by Ali Parker
"Hi there. I'm Violet. You must be Sicily?" A perky redhead stopped in front of her, extending her hand.
Sicily shook it and smiled. "Nice to meet you."
"You as well. Come on and I'll give you the grand tour." She nodded toward the free weight area, talking a little about it before moving to the large Olympic-sized pool. "You’re friends with the big guy?"
"Um, yeah. Well, we're in the same friend group, so my best friend is dating his best friend." Sicily shrugged and pressed her hand against the warm glass where the pool was enclosed. "What are the hours on the pool?"
"Anytime we're open. You like to swim? It's great exercise."
"I do actually. I promised myself I wouldn't join this gym today, so know that I'm not signing anything." Sicily brushed her hand through her hair. "Not trying to be rude, but Drake's been after me for so long that I'm against giving in at this point."
She laughed and walked toward a hall of racquetball courts. "I totally understand. Just take the information with you and when you're ready, come see me and we'll get you started on a good program."
"I actually like racquetball. I played a little in college, though I'm not all that good."
"Practice makes perfect. It's all part of the package." Violet opened the door at the end of the hall and moved back. "This is the women's locker room. Let's show you the showers, lockers and sauna, and then we'll go to the cardio machines."
"Great. How long have you worked here?"
"Since Drake opened the place. He got here about six years ago when he was in his early twenties. Long story for his background, but I'm sure you know most of it."
"Yeah. I just wasn't sure if you were here from the beginning."
"Oh, yeah. I couldn't work for anyone else. He's like the brother I never had. Always taking care of all of us and giving back so much to the community. He helps the fire department when they run short. I guess his good friend is one of the guys up there."
"Yeah, Jake is my best friend's boyfriend, like I mentioned."
"Oh, cool. I didn't realize the connection."
They wrapped up the tour in front of the cardio machines, Violet extending her hand and smiling brightly.
"Glad to meet you, Sicily. Enjoy your complimentary workout and if you have questions or want more information, don't hesitate to call us. We'd be thrilled to have you join, but only when you're ready."
"Thanks. I appreciate your time."
Sicily waited until the pretty bombshell walked off before slipping in her ear buds and climbing up on the machine. She didn't want to look like a wuss, but flying off the back of the machine was out too. Drake might just want to be friends, but she still felt the need to look as bad-ass as she was capable of pulling off in front of him.
She cranked it up and jumped onto the moving belt, her music pumping in her ears and her heart picking up speed. The first few minutes felt good, her blood pumping and energy rushing through her system. After the first lap around the electronic track, a hitch started to throb in her side and she was forced to slow down, walking quickly, and then limping until she had to stop the machine.
Pressing her palm to her head, she leaned over and tried to catch her breath, not caring at all who was watching. Dying in front of everyone was out, but she might not have a choice. She jerked up as a hand touched her back.
"Sicily. You okay?" Drake's concern was evident in his voice and all over his face.
Probably worried about your fat ass keeling over and him getting sued.
"Hmm?" She was having trouble making out all of the words he spoke. The blood was pumping in her ears far too fast. Holding on tightly to the machine, she leaned forward, needing to rest her head against her arms again.
"Here. Let me get you off of this. You can't go from zero to two hundred percent on day one, pretty girl." Drake's arms were around her, lifting her up and carrying her to a nearby chair.
She kept her eyes adverted, in hopes of not witnessing the stares of everyone around her who was in enough shape to jog on a machine without keeling over. Horror rolled over her.
Drake had probably almost pulled his back out having picked her up. She glanced up at him as he squatted in front of her. If he was hurt, he held it in well.
There was no hiding her weight after he picked her up. He would be more than aware of her obesity.
"Hey. It's okay. Tell me that you're all right." He reached up and touched the side of her face, his thumb wiping away a tear that dripped out of the side of her eye. She hadn't realized she was crying.
"How embarrassing," she whispered and sat back, forcing herself to smile as another round of tears rolled down her face.
Drake reached around her and handed her a soft white hand towel. "Nothing to be embarrassed about. Everyone comes in here ready to kick ass. That's why I don't usually let them work out for a few weeks without one of us. Your mind is willing, but we need to wake your body up. You and everyone else have to go through this."
She nodded, unsure of what to say. She needed to change the subject, and fast. A loud crack resounded, saving her from having to say anything. Drake stood up and turned around, his shoulders flexing as he growled.
"Stay here and rest. I'll be back."
Sicily sunk down into her chair and pulled the towel down her face as Drake's voice rose full of authority and dominance.
"I told you not to drop those weights again. It scares everyone in here. Get your stuff and we'll talk later. You're not welcomed in here anymore today."
The large man he spoke to was easily his height, but a bit larger. The guy laughed and shook his head.
"Fuck you, dude. I pay my membership. You can take a ticket and get in line with all the other bitches to give me hell over something stupid." The guy picked up another barbell.
Drake walked around him and tugged the barbell out of his hands before putting it down and lifting up in front of him. "I'm not going to tell you again to get packing."
"Whatcha gonna do? You're just a pretty boy with a big mouth and a few dollars in your pocket."
Sicily let out a yelp as the guy swung at Drake. The gym owner moved with far more flexibility than Sicily thought possible. He had the guy on the floor on his chest with his hands behind his back. Drake pressed his knee firmly into the guy's back.
"Vi, call the cops and have them come pick up old Cliff. He can't seem to respect the rules."
"Will do boss." Violet moved fast, her hands shaking, as if she expected something worse to have happened.
Where did Drake get his skills from? Gyms didn't teach self-defense. Was he a cop or in the military before coming to Bar Harbor?
After waiting a few minutes, she finally felt as if the world had stopped moving. Standing up carefully, she walked toward the front door and slipped out. Drake was busy with the cops and the big guy who seemed to be well-known for his temper.
Some part of her wanted to wait until they could talk, but she wasn't sure what she would say anyway. Sorry for being a fatty and crumbling on the treadmill? Just didn't seem as sexy as she wanted to be. Maybe he could be her incentive to get in shape and look better. Maybe he would consider something more than a friendship with her in the future.
No. She would lose weight in hopes of that, have him reject her, and then she would start the cycle all over again. She had to do this for herself if she had any hope of making it stick.
Chapter 4
The last thing she wanted was to have a dinner date with Lisa and Kari, but there was no getting out of it. They had pushed her toward the shower, both of them cheering because of her going to the gym. She had agreed to go out to dinner if they chose someplace with a healthy menu and promised to shut up about Drake.
What was it with the two of them? Drake wasn't interested in her and yet they both nagged non-stop about him. They were nagging the wrong half of the equation. She resigned herself to putting on a fake smile and making it through the evening. She would analyze her epic fail on the treadmill later over a
shot of tequila and a good cry. Having Drake be the one to carry her off the machine had sealed the deal.
She wasn't joining his gym - ever.
"Come on already. I'm fucking starving out here." Lisa's voice came through the bathroom door as Sicily worked to get her brush through her wet, tangled mess of hair.
"I'm coming. Get a snack. I just went shopping on Wednesday." She worked faster, hating to be the reason why her friends were waiting.
A long sigh followed by another bang on the door. "Okay. Just hurry. I want to catch up."
"You were gone for three days." Sicily laughed unable to help herself. Lisa was the toughest and least needy out of all of them, but something about dating Marc, Kari's brother, had changed the feisty redhead. To some degree it was for the better. They almost seemed to soften the rough edges of one another.
"I know. I'm turning into a total puss," Lisa groaned.
"Vulgar. Jeez." Sicily turned to the mirror and smiled. She and Lisa had been friends since elementary school, their lives intertwined around each other’s for as long as she could remember. Through thick and thin they had been there for each other and moving to Maine together just seemed a great end to the story.
"It's not the end. It's the beginning," Sicily mumbled under her breath and leaned in to apply her eye make-up. She might have gained a few pounds, but there was no way in hell she wasn't going to put the effort forward to look good for girl's night out. She might just meet the man of her dreams. She had to look the part in case fate was turning a blind eye and cutting her some slack for the evening.
Working quickly, she towel dried her hair and wrapped the small terrycloth around herself before slipping out of the bathroom and moving to her bedroom. Lisa whistled behind her and Sicily shook her head.
Lisa had no couth and no sense of modesty, nor had she ever. Sicily started to close her bedroom door only to feel the tension of Lisa pushing it open.
"Let me in." Lisa slipped in and closed the door before flopping down on Sicily's bed.
"I'm changing. Give me two minutes."
"No. I've seen you naked a thousand times. Get dressed and let's go." Lisa rolled onto her back and extended her hands into the air, her nails natural and long. "It was good to see Marc, but I'm ready for him to come here. I missed you guys."
"I missed you too." Sicily started to kick her best friend from the room and decided against it. Lisa had seen her a million times over the years strutting her stuff, but never before had she been so overweight.
"What's up with you? You seem uncomfortable. I can leave if it's going to fuck with you this bad."
Sicily turned to face Lisa, a grimace replacing the calm demeanor she was going for. "It's not that. I'm just so damn fat right now."
"You are not." Lisa sat up and lifted an eyebrow. "You've gained a few pounds, but in all the right places. Your boobs are bigger, your ass more round."
"Whatever. My thighs touch and my stomach has more rolls than my bakery." Sicily shrugged and dropped the towel, walking to her dresser and slipping into a pair of big white panties that made her feel small.
"That's stupid and those panties aren't happening." Lisa got up and walked up to the dresser, pulling out a small black G-string that was sure to get lost somewhere in her ass during the night. "Here. Wear these."
"No. Not happening." Sicily took them and dropped them back in the drawer. "I'm so unbelievably out of shape right now. Kari had to take me to get new pants, which were two sizes bigger than the ones I wore earlier this year."
"Earlier this year your mother died and you went through a massive depression, Sis. You look so much better now. Your body is curvy and fucking hot." Lisa glanced down at her, reaching out to brush her hand over Sicily's back. "Stop fooling yourself. Drake DeMarco isn't the type of man to go for someone less than smoking hot."
"He's not going for me." Sicily tossed the panties back in the drawer and walked to the closet, pulling a bra from one of the hangers and tugging down a formless black winter dress.
"Yes, he is. I've seen the way he looks at you." Lisa moved up beside her again, picking up a large brown belt and boots. "Wear this with your dress. It will accentuate your waist."
"I don't want anything accentuated. I want to hide in a big hole and starve myself until I drop twenty pounds." Sicily took the boots and belt, knowing it was far easier just to dress up than argue with Lisa.
"You're overreacting. You always have about your weight." Lisa moved toward the bed and took Sicily's shoulders, turning her. "You're not your mother. You are beautiful and the perfect size for a handsome man like Drake to wrap himself around. He's interested in so much more than your body and your beauty though. It's your willingness to open the shop, your intellect and your humor... honestly, just you. You're perfectly well-rounded."
"I know. I need to watch what I get tonight. My roundness is the problem." Sicily pulled from her friend and started to get dressed. "I'll be out in a minute. I'm done talking about this. It's depressing."
Lisa started up again and Sicily turned to her, putting a hand on her hip and making sure her old friend was well aware that she was done with the topic at hand.
Lisa lifted her hands and let out a snort. "Fine. You're being unreasonable, but I'll let you come to the conclusion on your own. You're beautiful. Period. End of conversation."
Sicily started to reply, but Lisa had already walked out of the room.
Good. She was simply trying to make me feel better. That's what friends do.
***
"So how is it having Martin Wilcox work for you?" Lisa asked as she leaned up between the front seats as they drove back home from dinner.
"It's good. He's a great kid." Sicily glanced back at her friend as Kari sang to the song on the radio and drove.
Dinner was filling and Sicily had worked hard to keep it light. Her friends ate their usual fare of fattening meats slathered in butter and cheese with pasta and tons of bread. It took all of the willpower she could find not to dive into the sinful meal with them. The image of Drake scowling down at her at the gym caused her to keep her hands in her lap.
Had he scowled? No.
Why did she replace his kindness with him basically attacking her for not being able to run on the machine? Protection.
She was beginning to want more than a casual bantering friendship with him and where she was a strong girl, her heart couldn't handle rejection right now.
"Are the guys coming over tonight?" Lisa asked, moving back, but catching Sicily's attention.
"What guys? Is Marc in town already? You just got back." Sicily tugged at her seatbelt, her heart working to beat its way out of her chest at the thought of seeing Drake.
"Drake and Jake are coming over for dessert." Kari glanced over, smiling like the villain she was.
"What? Why?" Sicily let out a long sigh. "I don't have anything made. Stop by the bakery and I'll get a cake from the counter cabinets. I think there were some small chocolate ones left."
"No. They're bringing something." Kari turned the radio down.
"Knowing Drake it's probably fruit." Lisa chuckled and patted Sicily's shoulder. "Don't get all worked up. He likes you way more than you like him."
"That's good because I don't like him at all." She jerked her head around, her voice giving her emotions away no doubt.
All she got was several "um hm's". She leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes as nausea rolled through her. She wasn't ready to face Drake after the events of earlier, but as usual - what choice did she have?
They were at the house within minutes, both Jake and Drake's trucks sitting out front. Sicily let out a quiet groan and got out of the car, wishing like hell she was wearing something a little less revealing. The dress clung to her, the belt making it hard to breathe and most likely cutting her in half.
Lisa and Kari were to the door before she made it past the gravel drive, the chill of late fall causing her to shiver. She would have preferred to split off from the group
and just stand by herself on the back porch, but that wasn't going to happen. At least not yet.
Kari opened the door and walked in as Lisa looked over her shoulder, extending her hand and smiling.
"You and I are going to have a long talk soon. This girl you're becoming isn't the one I grew up with. I don't like it."
"I don't either. I'm just not sure how to change it." Sicily reached for her friend and forced a smile before slipping into the house.
Kari was wrapped in a tight hug with Jake, the sound of their kissing causing Sicily to turn away. She didn't want to interrupt their private moment, though they were rarely private. Drake was in the kitchen, his back to her. The jeans he wore sat low on his hips, his rear still doing a beautiful job of filling them up.
She moved into the kitchen as he glanced over his shoulder, his dark eyes moving across her body and stopping on her face.
"Don't you look stunning?" His tongue snaked out as he licked at his fingers, red juice dripping from the thick digits.
Sicily adverted her eyes and moved toward the sink, muttering 'thanks' before washing her hands. He was being kind. After the drama of earlier, he seemed to feel the need to make her feel better. Maybe he wasn't the cock she made him out to be. The girls at the gym seemed to adore him in a brotherly sense. Had he dated any of them?
Sicily glanced over her shoulder as Jake and Lisa started teasing each other. She couldn't hear exactly what their bantering was about, but caught Drake's gaze again. He leaned against the counter and watched her intently. His predatory stare moved across her again, his tongue licking at his full lips.
She shivered and turned back to the sink as the air seemed so hard to breathe. Was she making things up or had he just eye-fucked her? It took a few minutes to get her nerves to calm down, Lisa helping the situation by coming in and joining them.
"What are we doing over here?" She wrapped an arm around Sicily.
