ck at me in real life. I was so surprised that Daniel’s celebrity client was Luke Mul

s. I cracked my gum again, unable to blink. The man I had watched for hours upon hours onscreen was stan

le floor broke up my mesmerizing moment. A smartly dressed middle-ag

le trainer, Katie?” Luke

he doorway. I remembered Daniel telling me about Katie a

one you hired, but he had a little accident. I’m sure

l anyone else about this? Who else

in. “Daniel didn’t even know you were the client. He j

asked, putting her hands on her

months and how my only client so far was old Mrs. Rosa. I reminded myself to stay confiden

“let’s give it a try,” as he s

t me know how everything goes,” Katie said as

l light coming in through large windows and a stately staircase set back from the entrance. The in

houlders. I knew Luke was more muscular than your average man, but seeing him up close made me quiver at his strength. I could tell he had a gained a few pounds, his love

d we do first?” I looked around and saw enough weights and gy

hat is it that you want to work on?” I tried to look Luke in the eyes, willi

ome weight for my last role.” He tapped his b

ut anything in particular? Any spec

ng me finish. Something there hit a chord, but be

ince myself as much as Luke that I was up for the

ainer. You know I wanted a guy trainer, to push me, try to keep up with me.” He walked over to

his strength. He put the weights down and walk

ontest? For every two

ld do it. Push-ups weren’t my forte but I could hold me own. Luke dropped to the mat, too, directly facing me. As he dropped h

my own, a bead of sweat starting to form on his brow. Around rep 15, Luke’s 30, I started to feel my shirt dro

hinking about what a great story this was. If nothing else, I could tell Daniel and

nd rep 50, and I was struggling to keep

hed for two more reps, pausing at the top to see if he really was trying to catch

pushed out a few more

you see why

0 pounds over my head, but I have ot

gh to be a runner. You’re not tall enough to be able to jump hi

, and it didn’t feel good. He wa

tion?”

contract for that. Look, it was fun, but I need to get seri

ng me a chance, were you?” I smiled, trying to

ou’re cute, so I thought

e cute. Repeat. Luke M

e push-ups. I tried to recover from that comment with the most dignity I could muster. While I did

in can challenge

reached out my hand to shake his. His handshake was forceful, yet even with

it lasted. I didn’t want to seem like a crazed fan asking for an autograph or a selfie. I tried to think of a way to stay in Luke’s presence a bit longer, just a

water.” I was standing in the hallway, close to the office door in which Katie h

ry. We’ll find someone to teach him to swim.

That was Luke’s sec

the project. Those other trainers just weren’t up for the job. He’ll

l. He’d throw us around and we’d swim back to the wall. Then we joined the swim team and later jr. lifeguards at

n’t. The broken

d have