Olivia tried to enjoy her weekend, being alone with no gym to run was odd and felt uncomfortable. Sleeping in was a bust, she tried, but at seven she finally burst out bed, tossing all the blankets on the floor, and ran sprints on the beach which was really hard, paid some bills and then walked to her new gym. She did upper body accessory work, the whole first floor of the gym was machines and free weights and the upstairs level was a frame with an open middle and all the cardio equipment faced inward, looking down over the weights.
The rest of the morning was spent walking the neighborhoods between the gym and her new home, Andrew made sure to remind her to post a picture or two so, she awkwardly posed while drinking out of her PureSide shaker cup and posted it to Instagram and Facebook.
Sunday was sort of the same routine, Sunday night she was in bed playing on her phone when Crawford's call came in. "Hello." She said sinking further into her comforter.
"Hi there." His voice was low, tired.
"It's late in New York."
"It is, I just had some clients leave, I was shooting a cat, a damn cat."
Olivia laughed, picturing him coaxing a feline into different positions, "You're practically famous!"
"Everything okay?" He asked.
"Yes, I'm not good at being idle or alone, but I'll get used to it I suppose."
"How's sleep?" She could hear blankets shifting on his end, he must be in bed too.
"I've had better and I've had worse, I'm not waking up much, which is good and bad too." Waking up meant a break from the terror.
"I wonder what would make them go away, permanently I mean."
"I've been going to therapists and psychotherapists since I was little, I never really talked to them—I don't want medication."
He mumbled an agreement.
"Are you naked?" She asked giggling, for some reason she just thought he may be laying in those soft sheets in the nude.
He laughed deeply, "I am, I don't usually sleep naked, but it was a freak hot day here, the humidity is at 85% or something, are you naked?"
"No, I have on your kangaroo shirt."
"Well that's too bad." She pressed the phone harder into her ear, she loved the sound of his voice, his accent. "You could get naked." He said with a smile in his voice and Olivia blushed.
"I am not having long distance sex with you, or phone sex or whatever it's called."
"Have you ever done it?" Crawford asked.
"NO!" She burst, "Have you?"
"Ummmm, no?" They were both laughing. They talked until yawning was the only thing she was saying. "Have good sleep, good luck at work tomorrow."
"Thanks" She yawned.
The sun was shining down and a warm breeze was blowing across the beach, with the windows open it gave the house a fresh, salty scent. She woke up excited for this Monday and happily packed her backpack with extra clothes, shoes and random snacks and veggies, her phone and protein. She locked the door and set off for Rebel's gym before eight, power walking the whole way there. The gym was empty, the only light on was up in the office, so she jogged up there.
"You're an early riser aren't you?" Susan was at her desk eating what looked like egg whites and bacon, drinking green tea.
"I'm used to getting up like three hours ago and running a gym."
YOU ARE READING
I choose me.
General Fiction"I choose me" follows the story of Olivia Granger , her life from an orphan, to an athlete and business owner, to a woman whose life turns in a direction she never ever thought it would go, a direction she never even knew could exist. It is a hear...
