Dancing With A Stranger (GH Series Book 3)

Ollie

Ollie

"PUSH IT!!" I was teaching my aerobics class and making the class burn. Probably because of my internal rage as it was lit, and the fire was burning bright. "Feel the burn!!" Only a few more minutes until the cool down. Whilst I'm making my class sweat, I best fill you in.

My name is Ollie. Yeah, it's a nickname. I prefer Ollie to Olivia, just so you know. My internal rage is that I found my girlfriend, in bed with another woman and of course, she's crawling to me, begging for forgiveness, that it meant nothing to her, it was a lapse of judgement on her behalf.

"Now breathe! Time for your cool down!" I heard a few welcome mutters and I smirked knowing I made the class work hard. I worked hard alongside them. However, what I didn't know was that my boss was joining in the session today and once I noticed her, the class was already in full swing, so i just kept going. "Okay everyone, good class! See you all again next week!" I was tidying up after the class and making sure that the floor was cleaned when I heard someone clearing her throat.

"So, good class..."

"Thanks Callie." Yeah, Callie is my boss. I believe a few of you already know her from her stories. Anyways, Callie had set up her own gym and I was hired to do some classes during the week and well, here we are.

"Are your classes normally that intense?"

"Uhm, not normally, no." I feel like I'm heading for a telling off. Callie raised her eyebrow and chugged her water.

"What lit a fire under your ass?"

"Not what, who. Polly." Callie cringed when I said her name, even though she is employed here as well.

"What did she do?"

"I would rather not talk about it." In the back of my mind, all I want to do is come to work, do my shift, please Callie and avoid Polly as much as possible. Moral of my story? I'm never dating anyone else that I work with, it makes things awkward when thing fall to shit.

"But will it affect the working relationship we all have?"

"I can't guarantee that Callie, but I will try and remain as professional throughout, as always."

"Good. Now, Polly is waiting on the room, so you best get a move on."

"I won't be long Callie." I was just doing the final checks and Polly walked into the room. I inwardly groaned but remained as professional from appearances should anyone else walk into the room.

"Shit. Sorry. Thought you would be gone by now."

"Doing my final checks then I'm out of your hair. Don't sweat it. I'm gone before you know it." I said that rather coldly to Polly. I thought we were gonna be end game, but clearly not.

"Ol, can we talk please?"

"No. Clearly I am not good enough for you or to be with you, so what's the use in talking?" I can feel the bile rising in my throat having to actually have this somewhat strained conversation with her.

"We still have to work together."

"Which I am aware of. With that being said, I will say the same to you as I did to Callie. I will remain as professional as possible as I'm not tarnishing this gym's name." I know Callie has built up a lot of credibility for her club over the few years being open. It's extremely friendly, always has a good vibe and well, it doesn't feel like I am coming to work at all.

"Don't shut me out, Ol." I scoffed at that comment.

"You were caught out. You were caught red handed and for whatever reason, you want me to keep talking to you."

"It was poor judgement on my behalf. Seeing how crushed you were..." If I didn't know Polly the way I do now, I would have fallen for this sob story she is trying to push on me.

"Made you feel what, guilty? shit? I don't care Polly." I went to walk past Polly and she stopped me and pulled me hard against her body.

"I still want you Ol..."

"You only want me because you don't want me to give it up to anyone else but you. News flash, I didn't sleep with you because of your..." I looked her up and down. "Reputation. Now if you excuse me, you have a class to teach and I need to get the fuck out of here."

"I will not give up trying to win you back Ollie."

"Whatever. See you." I manoeuvred my way out of her grip and headed straight for the showers. I desperately need one after that session and then some lunch. That moment when the water hits your tired, aching body and all you can feel is a sense of relief. That flashback of Polly and....well I don't know her name but to be frank, I don't care either. Then my naivety of thinking Polly and I were end game. I should have seen sense. But, in true form, yet again, I find out the hard way.

Polly knew my insecurities about being cheated on. She knew that I have experienced it not once, but twice before. Third time is a lucky charm, eh? Finishing off my shower, I get dried and dressed and head to the office. "Good shower?"

"It was thanks. If you think my class was too intense, I would rather you chew me up and spit me out right now"

"I'm doing nothing of the sort. It's not down as a beginner's class, so you are fine."

"Are you sure?" I couldn't believe I wasn't getting admonished for being harsh in my class.

"Of course."

"Okay. I promise you Callie, I will try and remain as professional as possible. I've already told Polly that." Callie quirked her eyebrow and then nodded her head.

"I know you will. Now stop your nattering, make us both a cuppa and let's sit down and look at schedules." I smiled. Callie is an awesome boss to have and rather understanding. Thankfully!

"Sounds like a plan, boss!"

"Well, hop to it then."

"Aye, aye, chief!" Callie shook her head and I laughed and went about making the cuppa requests and sat next to Callie. "So, how are Ashley and the kids?"

"They are doing great thanks. Although our youngest is teething so that constitutes to screaming during the night. It can be pretty tiring."

"How did you know Ashley was the one?" I watch Callie break into a smile.

"It's more than just the physical connection with someone. Ashley and I... We started off pretty great, then my stubborn ass nearly threw it all away. But having time apart, made me realise, slowly, that she was under my skin. Not in a bad way by any matter of means, she just...got me, you know? Despite knowing what I had been through, she was willing to be there, to break down my guarded heart, piece by piece and there is not a moment in our story that I regret. Our love is unconditional. I would honestly kill anyone that would try and come between us, to hurt what we worked so hard to build and to break our family apart."

Hearing Callie talk about her wife like that, made me see sense. "I don't think I could have killed who Polly cheated with."

"Then Polly wasn't your everything. Your everything, you would do anything, and I mean anything to keep them in your life."

"You're very wise boss."

"I wouldn't say wise, just know how I feel about my wife. You will find your person one day, just don't go looking. The universe has its way of pointing your soul mate out to you." I got up off my chair and hugged Callie and my voice came out almost in a whisper.

"Thank you, Callie, thank you."