Gonna Make You Sweat

"Who told her?" Jonathan boomed Angrily the next morning. "Who told Michelle about last night?" He asked again walking up and down the aisle of the bus that he was last to board the next morning.

"I swear it wasn't me dude." Kaner said holding his hands up. "We do the deed together it's not cool to rat you out." He added. Jonathan believed him. He didn't know why but he believed him.

"Manchild?" Jon asked putting a hand on Brandon's shoulder. "You seem to have a thing for her, is it your big plan to swoop in and be the hero? Huh? Shoulder to cry on? Is that it?" He asked her.

"Jon I didn't tell her I swear!" He said as his phone lit up in his hand. It showed a background of the picture of Michelle that she had sent the previous night.

"That's some picture Brandon. Exchanging nudes now?"

"Jon it wasn't me I swear." Brandon said making fists. "She called me last night but she already knew."

"Quit lying kid. I thought you were smarter than that." Jonathan said shaking his head

. "Leave the kid alone Johnny." Sharpie said from his seat not even looking up from his iPhone. "I told her. The girl's become like my little sister."

"I should've known you'd have as hard on for her too." Jonathan said settling into his seat on the bus. "What happened to your theory of women taking care of men? Turning a blind eye? What about that sharpie?"

"Someday you'll learn kid, someday." Patrick said putting his hands behind his head.

------

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Abby asked Michelle from the doorway of Michelle and Jon's bedroom. "You don't want to wait and see him first?"

"No," Michelle said. "I need to move on with my life. I'll tape my last two segments for good day Chicago then go back to Winnipeg." She said tears forming in her eyes. "He was never like this in Winnipeg you know. Never gave any indication that he would cheat. He hung off of me more than I did of him." She said between tears. "He loved me."

"Honey he's a man. Your career is on fire right now and he probably can't deal with it. He's not the only star anymore." Abby said putting Sadie back in her baby carrier and hugging Michelle. "I think that the two of you need to discuss this, figure out then root of the problem." She added rubbing Michelle's back. "Don't run away."

"He cheated, he abandoned us. I don't know how I can deal with that."

"Then Michelle, you weren't meant to be with a professional athlete. They all cheat at one time or another." Abby added albeit not comfortingly.

"Even Sharpie?"

"Yes, even Patrick has. College. We almost didn't make it but we survived. You can too if you can forgive him and make him see that you're what's best for him." Abby said wondering if her point was getting across. "Just give it tonight. He's coming home, talk to him first. Plus if hate to lose a friend like this." She added as the two embraced.

That night Michelle was waiting for Jon when he came home from his road trip. Her bag was packed waiting at the front door just in case things didn't go well. Michelle heard the door open and shut and walked into the entrance way. "Welcome home Johnny." She said monotonously.

"Michelle I'm sorry." He said handing her a small bouquet of lillies. "I really screwed up. I deserve you to walk out on me I really do. I haven't done much right with you lately." He said looking at her bag.

"Jon, I told you it was over. I just figured you should have a chance to explain yourself." She said to him not breaking her stance.

"Baby, please try to forgive me. I know can save me from the man I've become." He said looking into her eyes. "I was trying to be someone, I played my part and kept you in the dark." He said hugging her.

"Jon, that's a Backstreet Boys song." Michelle said rolling her eyes picking up her bag.

"It might be, but it's true. Guys in the NHL, we...we have this image to uphold as ladies men." He said to her. "I guess that I just tried too hard to help that image." He said to her.

"Oh how sweet, it's not really who you are but you were trying to be one of the boys." She said sarcastically.

"Don't leave." He said as she reached for the door

. "I'm going to the gym." Michelle said not looking at him

. "Will you be back?" Jon asked sounding nervous.

"I don't know." She said softly. "I'll think about it." Michelle took a cab to Bruno's fitness centre as it was 11pm and she didn't want to risk her safety. She looked down at the eternity symbol around her neck rubbing her fingers over it. She paid her fare and walked into the quiet gym. Being a 24/7 gym she was glad she had a refuge. Michelle changed into her running tights and a red racer back tank with matching nike shocks. She walked to the water fountain with her water bottle bumping into a taller man. "Oh excuse me." She said. "Saader, what are you doing here?" She asked him smiling.

"I didn't feel like sleeping. I figured I could work off some frustration." He said to her with a straight face.

"Me too." Michelle said with a small smile as she filled her bottle. "I wasn't really in the mood to be at home." She added.

"So you didn't move out?" He asked

"Not yet. He brought flowers and apologized." She said stiffly. "Said he wasn't being himself. Pretending to be somebody else." She said upset

. "Michelle, you deserve more." Brandon said giving her a hug. "I keep looking at your picture that you sent. It's so beautiful. I hope that's not weird." He said shyly.

"Thanks Brandon." She smiled. "I should go run. See you in a bit?" She asked as he nodded with a smile. Setting her treadmill to 7.5mph Michelle put her headphones in and began to jog off her feelings. The past months, her anger, everything. By the time she was finished, she felt like a new person. If Jonathan wanted another chance, he was going to have to work for it. That was going to start by seeing that he could lose her, and to somebody else on his own team. "I'm going to go change." Michelle said as she walked by Brandon. "Meet me in 20 out front?" She asked him. He nodded silently and finished his own workout. After showering and changing into her street clothes, Michelle applied a bit of natural makeup. She walked confidently to the front of the club.

"Ready to go?" Brandon asked her as he was waiting for her with his gym bag over his shoulder.

"Sure." Michelle smiled as he took her bag and shouldered it for her. "Would it be too much for me to ask to stay at your place tonight'?" Michelle asked innocently.

"Ummm....s...s...sure." He stuttered nervously. "You can have my room, I'll probably be up for a while though." He said to her nervously. Michelle put a hand on his face stroking it looking into his eyes.

"I don't think we'll be doing much sleeping tonight." She smiled seductively.

"Oh boy" was all Brandon could say as he watched her walk hips swaying towards his car. "Down boy" he said to himself

Notes