A High-End Finish(60)

Jennifer scowled. “Shut up, Whitney.”

“You shut up,” Whitney said.

It was interesting that the mean girls could be just as mean to each other as to outsiders.

They walked to the other side of the room to use the big Pilates balls, so I ignored the two of them and continued my run. Five minutes later, I slowed down and then came to a stop. After wiping off the machine, I slung my towel around my neck and walked across the spacious gym floor to the free-weight area to find Penny.

She was working out on the bench press and I had to admit, I was a little intimidated. There were way too many weights on the barbell she was lifting.

I had used the bench press a few times when I first joined the gym and was able to work with a personal trainer, but, in general, I preferred to use the machines because I felt more in control of both the weight and my own movements. Penny was way beyond my level, at least when it came to the bench press. I was grateful she’d agreed to work out with me.

“There you are,” she said, straining to lift the weight over her head. “Do you mind spotting me?”

“Not at all,” I said, moving closer to the weight stand to lend her any support she needed. “How much weight are you lifting?”

“Hundred twenty-five,” she gasped, as her biceps bulged from the effort.

“Holy mother,” I muttered. “Those sedate little banker’s suits you wear every day are hiding some amazing muscles.”

She grinned and managed to slide the barbell onto the pins of the rack before letting her head drop back and exhaling loudly. She laid her hands on her chest, trying to catch her breath. When she finally was able to sit up, she glared at me. “Rule number one: you’re not supposed to make me laugh on the bench press.”

I could tell she wasn’t really angry, but I apologized, anyway. “I’m sorry, but you really shocked me. You’re so strong.”

“For my weight and experience, it’s pretty standard.” She grabbed her water bottle and took a long gulp. Once she was standing, she wiped off the bench with her towel and said, “Okay, let me spot you.”

“I’m going to be a severe disappointment to you.” But I went ahead and stretched out on the bench. “I injured my shoulder the other day, so I’d better take it easy. Let’s start with twenty pounds.”

She laughed. “Oh, come on. Even with an injury, you can do better than that.”

“Okay, thirty.”

Shaking her head, she said, “We’ll start with fifty.”

“No way. I’ll go forty.” I was basically in good shape, thanks to my occupation, but I was a novice on the bench press.

“All right, but that’s nothing. A ten-year-old could lift that much.”

I laughed. “I’m okay with that.”

“So am I, because the barbell weighs ten pounds on its own. So you’ll be lifting fifty after all.”

“Diabolical,” I muttered.

She chuckled as she reset the weights on each side and then gave me the thumbs-up sign.

I grabbed hold of the bar with both hands and lifted it carefully off the sturdy pins that were screwed into the rack. “Oh, God.”

“Bring it down first, easy, easy,” she said softly. “That’s it. Now lift.”

“I’m so out of shape,” I said on a rush of breath. I thought my aches and pains from the bicycle accident had faded, but they now came roaring back with a vengeance.

“No, you’re not,” she insisted. “You look good. You should be lifting at least ninety pounds, by the way. That’s just according to your size.”

“No way.”

“I’m serious. Now on the next lift, focus on your pecs. Feel those muscles working. Can you feel them?”

“Are you kidding?” I could feel them screaming.

“Isn’t that the best feeling there is?” she asked.

“Hey, Penny.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Jennifer Bailey catch Penny’s attention.

“Jennifer! Hi!” Penny sounded happy to see her. Go figure. As they started chitchatting, my interest in bonding with Penny wavered. It got worse with every second that Jennifer hung around.

Ignoring me, Jennifer grabbed hold of the rack and swayed coyly. “Whitney had to go home.”

“But you stayed,” Penny said, her tone demure, not sounding like herself.

“Yeah. Did you think about what I asked you?”

“Sure did.” Penny giggled. “I say let’s do it.”

It was odd to hear Penny giggle after watching her kick ass on the bench press, but I wasn’t in a position to judge, having giggled myself a time or two. But never when talking to Jennifer Bailey. She was a vile, angry person. How could anyone possibly giggle around her? Since Penny was new in town, though, I decided to cut her some slack.

“You’re doing great, Shannon,” Penny said, her voice perkier than it had been a minute ago. “Keep it up. I’ll just be a second.”

I was a little miffed when they walked away, but I decided to keep lifting because I figured the stronger I got, the easier it would be to kick Jennifer’s butt. Not that I ever wanted to get close enough to kick any part of her, but the visual worked. I was able to lift the barbell another six times before I was ready to collapse and die. I managed to slide the monster weight back onto the pins and after that my arms fell limply to my sides.