Closer by Morning by Thom Collins

gay vibes he’d felt were a false alarm. What a pity. He’d been so sure Matt was into him.
    â€œHi,” he said, jogging gently toward Matt and the blonde woman. “You made it back. I’m glad to see that.”
    Matt’s face split into a grin so wide and charismatic it brightened even this miserably damp morning. “Hey, Dale, glad to see you too. This is my colleague Annabel. A no-show on Monday but she finally made it.”
    Dale detected an emphasis on the word colleague . Not girlfriend. Maybe it wasn’t so bad after all. His spirits lifted. “Hi, Annabel,” he said cheerfully.
    â€œHello,” she replied politely.
    Annabel had put a considerable amount of effort into her appearance this morning. All of the other girls in attendance were practically dressed and fresh-faced. Not this lady. She must have been up since three constructing her look. She was fully made up—powered with glossy red lips, smoky eyes and false lashes. He’d played on stage against actresses wearing less makeup than this. Her hair was blown and fluffed and swept into a soft ponytail that was supposed to look casual, however was anything but. She wore skintight purple leggings, silver running shoes and a pink hoodie covered in some kind of glitzy message. If this was how she looked to work out, he could only imagine the time it took her to dress for a big event.
    â€œNo ill effects from Monday?” he asked, turning his attention back to Matt.
    â€œNone. I thought I’d be stiff as a post afterward but I felt amazing. It must be doing me some good already.”
    â€œ Oh please ,” Annabel drawled, looking at Matt but angling her body toward Dale. “Stop trying to sound so macho. No one feels that good after just one session. Tell the truth—you were crippled.”
    â€œNot so.” Matt took her comment in good humor but Dale disliked her tone of voice—sarcastic and bitchy. The kind of girl who put her friends down to make herself feel better. “I felt great afterward. Honestly.”
    â€œI did too. This Clint guy, he pushes us all hard but he knows what he’s doing, don’t you think?”
    â€œAbsolutely.”
    â€œHuh.” Annabel sighed, sticking out her chest. “You boys, what are you like? All talk. I want to see some action before I believe either of you.”
    Lady, Dale thought, I don’t know what tree you’re barking up here, but mine is sure as shit the wrong one.
    Clint Dexter approached with his ever-present notebook. “Welcome back, gentlemen,” he said, ticking them off his list before turning to Annabel. “What happened on Monday? Did you sleep in?”
    Matt laughed out loud until she shot him a look. She turned to face Clint directly, all fluttering eyes and jutting tits. “I’m here now,” she preened. “But go easy on me. You don’t want to break me on my first day.”
    Isn’t it a bit early for all this flirting?
    She was wasting her time. The instructor was immune. “I don’t go easy on anyone. Not ever.” He looked her coldly up and down before walking away.
    â€œWow.” Matt smiled. “You’re working your charm this morning. Looks like you scared him already.”
    Annabel tossed her ponytail, unperturbed. “Just need to get these guys warmed up, that’s all. They’ll come round eventually.”
    Dale admired her confidence. However misplaced it was.
    Having completed the course once before didn’t make it any easier. Clint was a tough taskmaster and put enough variety into the session and the course that it was impossible to predict or be prepared for what he threw at them next. Dale was impressed. This dude was good and he knew his stuff. Some of those stars back in Hollywood would kill for a trainer like this.
    For most of the course, Dale kept pace with Matt. There was no chance to talk, Clint worked them too hard for that,