LITMIR.BIZ

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      Jared barely let him get the sentence out. “Have you forgotten the reason your baseball career really ended? The one you kept quiet? Asthma is nothing to ignore.”

      At least Jared had the decency to lower his voice so there was no chance anyone else could hear. “I haven’t had any recurrences in four years.” Colin looked around the gym when Jared stood, noticing that the patrons were clearing out as the workday started. “The doctor never even confirmed it was an asthma attack. If I wasn’t willing to endanger my life for baseball, you know I wouldn’t risk it for anything else. Look, I’m having no problems.” Colin took a deep breath and forced it out without any problems. “See, I’m cured.”

      “Have you totally lost your mind? Your own well-being aside, raising money for a homeless shelter is a touchy issue these days. Haven’t you read all of the letters to the editor lately?”

      “Of course I’ve read them. Why do you think I’m doing this? Someone has to do more than complain about the problem. It isn’t going away.”

      “This isn’t like the money you raised for cancer research, Colin,” Jared stated as he handed Colin a water bottle. “Who could argue the nobility of that? Unfortunately, society doesn’t look at the homeless person in the same way as it does a sick person.”

      Colin guzzled the water while Jared spouted off his objection to the project. “You don’t have to remind me of that, either. It’s a perfect opportunity to educate the public. No one is immune to this problem.”

      “You aren’t worried that someone will find out that you lived in a shelter? Your dad didn’t handle it well at the time. I doubt he would appreciate you bringing it up again.”

      “I don’t relish the idea of revisiting that time, but I explained it to Dad already. He’s hoping it doesn’t have to become public knowledge, either, but he understands it will help others in need, so he’s supporting me in my decision. It was twenty years ago and I was eleven, after all,” Colin said with a shrug. It was the fear of upsetting his family’s lives that worried him, but he knew it would be callous of him to let his past stand in the way of helping those in need. “This is just as important as any other epidemic. More and more families have become victims of the economy. On my first visit to the shelter I met a couple who had gone through the husband’s battle with cancer, only to be evicted from their home when he’d barely been released from the hospital. What kind of a landlord would kick a sick man’s family out?”

      “We don’t know what the landlord had been through.”

      Colin nodded. “I shouldn’t be so idealistic, I know. But I can’t help feeling sympathy for those families who move from place to place to put a roof over their heads. The public complains about people sleeping in the parks and on the streets, so we’ve come up with a possible solution.”

      “How are we supposed to keep up with the growing need? We can’t just keep building more shelters. All around you hear about problems with people abusing the systems that are trying to help them.” Jared grabbed the spray bottle of disinfectant and the terry-cloth towel and wiped down the vacant equipment next to Colin.

      “It’s not a perfect system, but we’re trying to help. Even if I can’t stop the injustices, I can’t leave people to sleep in the parks. We have to do something!”

      “We?” Jared shook his head then laughed and held up his hands in defeat. “I have yet to figure out what drives you to do these crazy things, but you know I’m not about to miss the fun.”

      “Glad to keep you so entertained.” The stationary cycle came to a steep hill setting and Colin stopped talking just long enough to work his muscles through the burn. A comfortable silence encompassed the room, broken only by the soft whirr of the exercise machines. Colin enjoyed today’s workout and wondered why he’d stopped coming. Had it been the injury, or was that simply an excuse? He loved the old warehouse that Jared and Sandra had renovated. The gym overlooked the South Platte River, the city’s largest amusement park and on a clear day he could even enjoy a view of the Rocky Mountains. All that, and the gym wasn’t far from Colin’s loft apartment in the newly fashionable lower downtown, or “LoDo” area. He had no good excuse for not working out more often.

      “On a lighter note,” Jared interrupted Colin’s peaceful retreat. “We’re having a Fourth of July barbecue and Sandra is inviting a few friends.” He crossed his formidable arms across his chest and feigned innocence. They both knew his wife was itching to find Colin another girlfriend.

      Colin inhaled deeply, preparing for the imposing hill ahead on the simulated bike trail. “I’m busy, but thanks anyway.”

      “Busy, or not ready?”

      “Both.” Colin knew he shouldn’t hold it against anyone else that his ex-girlfriend had expected him to spend every penny of his savings on an engagement ring. His blood pressure went up every time he thought about it. For that amount he could have furnished his entire loft and had some left for a rainy day. As painful as it was to learn they had different attitudes about what was important in life, Colin was thankful for the incident. Friends and family had warned him about her exclusive tastes and indulgences. It was his own fault that he had chosen to ignore their concern until it was nearly too late.

      “It’s been almost a year,” Jared reminded him. “Besides, you-know-who’s not even invited.” Colin had tried for months to convince himself that just because she’d been a friend of Jared and Sandra’s, it didn’t mean all of their friends were the same.

      “I certainly hope not,” Colin said, trying not to sound bitter. “She’s moved to where the ‘real’ money is.”

      “Oh,” Jared said. “Then there’s nothing to stop you from coming. You’re not my only single friend, and there aren’t just single women coming, either.”

      Colin’s eyes opened wide and he looked at Jared. “I can find my own dates when I’m ready. Thanks anyway.”

      “That came out all wrong. I meant we have married couples coming, too. Happily married. And a few singles. The purpose of our barbecue is not to set you up, okay?”

      Colin shook his head. “You can stop while you’re ahead. I’m working that day, but thanks for the invitation.” After a few minutes, Jared gave up and left Colin alone to battle his own issues.

      Across the room Colin noticed another tortured athlete taking revenge on the equipment. He glanced over to make sure Jared wasn’t keeping too close a tab on him before taking another look at the woman. His friends meant well, but he simply wasn’t ready to date again. Especially not if it meant being with another socialite like Bev.

      Jared left the room, and Colin again admired the woman, getting the feeling that he had met her before. The very fact that she was here, at the most reasonably priced health club in LoDo, told him one thing about her, she appreciated a bargain. Her name-brand sweats and shoes looked soft from heavy use. He considered her choice of modest, well-worn sweats and T-shirt, which impressed him a lot more than the skintight leggings and equally revealing athletic tank tops many women wore. Obviously she didn’t care what anyone thought. Her attention was focused on the view as her ponytail bounced in rhythm with the movement of her feet. A baseball cap hid her eyes.

      He recalled his mother’s disapproval of his usual choice in women, Bev in particular. Too thin, too fussy and only after his money. He guessed Mom’s instincts had been right after all.

      Colin glanced at the woman again. She’d mastered the orbital machine, the same one that had sent him flying like an uncoordinated geek the first and last time he’d tried it. She seemed to be concentrating on whatever was playing on her headphones instead of trying to impress anyone else. Why did she look so familiar?

      The arrival of a few more customers stole his attention, saving him from making a fool of himself right here in front of Jared, who paused briefly to greet his customers then made a beeline to Colin.

      “You’ve been riding for nearly ninety minutes. No need to overdo

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