Risk

Gwen tilted her head and greeted Max, who was always manning the check-in counter at the Do Jang this time of day. “How’s your day been?”

“Good. Yours?” he answered.

“Better now.”

“Oh yeah? Why’s that?” His right eye crinkled more than his left.

She was certain he didn’t really have to ask. Her lips curved in a subtle smile. “I like coming here. It’s very inspiring.” She thumbed through a brochure of classes offered at the Do Jang.

“You thinking about joining another class?”

Gwen brushed a few stray hairs behind her ear. “Thinking about it… What classes do you teach?”

“I teach the 4:00 pm Tae Kwon Do and the 6:00 pm kickboxing class.”

“I’ll be sure to avoid those classes,” she said, her voice playing games. “I don’t want to start hating you.”

“Hating me?”

“Yeah... If you are yelling for me to keep moving and I’m about to pass out… I think I’d start hating you.”

His face brightened. “Which class were you thinking about joining?”

Her eyes trailed to his defined arms and then bounced back to the smooth curve of his bottom lip. “If I try the kickboxing class, will you promise to make me hate you?” Her insides flooded with dizzying warmth.

Max let out a pleased breath and shook his head. “Only if you let me make it up to you after class.”

Gwen couldn’t hold back her blush and turned her attention to the stack of brochures to her left. After all these weeks of checking each other out and small-talk, they were finally making a move. “Making up sounds like fun. Why don’t we try that?” Her eyes met his again, this time with hopeful expectation.

“So… Like… Coffee later tonight?” He seemed a little nervous. The effect was surprising. Endearing. Even a guy as self-assured as Max had needed a little encouragement before risking rejection.

“But, I don’t hate you, yet. Don’t you want to torment me a little first?” she teased.

Max leaned over the counter top, moving inches closer to her. “What time should I pick you up?”

Gwen's heart fired. “I’m sure you could do that anytime, but, 7:30 works for me.” She paused for a breath. “Although, if I drink coffee that late I’m going to be up all night.”

She could see his pulse beating wild beneath the skin of his neck.“Me too,” he said. 

She tossed her bag over her shoulder. “Then, pick me up at 8:00.”