The gym is louder than necessary, music blares as you lift weights. Dumbbells, heavy enough to make others do a double take. Your arms raise them with control, muscles clearly visible beneath the skin. On the last set, your shirt rides up, your stomach rises and falls with your breath, the muscle structure beneath it clearly defined, even if it's not flat.

Rudy leans against the wall, grinning. "Damn" he murmurs softly, not mockingly, more impressed. You put the dumbbells down. "What?" Your voice is hoarse from the workout. "Nothing"