With You

This Way

Sunday, December 9th
6 am

It was early in the morning, the sun barely peeking over the horizon, casting a pale light across the quiet neighborhood. Clovel had been trying to stick to his new routine, forcing himself out of bed at an ungodly hour to join Tiana at the gym.

He had always admired her dedication, but now he realized just how much of a beast she truly was when it came to working out. No matter how many days passed, she was always the first one up, ready to go.

Tiana couldn't believe Clovel was actually getting up this early just to work out with her. She turned to him with a playful smirk as he pulled his shirt over his head, revealing his toned muscles, a result of the countless hours they had spent at the gym together.

"Ready, baby?" she asked, her voice full of energy despite the early hour.

"Yeah," Clovel replied, though his voice was still heavy with sleep. He quickly slipped on his shoes, the cool morning air causing him to shiver slightly.

Tiana and Clovel made their way downstairs, the soft thuds of their footsteps echoing through the quiet house. They grabbed their water bottles from the kitchen counter, the only sound breaking the silence.

Tiana grabbed her gym bag, her movements quick and practiced. As they headed towards the door, Clovel couldn't resist-he reached out and gave her a playful smack on the behind. Tiana glanced back at him with a raised eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"Let's get this over with" he says shaking his head, the anticipation of the upcoming workout already making his muscles tense.

The gym was sparsely populated, just a few dedicated early risers occupying the machines. The fluorescent lights overhead cast a bright, sterile glow on the equipment. Tiana led the way, her gym bag slung over her shoulder as she headed straight for the free weights section, where they always began their routine.

Clovel followed closely, rolling his shoulders and stretching his arms, trying to shake off the last remnants of sleep. Tiana was already setting up for their first exercise-dumbbell squats. She grabbed a pair of weights, heavier than what Clovel typically used, and positioned herself in front of the mirror.

"Let's warm up with these," Tiana said, her tone brisk and focused. She glanced at Clovel, her eyes briefly softening as she added, "Take it easy if you need to, babe. We've got a full session ahead."

Clovel nodded, though he was determined not to fall behind. He picked up a pair of dumbbells, slightly lighter than Tiana's but still challenging, and mirrored her stance. Tiana dropped into a squat with perfect form, her movements controlled and precise. Clovel followed suit, feeling the burn in his thighs as he lowered himself, then pushed back up.

They moved through the first set in silence, the only sounds between them the steady breaths and the occasional clink of weights. After three sets, Clovel's legs were starting to feel the strain, but Tiana was just getting started.

"Alright, next up is bench presses," she said, already moving toward the benches. She wiped her forehead with a small towel, not even breaking a sweat yet.

Clovel followed her, shaking out his legs as he walked. He knew the bench press was one of her favorite exercises-Tiana's upper body strength was no joke. She set up on the bench first, loading the bar with weights that made Clovel's eyes widen a bit. She lay back, positioning herself under the bar, her expression all business.

"Spot me," she instructed, her voice firm. Clovel stood at the ready, his hands hovering just beneath the bar as she gripped it, her knuckles turning white. With a deep breath, Tiana lifted the bar off the rack and lowered it to her chest, then pressed it back up with controlled power. She made it look almost effortless, her muscles working in perfect harmony.