Wins and Losses

Hannah

“I hate you,” I panted as I leaned down, my hands braced on my knees.

“I don’t think you do,” he chuckled as he handed me my water bottle.

After the push-ups, he’d made me row a thousand meters and then do squat jacks and then another five hundred meters.

I was a dripping, sweaty mess, and my thighs burned, but I knew he was just pushing me because he knew I was capable of doing it.

“Are you ready to stop, or do you want to finish out the last ten minutes?”

“Depends on what you want me to do,” I responded warily.

“Run a quarter of a mile on the treadmill, ten ground-to-press with the medicine ball, and then repeat. See how many rounds you can finish.”

“Are you sure you’re not the devil?” I laughed sarcastically.

“I can do it with you,” he offered.

“Fine. But you’ve gotta slow those long legs down; I won’t be able to keep up.”

“I have a feeling you’ll keep up just fine,” he winked as he stepped onto treadmill number seven. I wiped my forehead and hopped on six, heading straight into a steady jog.

Game on.

***

“Are you sure you don’t want me to do it?” Jordan asked as we finished wiping down the equipment we’d used with the sanitizing wipes.

“Isn’t that like cheating or something? Having the coaches weigh their own team?”

“Mollie has done a majority of them. It’s not like you can cheat the machine.”

“Will you be upset if I pass?” I asked, scanning his face for a reaction.

“Why would I be upset? I was just offering moral support.”

“I think I just want Mollie in there. It’s not like you won’t get the results today anyways.”

He nodded. “That’s totally fine. Come say goodbye before you leave?”

“Of course. And I’ll be back with Parker and Tatum this afternoon,” I told him.

“Maybe I’ll kidnap you while they’re at their weigh-ins,” he mused.

“You can have me all you want next week,” I laughed.

“Promise?” He grinned.

“Jordan, your next client is here,” Cynthia’s voice carried down the hallway to where we were standing by the lockers.

“Go,” I said. “You’ve got a busy day.”

He squeezed my hand and nodded. I wanted to kiss him before he left, but I still wasn’t sure where the boundaries lay.

“Text me if you want me to rescue you later,” he offered.

I shook my head and watched him jog down the hallway to the front desk. My hand was shaking as I knocked on the office door, but Mollie was all smiles as she opened it and ushered me inside.

“Okay, same routine as the first time. Front, side, and back photos,” she explained. “Then we’ll get you on the machine.”

I still didn't look at the iPad while she took my photos. Was I supposed to smile for weight loss photos?

“You'll need to input your data like last time. It'll sync in your account with your email address.”

I took off my socks and shoes, wiped my feet off with the alcohol wipe, and stepped onto the machine. My body was thrumming with nerves as I waited for the number to pop up on the device.

“Holy shit,” I laughed as I registered the number.

For the first time since I was a teenager, it was under two hundred pounds.

“You're not the first one to say that this morning,” Mollie chuckled. “Grab the handholds and put your thumbs on the metal pads. Just make sure to stand still.”

The body fat percentage was still going to be higher than I wanted, but the fact that I'd lost almost twenty-five pounds was a win in my book.

“All right, Hannah!” Mollie cheered when my body composition stats flashed on the screen.

This time there were no sour faces, but I still felt tears in the corners of my eyes when I sat down to put my shoes back on.

“We still have weigh-ins today, tomorrow, and Monday morning. I think the coaches are planning to do a live video after Tuesday’s classes announcing the individual winners and the team challenge winner.”

“Thank you.” I smiled as I grabbed my bag and opened the door.

“You should be super proud, Hannah. That was some solid progress for eight weeks,” she said as I left the office.

I knocked on the glass and waved to Jordan as I left the studio. He blew me a kiss while his client was distracted, and I gave him a bright smile in return.

“See you soon, Hannah.” Cynthia waved as I opened the door out onto the sidewalk. I was glad she seemed to share the happy temperament of her elder twin daughter.

“I’ll be back later,” I told her.

This had put me in such a good mood that I’d even consider giving Parker free rein this afternoon. Lord knows what he’d want me to wear or do.

But I was okay with that because I didn't need to hide or be ashamed anymore.