Chance Of Rain Read Online Free PDF Page A

discussed, Bri and I headed to the treadmills. Loud music was pumping out of the speakers, but she managed to carry on a conversation with me anyway.
    “I hope Cole calls me like he said he would.”
    “Did you forget we‘re working tonight?” I asked, hating to disappoint her.
    “Uh…’bout that…”
    “I don’t like how that sounds,” I said, as I wondered what she was about to lay on me.
    “I’m sorry, Ash, but last night when Blake was playing matchmaker, he saw that Cole and I were hitting it off, so he offered to switch nights with me so we could go out. He said he’d call Mack to change our schedules this morning.”
    “What?”
    “I didn’t think you’d mind. Of course this was before he messed up things with your hot guy.”
    “So where’s Cole taking you?” I asked, trying to be happy for her.
    “I’m not sure. He mentioned maybe getting something to eat.”
    “I guess I’ll need to make arrangements with my mom to borrow her car. Don’t let me forget.” Bri smiled a guilty grin. “What now?” I asked.
    “Blake offered to drive you if you need a ride.”
    “Imagine that,” I said, rolling my eyes.
    Bri was breathing heavily now. Perspiration was rolling down her face, and her cheeks were rosy apples. She looked exhausted. “I’m going to change into my swimsuit and cool down in the pool. Wanna come?”
    “No, thanks. I’m going to work on my arms some now.”
    “Suit yourself,” she said. “See ya in a few.”
    I looked down at the treadmill. A little more than three miles—not bad. I stepped off and went in search of an area off to itself where I could be alone and not have an audience.
    I found a place in the corner. And there weren’t any mirrors by these weights either. It was so embarrassing to look at myself while I worked out.
    I just wanted to keep firm, not look like the Hulk, so I grabbed the ten-pound weights. I felt a little self-conscious at first, but gradually I became more comfortable. I did several reps, and then out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone walk up next to me, just a few feet over.
Hello? This place is enormous. You can’t find anywhere else to work out?
    It was a guy too. Feeling uncomfortable, I put my weights back so I could move.
    “There she goes, leaving me again.”
    I turned and saw
him
smiling at me. “Oh…hey,” I said, startled. “I didn’t know you worked out here.”
    He grinned. “Well…how could you? You run off every time I try to talk to you.”
    “Well, if you’re referring to last night—”
    “I am,” he interrupted with a faux-stern tone.
    “You seemed kinda
busy
,” I said.
    He stuck out his hand. “I’m Trent.” He was so confident, and I…wasn’t. My heart was racing, and all I could think was,
So that’s his name. What a great name!
    He was dressed in a thin, clingy T-shirt. From what I could see, he had the abs of an Abercrombie & Fitch model, and despite having just worked out, he smelled like one too. Well, at least he smelled like a milder version of an Abercrombie store.
    “So what are you working on here?” he asked, as he eyed the weights.
    I reached for the dumbbells again and tried my best to act like I knew what I was doing. “Just a little toning. I don’t want to wind up with batwings in my old age, you know?”
    Trent grinned. “You’re working your biceps. What you want to do is isolate your triceps.” He reached out and lightly brushed the bottom of my right arm. “Here,” he said.
    He was very matter-of-fact, but my arm burned where he touched it. He took one of the dumbbells and returned it to the rack. “Place both of your hands on this one.”
    I did as told, and then he instructed me on how to lift it. I felt feel my face turn fifty shades of crimson.
    “Bend your elbows, and let the weight go behind your head. Then slowly lift it. Do a few of those, and you should feel it start to work almost immediately.”
    I did more than I wanted to so I wouldn’t look like a