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GABI
It is almost closing time and I have had many heavy classes today, plus some extra ones that were squeezed in at the last minute. So, I am feeling happily exhausted and ready to go home, pour a glass of wine, and put my feet up. I say goodbye to my last client for the night, thankful that the session went well. He has a competition coming up in a month and he has been training really hard for it. I have been so impressed with his dedication.
I hear Toni calling my name from across the almost empty gym. I head over to her with my thoughts on the day and what I need to do before I leave. On the way home I need to grab some food. I am starving. All this jumping around can work up a good appetite.
As I walk towards Toni, she is telling me about a client's daughter who left a jacket behind the day before. When I get closer to the reception desk, I try to focus on what she is asking and pay attention. But then I see Alex standing there, my heart leaps into my throat. Alex. I hesitate for a moment and then his name escapes my lips.
"Alex?" I say, curiously. He is dressed in dark denim jeans and a black shirt. He looks amazing. His hair is a little messy and when he turns to look at me, he is grinning.
"Gabi, Bella left her jacket - "He says with a wide smile that I don't recognize on him. He looks so happy. I stumble over my words for a second, distracted by how good he looks. More relaxed than normal.
"Oh. I haven't seen anything, but we can take a look around?" I say, eyeing him and wondering why he looks so cheerful.
Toni picks up her bag behind the desk and stands up saying "Gabi, I am headed out. I'll be here to open at five tomorrow morning." I nod and reply "Thanks, Toni. See you tomorrow." I don't look away from Alex. I can't help the smile that is creeping onto my face. He is standing quite close to me and now I can smell the alcohol on his breath. I grin. He has been drinking. He stands up a little straighter and grins back at me again.
I chuckle. I think he is tipsy. Why would he rock up here at closing time looking tipsy? Surely, he could have just looked for her jacket tomorrow or called the reception and had them look for him. Why did he come through here - so late on a Friday when he was obviously out with friends or something this afternoon?
"Come on. Let's look around where the kids take off their boxing gloves. Maybe she left it there. Or near the water fountain on that side?"
I lead him into the gym, and he follows close behind me. "Thanks so much, Gabs. I really appreciate this." He says and I notice that he has called me Gabs. He has never called me that before. He looks relaxed and he has not stopped smiling since I laid eyes on him. What in the world is going on with him? This feels so weird. It feels like I am talking to a totally different person.
"It's no problem," I say as we begin to search on the shelves around the kids' boxing gear. We don't find anything though and I try and think where else she might have left it.
"How was class today?" Alex asks, not phased that we have not come across the jacket yet and sounding like he is not in a hurry to be anywhere else.
"It was fun. I had a few extra classes, so it was quite busy. But I enjoyed it, thanks."
"You are really good at what you do you know."
I eye him suspiciously. Well, isn't he chatty tonight? I grin. Looking at him I can see he is a little more than tipsy. He has that lazy, relaxed look in his eyes and I can see that every now and then he checks me out with mischief in his eyes.
"Thanks." I say, unsure how to handle his compliment and this different version of him. I like it though. I am just not used to it.
"You know, I have to tell you." He sounds excited. "I dropped off Bella at a sleepover tonight. It's the first birthday party she has been invited to for the entire year. She has been making new friends this week at school. I mean the classes have just done her a world of good."
I laugh. I really want to sayI told you so. I eye him up and down and he looks me up and down with a glint in his eye.
Boldly I chirp "I told you so." Then I grin at him, wondering if I have pushed my luck too far.
He packs up laughing. "I guess you did, hey. I can't even argue with that one."
Who is this version of Alex? I wonder to myself. Why is he being so nice? I guess the alcohol has taken down that rigid wall he usually has up around himself. I much prefer this version of Alex over that grumpy, rude idiot I have met a few times now. He actually seems like he might even be fun to hang around now that he has let go of all that stiff attitude bullshit.
I shake my head. "Are you sure she had her jacket when he came to the class?"
He nods enthusiastically. "She said she did."
I notice behind Alex that the last gym member has just walked out of the door. "Sorry, let me just lock that door quickly. Then we can go through to the back and look around there. Maybe someone found the jacket and put it somewhere else?" I say, walking over to the entrance area and snapping the quick lock in place on the front door to the gym. I still need to go around the back and lock the side door, but we can do that when we are looking there. "What color was her jacket?" I ask as I return to Alex, perplexed about how it could just disappear like this.
"Pink." He says quickly.
"Ok, well let's go look around the back sections. I need to lock up that side. The grounds man is usually here. He locks up, but I think he left already. Anyway, we can just lock up as we look around if you don't mind?" He nods and follows me. Briefly, his hand is on my lower back, and it sends shivers down my spine.
"I am not in a rush. I just know that Bella loves that jacket, and she will really want me to find it."
He follows close behind me. "How long have you had the gym? It seems like you are doing really well here?"
He makes conversation with me, and I think again how much I prefer this version of him. Why can't he be like this all the time? Friendly. It is not that difficult to just be friendly.
