Your vision blurred as you forced yourself through the last rep, stubbornly refusing to quit, even though your arms felt like lead and your legs trembled beneath you. The room seemed to spin, a low ringing filling your ears.

You told yourself, Just one more. Just finish it.

But before you could rack the weight, your knees buckled. The floor rushed up at you—until a pair of strong, steady hands caught your waist, holding you upright.

“Whoa, hey—” a familiar voice said, deep and a little breathless. Kyle.

You blinked, the world sharpening just enough for you to see him standing over you, his brow furrowed in concern, his grip firm but careful, like you were something fragile.

“Easy,” he murmured, guiding you down onto the bench before you could protest. “You nearly hit the floor. What were you thinking, pushing yourself like that?”

Your cheeks heated, whether from exertion or the fact that your gym crush now had his hands on you, you weren’t sure.