Love Comes Knocking, Kathy Cakebread [top novels of all time txt] 📗

Ben grinned.
His unease settling José returned the smile. Ben was a trooper, he really was, he took his knocks but unlike some he didn’t break he bounced. Turning the open sign to closed Ben shut the blinds, watched as the quickly descending shutters replaced the twilight scene. Closing his eyes his mind flashed, his memory intent in capturing a glimpse of the wreck he was last night. That night he was at his lowest and he was determined never to stoop to such lows ever again. Pulling on his coat he checked he had his wallet, opened the door and stepped onto the threshold waiting patiently for Jose to follow.

As he approached the gym’s entrance Ben could feel his heart hammering in his chest. His mind was spinning, the humiliation of last night battering his determination to get on with life. He knew he had to get back into his fitness routine; he couldn’t let a silly misunderstanding ruin his good intentions. It would still hurt though, seeing the girl who misled him every time he went to the gym.
“Jose, when we get in there would you sign me in? I really don’t think I can face it. I’d really appreciate it.” Ben started.
Jose stopped, smiling he held out his hand.
“Hand it over then and we can get on those bikes faster then you can say germonio.” Jose laughed.
Pulling out his wallet Ben thumbed the membership card and gently placed it in his friend’s palm.
“Take care of it.”
“Oh I will, don’t worry about that.” Jose replied.
Relieved that he didn’t have to go through the awkwardness of meeting with Lola so soon Ben felt glad to have such a decent friend. Reaching the lobby the pair went in opposite directions, José heading towards reception with Ben strolling towards the changing rooms, his head down and his pace fast. Incensed by how Lola had treated his friend Jose could feel aggravation building up inside, it showed on his face, in the way he moved, it could control him if he let it. But he didn’t. He wasn’t here to make a scene, after all what happened was a private matter, he didn’t want the world to know what evil roamed the streets.

Tucked away in the corner of reception Lola sat at a computer, absentmindedly tapping various data into a computer programme. She didn’t notice she had company; her mind obviously consumed on far more important issues then her work.
“If you’ve got a minute.” He muttered loudly.
Casting her gaze from the computer she saw José waiting impatiently on the other side of the counter. Just seeing him made her nervous, wherever José went Ben usually followed. She knew what she had said the other day was so wrong and she felt awful for it. Faking a smile she moved towards the counter, her fingers nervously twisting a ringlet of hair.
“Hi Jose, how can I help?” she asked.
“By having a heart for a start.” He said slowly.
She grimaced. It was obvious he was going to give her a hard time from the moment she clocked eyes on him.
“Look I’m sorry yeah, I didn’t realise I’d led him on like that.” She started.
“Is that your attempt at a apology? If so it’s pathetic and I’m not the one you should be saying it to for a start!! Just because you’re pretty doesn’t mean you have the right to destroy someone’s spirit like that, you don’t know how much heartache he’s been through.” Jose shouted.

Lola could feel the hot hears pricking her eyes, her throat constricted by the lump she tried so hard to swallow. She’d bitten her lip so hard she could taste blood. She knew Ben was a decent guy it was just hard to see past what everyone else saw sometimes. She was only human after all, she judged people on how they looked, how they acted; the image they put across. When she looked at Ben she saw through the fat, saw the beautiful person inside, so why should it matter what people thought he looked like. Beauty was superficial, looks fade but the personality remains forever.
“Okay, I accept you had to get that off your chest. Where is Ben I’d like to make a personal apology.” She mustered.

Jose could see she was on the verge of tears; maybe she wasn’t as much of an ice queen as he thought. He couldn’t put his finger on it but he felt he hadn’t got the whole story, that somehow, she was holding back on her feelings. It seemed clear to him that the tenderness evoked from Lola the night Ben broke down in the gym was genuine. Her struggle to maintain glamorous and respected conflicted with her true longing to just live as her heart desired.
“He went to change… he’s probably halfway to Timbuktu by now with all the cycling he’s doing.” He laughed.
Lola smiled lightly, her face relieved. It was as if the intensity of the last few minutes had simply been a figment of her imagination. She looked over at the computer, noting the flashing document she had yet to finish. The gym’s annual report was due in just two hours but there were more important things in life then a few documents.
“I think it’s about time I apologised… will you look after the front desk for me I won’t be too long.” She asked.
She stared at him expectantly her eyes full of hope, he hesitated; his posture slumped. He wanted his friend do be happy more then anything but could he take another knock from the girl who broke his heart?
“Please José I’m not going to say anything bad I just want to talk to him!”
Deep down he knew a kind word from her would make his day. Smiling he headed towards the entry door to reception.
“Sign me up.” He grinned.
She laughed then headed down the hall, her heart hammering in anticipation.


15. A moment in the sauna

The smell hit him before he even reached the changing room, an odour thick with the smell of sweat and cheesy feet. It was hardly the most pleasant part of going to the gym; in fact it was almost enough to make him run out the other way. Wrinkling his nose he plonked his gym bag on the bench, scanning the room for the best place to get changed. He hated his body so much he hated anyone seeing it, even if they didn’t pay any notice. A few guys were over the far side of the room, spraying deodorant onto their freshly showered bodies. Sneakily Ben looked over, squinting his eyes. As he stared his target stretched, his arms splayed showing the muscular physique of his body. What he’d do to have a body like that! Ben thought sadly, eyeing up the several spare tires padding his t-shirt. Turning his back to the stud and the three other well built guys Ben sifted through the bag looking for his Lycra. Putting his bag in the locker he headed towards the gym. As he walked down the brightly lit corridor he spotted the door to the sauna. He’d read somewhere once that the more you sweat, the more fat you burn off. He stood there glancing from the sauna door to the gymnasium; which was the wiser choice? He certainly wouldn’t have to do as much work in the sauna; heck it was probably no different to touching up your tan on a hot, sandy, Spanish beach.

A loud chorus of raucous laughter hit his ears as he headed for his locker. The room was filled with a bunch of cocky university students, their faces fresh and handsome. Pulling his bag out of his locker he headed for the bench. Embarrassment sank through him as he self-consciously undressed only too aware of the stares of the students. He had his back to them, ashamed of what they would say; hell, even think if they saw how he looked from the front.

Dropping his pants he went to pick up his towel when it fell onto the floor. He stared in horror at the towel, his only salvation from inquisitive, prying eyes. Glancing anxiously at the students he quickly bent down to pick it up, his heart racing wildly
“Cor you’ve got a better pair of boobs then my missus! She’d be well jealous!” one bloke laughed.
Ben felt his face seer from the heat of humiliation, the jibes pushing him towards tears. Gritting his teeth he thrust the towel over his body, angry at the cheek they had to ridicule him.
“Takes one to know one huh.” Ben growled as he stormed out.
“Hey son the Marine Wildlife conservation society were looking for you, they’re missing one of their whales!”
The humourless joke drew guffaws from the group of defiantly foolish students. Ben refused to let it get to him, they’d be fat one day; they were students after all. The thought drawing a smile to his face he laughed and pushed open the door to the sauna.

The heat hit him heavily in the face, the steam engulfing every little part of him. It reminded him of the sticky, humid days of midsummer, where the air was so sticky the sweat ran down. Drawing a hand to his forehead he wiped the perspiration with a clammy hand, taking a seat on the wooden bench. There was only one other person in the sauna, a beautiful petite redhead whose blue eyes were so bright it reminded him of a sapphire.

Her china doll complexion and pale skin contrasted largely with her scarlet red bikini, its sheer colour immediately drawing your eyes to her chest. Ben gasped and quickly looked away, embarrassed at the stare he gave the girl. She was probably the second most beautiful girl he had seen in such a short space of time.
“Hi.” She smiled.
Ben looked around to see whom she was talking to even though he knew there was no one else in the sauna.
“You, I’m talking to you. How are you?”
“Erm… I’m uh-okay thanks. What about you?”
She laughed and stared at him warmly. He couldn’t believe what a fool he was being, it was like his tongue had dissolved leaving him unable to string sentences together.
“You come here much?” she said.
“No… well yes I do sometimes but, lately I haven’t… I just haven’t been able bring myself.”
She looked at him curiously as if wanting him to go on.
“May I ask why you haven’t been able to come here?”
Ben looked down unsure whether he wanted to reveal details that close to his heart. His eyes fixed on the door, his gaze blurring in the hot steam.
“I liked someone here, someone who I’d pretty much see every time I set foot in this place! But even though she didn’t like me back I had to show her I wasn’t afraid! I wasn’t afraid of facing her, all I had done was care…”
The girl let out a whistle, her face etched in sympathy. Ben looked over saw the pity then shook his head in disagreement.
“No don’t pity me, that’s not what I want… everyone has times in their lives when they like people who don’t like them back it just part of growing up and growing as a person… I just get it a lot more then most people that’s all.”
She smiled.
“Why are you opening your heart to me?” she questioned softly.
He stopped for a minute, his mind consumed in thought.
“You know that’s a good point… I just know you