Chapter 1

"Come on Amelia, ten more."

The dumbbell in Amelia's outstretched hand kept increasing in weight with every squat. Her mark today was 120 squats but it was quite tougher than expected. She'd probably might have given up by now but she's got Tom. He won't let her.

"Come on Amelia, five more."

Her thighs and arms screamed in protest as she completed the last squat. They could protest all they wanted. She had done it.

"Whoo Amelia, new record."

"Yeah"

That was all Amelia could manage as she panted, desperately trying to catch her breaths as her skin leaked out all the moisture in her system. She could barely acknowledge Tom bending down over her chuckling reassuringly.

"I suppose that should be enough for today. Hold on tight, I'm gonna go get you a drink. You've earned it"

"I really appreciate it Tom, but I'll get it myself if you don't mind."

She still remained on the floor, gasping quite a bit.

"Amelia, you're exhausted. Let me get it.

Amelia shot Tom a fiery glance that said so many words which Tom understood perfectly. He raised his arms in surrender and offered his gym buddy a hand up.

He was right about one thing though; Amelia was exhausted. Every strand of muscle fiber in her entire body felt like it was on fire. But that was just who Amelia was if anything; A fighter. If she could survive and triumph over all life had thrown at her, a troubling marriage, divorce, raising her two kids on her own for the most part and her now successful fashion home, walking her hurting ass over to the vending machine is nothing.

Amelia downed the entire bottle of sparkling water right there by the vending machine before Tom could even open his bottle.

"That's quite the milestone Amelia, a hundred and twenty squats is a lot from the fifty you'd usually do. I can't imagine how much your muscles would be hurting."

"Swears Tom, you do not know the half of it."

Amelia picked her self up and made for the showers.

She couldn't help but notice that all day Tom seems to have something stuck in his throat he'd be wanting to say. She could almost feel it right now. She had to subconsciously stop herself from asking him if he had something to tell her as they walked to the locker room. Maybe this wasn't the place. There were still quite a number of people in the gym.

"Hey Amelia, you know, to celebrate I could treat you to dinner"

Amelia was quite ahead of Tom and he couldn't see the small smile that popped out of her face and vanished immediately.

"I know this Italian place with simple but amazing food that I think you should try."

Amelia kept walking. It's been so long since anyone has asked her out to dinner and it was quite nice to feel like a young girl again, giggling over a guy fighting nerves in a bid to impress her especially since she is now a mother with three kids.

Tom wasn't a bad looking guy. Plus he was pretty nice. He looked a bit Hispanic and had this carefully chiseled jaw line, a bit of baby cheeks and really nice hair. He had been her gym buddy for the past couple of months and had being invaluable with dealing with her recent divorce with Ryan. It might have been a bit too soon but she hated having to turn it down.

As they got to the doors that led to the male and female locker room, she turned to face him. Her face might have been more than a little red.

"Oh Tom, I really appreciate the invite, and I promise I really hate that I have to decline but I've got to pick the kids from school...", She looks at her wristwatch, "...in about an hour. I'm really sorry"

The disappointed look in Tom's face wasn't very explicit but Amelia could tell and it just stung her a bit more.

"I see you work and bust your ass everyday for your work and kids which, don't get me wrong is a good thing. You're a great mom and an exceptional person but you need to find time for yourself and relax, you know. Couldn't you get someone to pick the kids for you?"

That was a bit desperate.

Amelia tenderly took Tom's right hand with both her hands.

"I really am sorry Tom. I'm not exactly saying no. We can always reschedule, but I have to go now"

She turned around and pushed into the female locker room leaving Tom standing there. For a second she really did consider getting someone else to pick up the kids. Hayley, her P.A. is great with kids and she would be happy to. Besides Amelia did deserve some downtime.

But it's Friday and it's ice cream day, she can't miss it. The twins would kill her

She smiled and shook her head at Tom's efforts as she got into the locker room shower.