I was still stewing after dinner. Instead of washing the dishes after eating, or doing a load of laundry, I spent the night scrolling through videos. Crime pod casts, food, animals, I went down every rabbit hole until I couldn't keep my eyes open.
Despite the upbeat music after my alarm, I felt like a zombie. I debated trying to ride my new, expensive bike to work… but… it just made me think of Larry setting me up. I shrugged past to take the bus.
I forced a smile as I greeted Donna, accepted my assignments, then got to work. I just… needed the workweek to be over.
During my morning break I noticed Ally had put out a call for a rescue shelter. Asking for volunteers to pick up ingredients to make batches of dog food. I opened the link… batches included 10 pounds of ground beef food. I opened the link… batches included 10 pounds of ground beef, 5 pounds of carrots, 3 pounds of brussels sprouts, 3 pounds of green beans, two cans of pumpkin, two heads of broccoli, a head of cauliflower, a cup of coconut oil, and two pounds of spinach.
Yeash… these dogs were eating better than me… health wise. I wasn't sure about the taste… I looked for more information. Volunteers could pick up ingredients, or be reimbursed. The shelter was looking to have three thousand pounds made. It could be dropped off fresh or frozen. That was… a lot of food.
People were signing up, instead of weight, announced how many batches they would make. I went down the rabbit hole scrolling through all the pup pictures. Some reminded me of Triumph… I sighed up to make three batches. I would pick up ingredients.
A moment later I wanted to curse… how would I get the ingredients from the shelter… to my apartment? Not to mention getting the cooked food back? I sighed… guess I would see who could give me a ride.
Jake and Jack would be working Friday, so that was a no go. Dillon was also working crazy hours with his knew team. I wasn't comfortable asking Jason for a ride…
As if the universe itself was offering the obvious choice, at that moment Robby sent a text.
Hey Scrub! Dinner Friday? (peeking through fingers emoji)
I sighed… twice. Actually, got a favor to ask. Mind helping me pick up stuff for a volunteer thing Friday?
I see how it is, only message back when ya need me! Fine! I see how it is! Deets? Was the instant response.
I need pick up, also can you bring your blender? Also Ma's giant turkey frying pot? I was going to need a huge pot to cook this all… yeash. At least this way I would be giving back to the community.
Gotcha, anything else?
I'll message ya if I think of anything else. Thanks Robby
Yeah yeah, I expect ALL the details. See ya Friday.
I wasn't sure if Larry had been warned off visiting, but the rest of the week was thankfully dull. I was given an updated recipe, mine would have ground turkey for dogs allergic to beef. It didn't seem to make that much of a difference, so I agreed. I was sent three videos on the best way to make dog food… apparently it could take a few hours. Great.
On the bright side, the slightly different recipe had the option to add beans. In the video, adding the beans decreased the cooking time because the beans would be presoaked, then help absorb moisture. I decided to add that.
Friday couldn't have come soon enough. Jake and Jack had work, but we met up early to hit the gym. Rusty didn't make it, but that was okay.
Two miles on the track half jogging, half walking already had be panting like I only had one working lung.
"Did you bring flats?" Jack asked as we stretched.
I was copying their shoulder circles? "Uh, yeah, in the, pant, locker room." I said between pants. They spent a lot of time stretching… maybe that was the secret. Stretching… I'd have to check some out online.
"Cool, we planned to hit the weights for a bit after, you down?" Jake asked as he went into a lunge to stretch out his legs.
"Sure." I agreed. Ire hadn't been wrong, working up a sweat had significantly improved my mood. Or maybe just hanging out with Jake and Jack had done that.
"We can do some pushups and small stuff out here, then go in. It's crowded today." Jack said with a nod to the gym.
I was… embarrassed that I could barely do ten pushups. On the tenth, my entire body had been shaking from the effort to go back up. I was actually a bit light headed as I rolled onto my side.
"I'm… dying…" I announced as I watched Jack smoothly doing pushups like a machine.
Jake snorted as he kept pace with Jack. They stopped at fifty. I sat up watching sweat start to dampen their shirts…
"You guys are beasts…" I said almost aggrievedly, I was here dying… they made it look so easy! They gave me confident grins, showing off how white their teeth were.
"You'll get there, takes time." Jake said offering a hand. I took it, I needed the extra help to stand.
After changing our shoes we went to the weight racks. I glanced around the mirrored room, not a lot of machines like the fancy guys I'd seen in the past. Most were free weights.
"We'll keep it easy, three different bicep curls. Between we'll plank for fifteen seconds. Sound good?" Jack asked pulling out two fifteen pounders, and a three pounder.
I took the three pounder… not sure if I should feel insulted… or grateful for not having to pick one myself.
"After you get the technique down, we'll increase the weight. Learning wrong can fuck you up." Jake explained as he accepted one of the fifteen pounders, then demonstrated a regular bicep, hammer, and lateral curls. We did sets of eight, then planked for fifteen seconds.
My stomach and arms felt like they were one fire. Sweat trickled down my cheek to fall on the floor. We were only on the first set.
Jack held his hand under my elbow, "Your elbow shouldn't move, keep it slow." Jack kept correcting my posture.
"Good, just like that." He finally said during my final set. "Practice at home would help muscle memory."
"Good idea." I agreed as I panted. Maybe that was why everything was free weight, so I could get some exercise even if I couldn't make it to the gym.
I couldn't hold the plank for the last fifteen seconds… I barely made it to eight before I took a knee. "I'm done… dang… so outta pant shape." I sighed as they were holding thirty second planks. They were now drenched in sweat. Despite their obvious concentration they both flashed cocky grins.
I was thinking of a smart remark when a voice chilled me to the bone.
"Weak."
I stiffened as I raised my gaze in the mirror. Behind me was Larry… in tiny green military shorts that left little to the imagination. He was even barefoot… He took a swig from his water bottle as he raised a brow. His veins were popping, sweat dripping…
"Don't see you around these parts often Larry." Jake said as his gaze jumped from me to the mirror. He finished his plank as I stood up.
"I'm going to… wash up first." I said not sure if my legs were shaky from nervousness, or because I was just exhausted.
"I still need to stretch, help me over there?" Jack asked nodding to a far corner.
"I'll clean up and join you in a few." Jake agreed nodding for me to follow Jack.
I hesitated, then gave a quick nod.
"Stay." Larry ordered stepping into our path. We could walk around but…
Jake stood up, tensed as if readying for a fight.
"Max, let's talk." Larry said looking over them.
I gritted my teeth, I'd been hyping myself up for a confrontation… but now that it was really happening. "No." I just had to keep it simple. Direct.
Larry narrowed his eyes, I gripped the rag I was supposed to clean with. "Max." the way he said my name sounded more like he was growling.
"No. Let's go Jack." I said walking around them. I half expected Larry to step in our way, but he just watched as we left.
Jack glanced over his shoulder, but didn't ask as we started stretching again. "Stretching is good before and after workouts."
I nodded, "Uh, I'll start stretching at home too." I was desperate to talk about anything but Larry.
"You find a ride to pick up supplies?" Jack asked even as he glanced over my head.
I kept my gaze on the ground, hopefully Jake could get Larry to back off. "Yeah, my brother is dropping by in two hours." I jolted when someone dropped their weights. For the first time I looked up, for other guys were standing with Jake.
Whatever was going on with Larry was taking a bad turn. Half a dozen other guys immediately stopped to watch.
Pride popped up, watching the commotion. "This could get ugly." I flinched… I didn't mean to pull them into my problems with Larry… I just…