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“Do a half marathon with me!", she said.
“It’ll be so much fun, and the training won’t even be that bad!" , she said.
Except here you were, sweating your ass off on an indoor treadmill in January, because this damn race was in March, but the half foot of snow outside wasn’t really good for training.
Aayla smiles at you from the treadmill next to you, her long braided pigtails swinging hard against her back.
“One more mile!”
She’s positively giddy despite the sweat dripping down her neck, and she continues her steady pace.
You loved Aayla. You liked the gym, you liked feeling fit and being able to climb two sets of stairs without feeling winded, but god dammit that doesn't mean you can’t complain a little about this part.
The treadmill was too monotonous for you; you couldn’t wait for the weather to perk up so you could have a change of scenery. The only true upside was the people watching, and oh, where there people to watch.
Old ladies on the stair steppers gossiping about this, that, and the other. Girls doing yoga positions that made you jealous of their gravity defying ways. Gym bros with tight tanks and a love for mirror selfies.
Aayla’s fiance almost fell into that category, except instead of posing for the mirror, he’d not so subtly pose for her across the gym until he got a giggle out of her. Bly was a good guy and was fairly friendly at the gym, so it wasn’t a surprise when one of his equally as good and friendly friends had caught your eye.
Wrecker was a gym regular that always left your face feeling hot and your throat a little too dry. The muscles, oh the muscles were obscene. Biceps that you suspected you could bounce a quarter off of. Strong shoulders that got even stronger when he sat at the pull machine, set with weights that you were positive weighed more than you and Aayla combined.
One time while taking a water break and chatting with the two of you, Wrecker lifted up the hem of his shirt to wipe his face, and the happy trail you saw on his belly almost made your nose bleed.
But it was just a crush. A silly gym crush on a handsome and very nice guy that Aayla teased you about and made your heart do little pitter patters.
By the time you finish your final mile, your legs feel like jello. After you do some stretches to cool down, its like heaven to have a seat on the bench and sip water. You’re digging into the protein bar you brought when Aayla inhales her water so fast she chokes. You slap her on the back a few times, understandably startled.
“Shit are you ok? Down the wrong pipe?”
Aayla shakes her head, gesturing with hand towards the front entrance to the gym.
“Nope-“ She coughs. “That.”
Oh boy. Oh angels and saints.
Those are some short shorts.
Wrecker wasn’t much of a dresser, which wasn’t a bad thing. He clearly stuck to things that made him comfy and happy; something that made sense for him and his personality. Loose basketball shorts and a tshirt with holes in the collar were his usual gym wear, but instead today he’s chatting up Bly while sporting red shorts that only go down to his mid-thigh.
“Dear god,” you whisper, and you do your best to avert your gaze up to Wreckers face when he waves goodbye to Bly and starts heading over to the two of you.
“Hi guys!”
He hasn’t strayed from t-shirts, but this one is new and black and just the right size, and stretches across his chest in a way that shows off his pecs.
Aayla is more composed now, sending one of her trademark smiles Wreckers way. “Hi Wreck. I like the new clothes.”
He stops in front of the two of you, hand coming up to rub at the back of his neck. He’s bashful, and it’s so damn cute, cuter than should be allowed for a man that could crack your back lik-
“Really? I wasn’t sure about ‘em.” He plucks at the hem of the shorts, clearly a little self conscious. “Took Omega to get gym clothes for school and apparently this is whats in style.”
You can’t help but tease. “You worried about being stylish?”
“No. But Omega said I looked cool, so if she thinks so-“
“Then that’s all that matters,” says Aayla, and she holds out her hand for a high five. Wrecker chuckles and returns it, and looks back to you.
“I agree with her. You look ‘fresh’. And that red is a good color for you.” You’re not teasing when you say that, it is a good color for him.
Plus saying so gives you an excuse to look down at his massive thighs again.
“Aww, now you ladies are just buttering me up!”
The three of you exchange pleasantries for a few more minutes before Wrecker excuses himself to stash his bag, turning around to head towards the locker room.
You try not to oggle at his backside, but it is admittedly not easy.
“My god.”
“Right? Right?”
“It’s like two Christmas hams.”
“Yeah, and you’re trying to take a bite!”
“AAYLA!”
~