Knitted Hearts - Amber Kelly Page 0,17
bakery downtown, owned by Dallas and her mother.
Charlotte, Sophie, Dallas, and Bellamy are already set up on the lawn in the square. Once we join them, Charlotte runs us through some stretches and breathing exercises before we start bending our bodies in ways that God never intended.
After we finish our session, Charlotte informs us that we are going on a power walk around downtown to “cool down.”
She leads us all up the sidewalk at a breakneck pace.
“How is this considered cooling down? I’m sweating like a whore in church, and my calves are screaming,” Dallas complains.
“That’s because you haven’t gotten your heart rate up enough lately,” Charlotte tells her.
“Myer gets my heart rate up plenty,” she replies.
“Thirty minutes of lovemaking every night is not enough cardio,” Charlotte insists.
“Thirty minutes every night?!” Sophie yelps.
“She just moved in, and they don’t have any kids yet,” Dallas says matter-of-factly.
“What does that have to do with anything?” Charlotte asks.
“You’ll see,” Dallas adds.
“Walker and I are more like forty-five minutes every night, sometimes twice a night,” Elle chimes in.
“Wow, that’s some stamina. Don’t get used to it, newlywed,” Sophie tells her.
“At least y’all are getting some cardio every night or couple nights,” I grumble.
“It’s your own fault. You could be cardio-ing all over the place if you wanted to,” Charlotte says.
“Ew,” Elle snaps.
Charlotte turns to her. “What? This town is full of sexy cowboys for the picking, and she’s a hot, young, single female.”
“She’s right,” Bellamy agrees.
“I don’t think I’m in the emotional headspace just to be casually cardio-ing right now,” I tell them.
“Keep your emotions out of it and just work up a fun sweat now and again,” Charlotte suggests.
“I’m not sure I’m built to just work out with random people,” I insist.
“Why? It’s fun to interval train from time to time,” Charlotte adds.
“Are we still talking about dating, or are we talking about actual exercise?” Elle asks.
Charlotte stops and looks back at her. “Sex. We’re talking about sex. Keep up.”
She starts power-walking again.
Dallas stops. “I’m out. I’d rather get my cardio at home.”
Charlotte slows her pace and turns, looking down at her wrist. “We only have a little farther to go. I’m two thousand steps short.”
“Short of what?”
“Of ten thousand steps. Everyone needs to get at least that much.”
“Says who?” Dallas asks.
Charlotte waves her arm in the air. “My Fitbit.”
“What the hell is that?”
“It’s a bracelet that keeps track of every step you take in a day. In the city, I’d hit thirty thousand a day without even trying. Since I moved to Poplar Falls, I’m lucky to get three thousand. You guys eat at home and ride in trucks and shit. I hardly move. I’m going to end up with a case of country ass.”
“Country ass?” Sophie asks.
“Yes, moseying around, in no hurry, and eating Payne’s mom’s delicious, carb-loaded meals. That all adds up to country ass.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. There is no way we are walking thirty thousand steps every night,” Sophie interjects.
Charlotte looks at her. “No, I’m just trying to get us to ten thousand. We can do ten thousand.”
“Yeah, I’m heading to the bakery for an after-yoga cupcake. I’ll see all of you when you’re done,” Dallas says as she waves.
“You quitter. We have to do something to keep our bodies high and tight,” Charlotte calls after her.
“Luckily, Myer likes my body low and loose just fine,” Dallas yells back.
“I think I’m out as well. Any man I encounter might as well get used to low and loose from the get-go too,” I inform.
Sophie starts to say something, and Charlotte points at her and cuts her off, “Don’t even think about it.”
“But cupcakes!” Bellamy says.
Charlotte turns to her. “Hey, you and I have to fit in wedding dresses soon. And you two,” she says, pointing between Elle and Sophie, “are finishing these steps with us. You’re our bridesmaids and support.”
“But aren’t Dallas and Sonia bridesmaids too? Why do they get out of this?” Elle asks.
Charlotte waves her hands in the air. “Focus. We don’t want to be here all night,” she demands.
“Fine,” Sophie whines.
I follow after Dallas as they solider on.
“Save me a cupcake,” Elle calls before surrendering and hoofing it behind the other girls.
Dallas and I stop back at the square and pick up all of our mats, water bottles, and towels. We load all our bags and then carry them with us to the bakery.
She unlocks the door and clicks on the lights before dropping the bags beside the door.
“You want coffee with your cupcake?”
“Love