Chapter 1: After Hours
It was close to midnight.
The gym was nearly empty—just the way I liked it. No queues, no loud groups, just the soft hum of machines and the occasional clink of weights. Peaceful.
That’s when I saw her.
She was tucked into a corner near the mirrors, focused intently on a pair of dumbbells. Not heavy ones, but her attention made them look like serious business.
I hadn’t seen her before, and something about her made me look twice.
She wore a loose hoodie over a sports bra, the kind that draped just enough to hide her but not quite enough to make her invisible.
When she moved, I caught glimpses—curved hips, a soft hourglass frame, and a chest that pressed gently against the fabric in ways she probably didn’t intend to draw attention to. Still, she had that natural, unbothered kind of beauty. The kind that didn’t scream for attention but got it anyway.
But more than her looks, it was her presence. Reserved. Focused. Earbuds in, head down. She didn’t scan the room or check herself out in the mirror like others did. She was just there, quietly doing her thing.
I returned to the squat rack, trying to stay focused, but my eyes kept drifting. I caught her reflection in the mirror—calm, maybe a little unsure.
She looked like someone who was here more to escape something than to break records.
She sat down on the bench for a breather, pulling her hoodie sleeves up. I grabbed my bottle and walked past her on my way to refill it.
“First time doing the night shift?” I asked, offering a half-smile.
She looked up, pulling one earbud out. “Um… yeah. Just trying to avoid the crowd.”
“Smart move. This place becomes a ghost town after eleven. You get the peace, and no one’s watching your form like a hawk.”
She let out a short laugh, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I wasn’t sure if I was even allowed to talk. Everyone seems so intense.”
“You caught me during my social hour,” I said with a small grin. “Must be your lucky night.”
She smiled—shy, almost hesitant, but genuine. That smile caught me off guard in the best way.
“Zach,” I said, offering a hand.
She paused, then shook it. “Rae.”
“Nice to meet you, Rae. Stick around long enough and you’ll learn the vending machine has the worst protein bars known to man.”
She chuckled again, this time a little more relaxed. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
I didn’t linger too long. Just gave her a nod and returned to my routine. But as I racked the weights and adjusted my grip, I knew one thing for sure:
Tonight, my workouts just got a lot more interesting.
[To be continued.]