Chasing His Kickass Luna Back

As I make my way over to the weights, I steal another glance at Karl's form. He's lifting heavy weights, his muscles flexing with each repetition. He grunts a bit, and sweat glistens on his skin. My heart races, and I feel a familiar warmth spreading through me.

“Hey,” he says, smirking as he places down the weights for one last rep of deadlifts. “Quit staring.” “I'm not staring.” I blush, turning away. “It's just a coincidence.”

“Mhm,” he teases. “Sure.”

I swallow and pick up some light weights, trying to concentrate on my own workout, but my eyes keep drifting back to Karl. He's like a magnetic force, drawing me in. I know I should focus on my training, but it's hard when he's right there, looking so incredibly attractive.

Karl notices me struggling with my form and approaches me, his brow furrowed. “Hey, that's not how you do bicep curls,” he says, shaking his head. “You're using too much of your shoulders.” Before I can answer, he comes up behind me, his body dangerously close to mine. His hands gently guide me, his touch sending a shiver down my spine as they run over my limbs.

“You're a bit rusty, Abby,” he says, his voice low and intimate.

I clear my throat, trying to regain my composure. “Yeah, it's been a while,” I admit, feeling a bit flustered. “I've grown flabby, too.”

Karl gives me a stern look and steps closer, his hands resting on my waist. He makes me face the mirror beside us, and I meet my own gaze. “Abby,” he says softly, pulling my shirt taut to reveal my waist, “you have a beautiful, curvy body with long legs and a slender waist. You're not flabby at all. Look.”

I blush furiously at his words and quickly step away, feeling my heart pounding in my chest. “Thanks, Karl,” I mumble, not sure how to respond to his compliment.

He narrows his eyes, leveling me with a stern gaze. “Don't call yourself flabby. Understood?”

I bite my lip, torn between embarrassment and gratitude. “Alright,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

But as I continue my workout, I cant help but think about what Karl said. Maybe he’s right, and I've been too hard on myself.

And yet, there's another thought that lingers in my mind. It's not just about being fit; it's about being able to protect myself, especially after what happened.

I finally gather the courage to speak up. “Karl, I appreciate your help, but there's something I've always wanted to get better at—physical fighting. I've never been the best, and I think it's time to change that.”

Karl finishes his set of weights and turns to me, his expression thoughtful. “I can train you in fighting if you'd like,” he offers. “But you'll need to stay here for longer if that's the case. You'd be better off doing a few weeks of training all at once rather than spreading it out.”

I hesitate, thinking about my life back in the city, my restaurant, and my friends. “But I might need to go back home soon,” I admit. “Maybe I can just take a class in the city.”

Karl's face falls for a moment, but he quickly masks his emotions. “Of course,” he says, his tone neutral. “A class in the city would be good, too.”

As we both continue our workouts, I can't help but steal glances at Karl. He looks so handsome, so confident and alluring, and I can’t stop remembering how much I used to love living here, how much I've missed out on since I left.

But now, I also love my life in the city.

I'm torn between two worlds, and I can't help but wonder how, or if, they can ever coexist.