Love, Lies, and the NHL.

"Mother fucker..." I heard a voice mumble smacking the vending machine at the gym. I looked over from the bike and saw a brown haired guy, about 6'0, kinda muscle-y stadning by the vending machine with an annoyed look on his face. I could see the Vitaminwater stuck halfway on its platform. "Hey, do you have change for a ten?" he asked catching my gaze

"Yeah." I nodded "In my locker...but chance are you'll only get them both stuck. That machine is shitty."

"Dammit..." he sighed turning to leave the machine

"But, I can help you."

The guy stopped and turned to me, a small smile forming on his lips "Oh yeah?"

I nodded, hopping off the bike and walking towards him. I carefully moved the machine ever so slightly before pulling the plug, unhooking it from the power. Once the machine had powered down, I slammed into it. The vitaminwater fell into the drop area. I smiled and pulled it out, handing it to the guy, who was staring at me with his mouth hanging open. I plugged the machine back in and heading back to the bike. "Torrie...you promised you wouldn't do that shit anymore. The Coca-Cola guy is going to be pissed." Lenny, the gym owner sighed.

"Oh...the Coca-Cola guy won't know. Beside I was helping-I am sorry. What was your name?" I asked looking over at the guy, who was still staring at me.

He seemed to shake himself from the trance he was in before replying, "Michael. Michael Latta."

"I was helping Michael over here retrieve his stuck Vitamin Water. Maybe if Coca-Cola didn't produce such shit machines, I wouldn't have to ram it."

"Got me there, Connolly." Lenny replied going back to his papers

I smiled over at Michael "Cat got your tonuge, Michael?"

"Huh? Oh. No. I just...that...um...that was impressive."

"Why? Because I'm a woman?"

"No! It'd be impressive if you were a guy too..."

I laughed "Yeah. I guess. So, Michael Latta, huh? Haven't seen you here before."

"Uh no. I just moved here."

"Well. Welcome to LA. My names Torrie. Torrie Connolly. Where did you move from?"

"Washington...DC."

"DC. Why move so far away?"

"I had to move for my job." Michael replied giving me a strange look

"Oh...and what line of business are you in, Michael?" I asked looking him up and down. He didn't look much like a businessman. Or a sales person.

"I'm a hockey player." he replied taking the bike besides mine

"You move for hockey?"

"Yeah. You do when you get traded or when your team decides not to keep you."

"Which one were you?"

"The last one...I played in Washington for the Capitals. They chose not to resign me when my contract was up, so I signed with the Kings."

"'I've never been one for major league sports. Know of the Kings though. A few players come here very now and then."

"Do you come here a lot?" he asked

I laughed "I work here. I'm a personal trainer."

"Oh. Cool." Michael replied

The alarm on my watch went off and I started hopping off my bike, "Well, it was nice meeting you, Michael. I have to leave for a session. Nice work on the bike." I grabbed my towel and headed to the lockers to retrieve my stuff.

"Torrie, wait." Michael said walking up to me

"Yes?"

"I'm new in town...and I don't really know the city that well...I was thinking that maybe we could..."

"You were thinking that maybe I could tour you around town?" I asked. Michael nodded and I raised an eyebrow "Only if you do something for me."

"What's that?" Michael asked

"Meet me here tomorrow at 10am sharp." I replied grabbing my belongings and heading out

"For what?" Michael called to me

"You'll see."
______________________________________
10am on the dot, Michael showed up in black Mercedes. One of the big SUV ones. "Morning." I said looking him over

"Morning...why did you want me here?" he asked

"Well, if I'm going to show you around town, you have to be able to beat me in a lifting competition."

Michael laughed "Are you serious?"

"I am dead serious." I replied with a straight face

Michael's laugh faded and he gave me a look "You do remember that I am a professional hockey player, right?"

"And you do realize that I'm one of the best damn trainers in Los Angeles, I've won three dead lifting competitions, and I'm a black belt in karate."

Michael half smiled "Alright then. A lifting competition it is. I win, you show me around LA...you win..."

"I win and you have to let me be your trainer."

"What?" Michael laughed

"If I beat you, you let me be your personal trainer."

Michael looked at me and shrugged, "Alright. Deal."

I smiled and lead him inside "We'll start off simple. 25 pounds. We'll add another 25 until one of us can't lift the weight anymore but the other can."

"Okay." Michael replied

I smiled and placed 25 pounds on the bar, lifting it with ease. I sat it down and looked over at Michael, stepping back as he grabbed the bar, lifting it as well and placing it back on the ground. 50 pounds was another easy lift for the both of us. By 100 pounds, we'd drawn a substantial crowd watching us. I lifted the 100, and sat it down, motioning for Michael to take his turn. He lifted it without any sign of struggle and placed it back on the ground smiling over at me. "I can do this all day." he smiled

"Don't get so cocky." I smiled back, placing another 25 pounds onto the bar and lifting it.

"You're a feisty girl." Michael laughed lifting the 125 pounds with ease. He smiled at me, nodding towards the bar.

150 pounds was next. I started my form and bent to lift the bar. I only got it a fraction off the ground before I sat it back down with a sigh. "Your turn. You lift this and I'll show you around town."

Michael took his position and lifted the weight up, smiling over at me before setting it back on the ground. The crowd around us started clapping and cheering for him and they went over talking to him about how awesome that was. "What was that, Torrie?" Lenny whispered from behind me "I know damn well you can lift more than that."

I smiled "I know. I decided to let him win. He doesn't need any training and showing him around LA might be fun."

Michael walked over to me and smiled "That was fun. You're great...I mean this in the best of ways, but you can lift a shit-ton for a girl."

I laughed "No offense taken. So about that tour...how about we go out for dinner tonight? Meet me here at 7? That's when I'm off."

"Alright." Michael smiled

"I'll see you then." I replied heading off to one of my clients.
_______________________________________________________
Michael showed up right on time. Instead of the usual shorts and plain t-shirt, he was wearing jeans and a nice button up shirt. The baseball cap that usually donned his head had been removed and I got a better look at his luscious locks. "You made it." I said

Michael nodded "Yeah. So hop in?" he said nodding towards his Mercedes.

I laughed "I'm showing you around town, silly. Not telling you where to go. This way." I replied leading him to the parking area where my car would be waiting. "My truck isn't as fancy as your's but Ol Bethany gets me where I need to go."

Michael smiled "Your car is named Bethany?"

"Yep." I replied hoping into my own Chevy Silverado "This is Bethany. I've had her for years."

Michael looked her over and a smile formed on his face "You know, I expected you to drive something crazy. Like a Lexus."

I laughed "Why because I'm a PT?"

Michael nodded "Yeah."

"Well, where I come from, Chevy is fancy."

"You're not from LA?"

"Nope. Prairieville, Louisiana. Born and raised. Moved here when I was 20 after finishing my PT classes. Not much need for personal trainers back home. Lenny, the gym owner, is a family friend."

Michael nodded "That's great. So you've been here for..."

"About 6 years now. LA is great...I mean it's not like home, but it's great. You'll really like it here. I mean it's no DC..."

"Oh. I'm not originally from DC."

"You're not?"

Michael shook his head "Canada. Ontario."

"Well LA is definitely no Canada." I laughed. Michael smiled "So, I hope you're hungry. We are going to the best Pizza place in the United States."

"That's a bold statement." Michael laughed

"It's Mario Batali's restaurant. They make the best pizza in a wood burning oven."

"Mario who?" Michael asked with a questioning look

"Batali. You know? He was on Iron Chef? Long hair...Italian."

"Oh. Yeah. The guy with the reddish hair."

I nodded "Yeah."

"So, pizza huh? Isn't that a strange thing for a personal trainer to suggest?" Michael teased

"It's my cheat day." I laughed "And Pizzeria Mozza is my cheat place. You'll see when you try the pizza."

Michael smiled "Alright. I'll take your word for it, but if it's not the best damn pizza I've ever had, you have to let me show you some things on the ice."

"Deal." I smiled pulling into a spot. We headed inside and got a table. We each ordered our drinks and started looking over the menu

"Since you know this place, you order the pizza. I'll try whatever you think is the best."

I smiled "Alright. I'll order us my favorite. The Pizza alla Benno."

"Sounds fancy." Michael smiled

"It's so good. You aren't afraid of spice are you?"

Michael laughed "No."

"Okay good."

"Why what comes on that?"

"Speck, pineapple, jalepenos, tomatoes and mozzarella."

"What's speck?"

"It's kind of similar to prosciutto. It's pork leg that has been cured in salt and spices and slow roasted for months."

"Months?"

I nodded "It's really good. You'll like it."

"Alright." Michael smiled. The waiter brought us our drinks and I ordered the pizza. "So, when did you first know you wanted to be a trainer?"

"In high school. We had a great PE class and I've just always liked being at the gym. How about you?"

"Well, I've been playing since I was a kid of course...but I've been playing in junior leagues since 2007. I've been in the NHL since 2013."

"Cool." I smiled "I've seen a hockey game or two on the TV. The Kings right?"

Michael nodded "Yeah."

"And you played for the...Capitals?"

"Yep."

"Alex Ovechkin right?"

Michael laughed "Yeah. I played with Ovi. So you have heard of some hockey players?"

"I only know that name because the handful of hockey guys that come into the gym complain about him."

"Yeah. That's Ovi. so Torrie, can I ask you a personal question?"

I bit my lip, "Yeah."

"Do you have a boyfriend?" he asked taking a sip of his wine

"No. How about you? Are you seeing anyone?"

"No." Michael smiled "Well...unless you count Tom back in DC." he laughed

"Huh?"

"That was a joke. He's my former roommate and my best friend."

"Oh." I smiled as the waiter brought the pizza to us "Thank-you."

"That looks really good."

"Ready to try?" I asked as we each got a slice

"Yep. Here goes." he said as we each took a bite

I let him take a few bites and I smiled "So what's the verdict?"

Michael wiped his mouth and took a drink of wine "That is the best damn pizza I ever had." he laughed

"I told you." I laughed.

We finished our pizza, occasionally talking about our lives and jobs. We talked about the scene in LA and what there was to do, other than the typical sightseeing. The chef returned for our check and I reached for my wallet. Michael stopped me "I'll pay."

"Michael, you don't have to do that..."

"I want to...and you can call me, Mike, Torrie." he smiled handing a credit card to out waiter

"Thank-you. I'll pay you back." I said

Michael shook his head "You're going to be showing me around town. The least I can do is buy you a pizza." he smiled

I smiled back "Thank-you. You're sweet."

Michael smiled and opened the door as we headed back to my car, "So where to now?"

"Do you want to go to the Walk?"

"Sure. That sounds fun." he smiled

I drove us downtown and parked my car. "This way." I smiled walking down the street with Michael beside me.

"It's nice here."

"Yeah it is." I said

"Have you been down here before?"

"Oh many times. It's fun seeing all the names."

Michael nodded "Yeah it is."

We took a few selfies by some of the stars. We walked by the Chinese Theater and took another picture. We took a seat on a bench before we started to head back to my car, "It's nice out tonight."

"It is." Michael smiled looking over at me. He leaned in and kissed me. I kissed him back and after a couple minutes he slowly pulled away.

"Wow."

"Wow?" Michael smiled

"I was not expecting that..."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

"I think a good thing." I replied. Michael smiled again and I leaned back over kissing him again. "It's getting kind of late."

"Okay." Michael replied.

We headed back to my car and drove back to the gym. I parked beside his car and looked over at him "So...thanks for tonight. It was nice to get out."

"Yeah. Thanks for the pizza suggestion and for the brief tour." Michael replied. I smiled at him and we kissed again. "I should probably go..." he said

"Okay." I replied

Michael smiled "So, I'll see you tomorrow?"

"I have to work tomorrow..."

"I know. I'll be at the gym." Michael smiled

I smiled "Yeah. I'll see you tomorrow."

Notes