Gonna Make You Sweat

"How long are you gone for?" Michelle asked Jonathan sitting on the bed while he packed his life into his suitcase.

"Two weeks." He said sorting his underwear and socks on either side. "Hey babe can you grab me my blue golf shirt. I might want to hit the links while I'm away." He said pointing to the closet. Things had gotten better for about a week before Jonathan started getting distant again.

"Here." Michelle said throwing it to him from the closet. She was hoping he'd take notice of her mood.

"This one has stripes Michelle. I said blue, not blue with black stripes." He said throwing it back at her.

"Yes sir." She said with a faux salute going to find the shirt he asked for. "So they've assigned a new producer for my segments." Michelle said rummaging through shirts. "He wants to try and take me national." She said with a proud smile.

"Oh that's nice" he said not even looking up from his bag. "I've got a photo shoot coming up for the new Olympic jerseys national campaign." He said with a smile. Lately everything was about one upping her. Making sure she knew her place in the relationship. He was the bread winner, the star. She was the supportive trophy at his side. This was grating on Michelle.

"Johnny, when was the last time you called me Ma Belle? Or spoke French to me?" She asked him as he threw a pair of wingtips into his bag.

"I don't know? Does it matter that much?" He asked looking her in the eye.

"Well you've always known how it makes me feel." She said sitting back on the bed curling her knees to her chin. "It's how you got me into bed after all." She said crawling over to him placing a kiss on his nose seductively placing herself I front of his current work

. "'Chelle please." He said "I have to get this done. Plane leaves at four tonight." He said. "I don't have time for this.

"Right." She said backing up eyeing her runners in the corner of the room. "I'm going to go for a run." She said taking off her jeans and slipping on her lululemon running pants and throwing on a sports bra with a bright pink underarmour long sleeved compression shirt

. "I'm gone in an hour." He said as she did up her hot pink laces. "

"I know." She said throwing her hair in a ponytail. "I'll miss you." She said hugging him from behind kissing the back of his neck. He turned around and looked her in the eye.

"Miss you too Ma belle." He said with a smile giving an unheated, dull kiss. "Call you from Colorado?" He asked her releasing her body.

"sure. And make sure you score some for me?" She asked leaving the room.

"Of course babe." He said with a smile as she walked out to leave the condo. It was progress, but slow progress.

----

Michelle had been jogging in and around millennium park in the cold Chicago November. She loved cold weather running, it made her feel alive and fit. Stopping to take a break after 3.5 miles she stretched and did some yoga poses while drinking from her hydration belt. From the corner of her eye she could see a guy taking photos of her with a camera. Unshaven and scruffy with blonde slightly greasy, grown out hair with some sort of wool knitted hat covering it. He had a Brad Pitt circa 1992 vibe to him.

"What are you doing?" She asked him as he got closer. "I'm pretty sure it could be constituted as stalking." She said with a smile.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help it. Casey Linden." He said extending his hand which she took gingerly. "I'm a photographer for Fitness magazine. I'm doing a shoot in Chicago and am looking for inspiration." He said to her with a half smile.

"If that's a pickup line I'm sorry but I'm not interested." She said to him. "You see my boyfriend is kind of a big deal around this city." She added putting her hands on her hips. "Jonathan Toews."

"Doesn't ring a bell." He said shaking his head no. "Listen, here's my card." He said taking one from the pocket of his leather jacket. "I'm always looking for models and fitness competitors. You look like you could do either." He said sizing her up with his ocean blue eyes

. "Oh." She said looking at the card realizing he was legit. An agency and everything on his card as well as a collage of some work on the back of it. "Thanks Casey." She said smiling. She then extended her hand. "I'm Michelle, Michelle Manor." She said smiling as he took her hand and shook it.

"Pleased to meet you." He said to her. "Listen I'm in town for the next week. That number will get you to my voicemail at least ." He said to her pointing to the card. "Even of we could get a coffee or something." He said putting his gloves back on.

"Sorry Casey, I told you I'm attached." She said shaking her head. "

"I said coffee, not marriage." He laughed. "I'll see you around Michelle." He said as he walked off

. ----

@So, Captain Serious." Sharpie started on the plane "I bet you'll enjoy a little break from sexing up that girl of yours." He said to Jonathan. "What do you guys go? Three, four times a day?" He asked her as the guys around him laughed.


"Sharpie, it's not always about sex" He said shaking his head. "It's about what laundry she does for me and what meals I have her cook." He said getting some hi fives from the guys around him.

"A girl like that isn't going to wait around for you Tazer." Brandon spoke up from his seat. "Eventually she'll get bored and leave." He added .

"What do you know Manchild?" Tazer turned and said. "Do you even have your pubes yet?" He asked laughing.

"Listen, all I'm saying is she needs somebody to appreciate her. She has a career too you know, not just being Jonathan Toews girlfriend." He added

. "Saader, one day you'll find out what WAGs are really here to do." Sharpie said. "Look good, cook good, sex good." He added laughing. "And pop out babies."

"Manchild, she knew what she was getting herself into when she got with me." Tazer said to him. "Her job is awesome, I fully support that. The problem is though that I need a full time cheerleader. I'm kind of a big deal in the NHL."

"Just make sure that big head of yours can fit through the doorway." Brandon responded turning around keeping to himself for the rest of the flight

. ---

That night, Jon was as good as his word calling Michelle from his hotel. "I miss you babe." He said to her laying on the bed a after returning from a team dinner.

"I miss you too." Michelle said between yawns. It was 1am where she was whereas it was only 11 where he was. "I met a new friend in the park today." She said smiling.

"Oh yeah? What's her name?" He asked loosening his tie.

"His name is Casey. He's a photographer for fitness shoots." She said brightly. She was hoping to get his attention.

"Hold on, HIS name?" Jonathan said sitting up in his bed sounding angry. "Michelle" he said in a parental tone.

"He's harmless Johnny. Plus it could help my career." She said rolling over to his side of the bed.

"I don't think so ." He added. "The last thing I need is a cheating scandal of you and some photographer." He said sounding like he was talking about some gum sticking to the bottom of his shoe.

"Johnny don't worry. Your precious image will remain in tact." She said rolling her eyes. "But I do miss you." She said with a smile.

"Miss you too babe." He said slightly happier. "I just am looking out for you. For us." He added. "Anyway 9am comes early so I should go. Bye Michelle." He said hanging up.

"Love you too." She said looking at her phone.

Notes