Training for Love « Chase Elliott »

« Anxiety »

Gabby's POV

"Everyone is staring at us."

"So? Let them."

I blinked up at Chase who just shrugged his shoulders and continued training me on the butterfly machine. He ran through the specs, showing me how to change the weights and to move the arms of the machine so they're adjusted to how I like it. After moving the seat up a little bit, I just sat there, unmoving.

"What's wrong?"
"I don't think I can do this."

"Yes, you can, I just showed you."

"No, no, that's not what I'm talking about." I bit the inside of my check as tears stung my eyes.

My anxiety was out in full force this morning. It hit me like a brick wall the moment I walked into the doors of Infinity Fitness.

Why?

Oh, cause Greek God Chase Elliott insisted that he drive me to the gym today and instead of getting out of the vehicle and walking in like two friends should, he made it a point to hold my hand.

Chivalry is not dead with this one if you were wondering.

I swear everyone stopped what they were doing and a spotlight was shown brightly on us as someone over the loudspeaker announced our presence, or at least, that's what it felt like.

I quickly dropped his hand, signed in, and made a beeline to the locker room to shove myself in a locker so no one would see me.

The invisible girl was sudden seen and she doesn't like this.

"Gabby," Chase whispered, pulling me back to the hereto. I looked up to him and melted at the look he was giving me; his eyes are so soft and he was giving me such a tender smile. "Look around us." I did I was told, looking at the guys who were lifting weights, and then over to the cardio machines where a few men and women of all ages were completely lost in what they were doing. "No one is watching us, Gabby, they're here for the same reason as you."
"I know," I sighed, "It's just, I feel them watching me, judging me... judging us. It's like I can hear their thoughts whenever I walk by and it's nothing good." Chase heard the anxiety in my voice because now he holding my hands.

"No one is judging you here, Gabby, and if they are, let them. They don't know you, or the struggles you've gone through to be here today. That right there is a testament that you're better than their judgmental thoughts." He squeezed my hands tightly and looked me right in the eyes. "If they're going to make derogatory comments because you're here at the gym making a healthy lifestyle choice, then they're going to have to answer to me because I will not tolerate that."

I tried to blink back my tears but they fell down my face anyways. Chase was quickly to wipe them away.

"I'm going to be right here with you, every step of the way. Okay?" He nodded, waiting for me to answer him.

I took a deep breath, closing my eyes, allowing my mind to go quiet so I can move forward and focus on today's workout.

"I promise." I said, opening my eyes to see Chase's own smiling back at me.
"That's my girl. Now c'mon, we have some muscles to shred." I laughed, rolling my eyes as Chase made a funny face and flexed like an idiot.

"Oh second thought, can Blaney train me?" Chase playfully pouted but then gave me a smile that caused my heart to skip a beat.

"He could, but then I wouldn't be able to do this..." I gasped when Chase bent down and placed a tender kiss on my lips. I looked up at him in shocked.

I can't believe he just kissed me... at the gym of all places.

"Shouldn't I have done that?" He could read the shock impression on my face and I quickly shook it off and smiled.