-ups. Lexi's legs work tirelessly as she completes a set of squats, her movements steady and precise. Adrian's biceps bulge as he completes a set of pull-ups.
Sweat glistens on their brows and their chests rise and fall with each breath as they push themselves further. The intensity of the workout is intense, a shared commitment to pushing their limits and achieving their goals. As they approach the final sets, their energy remains unwavering, to show their resilience.
Finally, the last repetition is complete. Lexi and Adrian stand side by side, chests heaving and skin flushed with exertion. Their gazes meet, and for a moment, time seems to slow. The gym fades into the background as they exchange a knowing smile – a silent acknowledgment of the hard work they've put in.
With their workout concluded, they began to cool down. Stretching their muscles and allowing their heart rates to gradually return to normal, they savor the sense of accomplishment that accompanies a challenging workout. As they gather their belongings and head towards the bathroom, there's a shared sense of satisfaction in knowing that they've given their all.
After her work, she takes a break and she meets a cheerful Emma who tells her that she wants to talk to her. She directs Lexi to a conference room and she meets Ryan in it.
"I didn't know we had a meeting?" she says.
"This is not a regular meeting," Emma says as she proceeds to her presentation as Lexi sits down.
It reads 'Adrian & His Friends: An extensive presentation that Lexi needs to get ready for.' It's too long, seems like it was Emma's idea.
"Just go with it," Ryan mouths to Lexi.
And Emma smiles as she starts.
Lexi sits through the entire time when Emma explains Adrian and his friend's lives.
"Chris, Adrian's most trusted friend and manager. They go way back since they met in high school and fifteen years later, their friendship is still strong. He is twenty-eight, majored in business administration, and was hired as Adrian's manager while in university. His family is well-known for investments in Tech. They are more private and you wouldn't know who they are if you met them. Chris decided to be Adrian's manager but he has his investments outside and he wants to support his friend to the end," she finishes Chris' presentation.
She clicks on Austin's file and opens it. A picture of Austin pops up, a magazine shoot then him on his superbike, and the next one with girls around him.
"Austin, the more outgoing of the group, he likes girls as much as he likes superbikes and supercars. He lives a larger-than-life lifestyle. He is an heir to his father's billion-dollar supercar business. His father knows your father, Lexi but they are more rivals than friends,"
Lexi nods her head. She hasn't met Austin but she knows his dad from the way her dad talks about him.
"He is the one you should be wary of since he influences Adrian's decisions most of the time. He doesn't believe in love and he pushes that to his friends but other than that, he is a good friend to him," she finished his presentation.
She clicks on Trevor's file and a high-quality picture of Trevor comes up. The next one with headphones and his gaming setup which looks great.
"Trevor, they call him the genius, he started coding when he was young and went on to develop video games as a way to expand on his love for video games and superbikes. He believes in love and he loves Gianna.
Emma clicks on a file about Adrian and Lexi is speechless. Before Emma can continue,
"Where did you guys get all this?" Lexi finally decides to ask.
"Chris sent it to us," Ryan says.
"When did you start talking to Chris?"
Ryan remembers when he met Chris later at the Superbike Community Meet.
"Okay, let's hear it," Lexi says as she sits comfortably.
"Adrian, twenty-eight, professional superbike racer for ten years. This is the first time he is racing in his hometown after ten years. Although he is mostly traveling, he finds time to meet with his friends. He values friendship and believes in love as seen from his past relationships. He had a few rough years after," she looks around and both Ryan and Lexi give a knowing look.
"But after that, he has been focusing a lot on his races and plans to break the record this year, Ron's record has been his inspiration since he started racing. He hasn't been in a relationship for two years and we're all hoping he is ready for one," She ends it and it feels like Lexi being speechless is a bad thing.
Emma closes her book and presentation and looks at Lexi who stands up and smiles at them.
"Thank you so much guys, I think I'm ready to meet them.
"Everybody knows how he loves and I guess I just want to feel that kind of love for the first time," she tells Emma honestly.