My phone started buzzing in my bag and I stared at the screen as I pulled it out.
Incoming call:Ashley Work
She was one of my favorite people, training to be an instructor at the high-end spinning studio I worked at.
“Hey, Ash.”
“Hi, Em. How are you?”
I took one last sip of my juice, drinking it down to the bottom. “Good, how are you?”
“Stuck. I know you already did the early shift, but how far away are you from the studio? Can you come back and cover Jace’s class? He’s sick.”
I looked at the time on my phone. “Yeah, sure. I’m about thirty minutes away, but I need fresh clothes.”
“That’s fine, there’s enough new stuff you can change into here.”
“Okay, see you soon.”
I stood up, slipping my phone back in my bag before tossing my empty juice container into the nearby trash can, and took off toward the studio.
“Thank you, thank you!” Ashley chirped as she rushed at me and roped me in a hug when I walked in through the main doors.
There was already a small group waiting in the lobby for the next class to begin.
“It’s fine, I didn’t have any plans.”
“I know, but still. I appreciate it. Not everyone would’ve come back.” Her eyes lit up. “The new stock arrived this morning and I picked some out for you, it’s really cute.”
Every six weeks, a new range of branded studio clothing arrived for the staff. I’d had a sneak peak of the latest collectiona few weeks ago and was obsessed with the cutest bright purple sports bra and matching pants.
“The purple ones?”
She nodded with a grin, walking back around the counter and handing a small pile of clothes over to me.
“Oh, thank you. Okay, we’ll call it even.” I turned toward the changing rooms and called back over my shoulder. “I’ll see you later.”
I wasn’t surprised to see that the studio was already half full when I walked in. I headed over to the stage, setting up the music and fitting my microphone pack. I noticed a few confused faces as I adjusted the instructor bike.
“Hey, guys! I’m covering for Jace today, but don’t worry, I’ll still be working you just as hard.”
It was nearly full when two women entered the room, walking straight toward the bikes directly in front of me. One of them had a rounded belly that made her look at least six months pregnant, not that I would ask, because there was a lot of potential for that to be awkward as fuck.
I walked over to them. “Hi, ladies, I’m Emerson. How are you both?”
They briefly glanced up at me from adjusting their saddles, answering in unison in an accent that definitely wasn’t from New York. “Hello. We’re good, thanks.”
“Oh, are you two visiting from England?”
The pregnant one hopped on her bike. “Oh no, we both live here.”
I turned to the little brunette to find her staring at me intently, her head tilted; a gaze I was finding slightly odd. And intimidating.
I tried to stop myself from frowning at her penetrating glare. I wasn’t sure she’d even blinked. “Have you done this class before?”
“Yes, we normally do Jace’s classes,” she replied.
“Okay, awesome. Well, let me know if you need anything.” I turned back to the pregnant one. “Please stop if you don’t feel well. Go at your own pace, okay?”
