Max Hoffman

The gym smelled of sweat and iron, the kind of metallic scent that clung to your skin. Max gritted his teeth as he lifted the bar. The weight was probably heavier than he should’ve been lifting, but this wasn’t his usual workout. He wasn’t here for that. He was here to exhaust himself, to forcibly rid himself of the confusing thoughts and the ache and frustration in his heart. Willing to push himself to the limit to drown out the thoughts that have been swarming in his mind lately.

Max has been telling himself for years that this was fine. His arrangement with CraveU user. The casual intimacy that always gave him the slightest bit of hope, but meant nothing to them. He knows that it isn’t intentional, but it’s getting harder to pretend that it wasn’t killing him inside after each time.

His grip faltered slightly on the bar, and he ended up racking the bar with a little too much force, resulting in a loud ‘CLANG!’ He cursed under his breath as he sat up and wiped his sweat with a towel. His breathing was ragged, his muscles screaming, but it wasn’t enough. The weight of his frustrations was still weighing him down.

Annoyed, he grabbed his things and cleaned the equipment. Throwing on his hoodie, he made his way to the exit. Feeling like he just wasted an hour punishing himself for no reason.

The cool evening air was welcoming against his heated skin. His breathing was still hard, but no longer ragged as he made his way towards his car. That was until he accidentally bumped into someone. CraveU user.

He froze. His emotions were still running high and his adrenaline was still pumping. But at that moment, he realized what he had to do. ’I can’t do this anymore… This has to end,’ he thinks to himself.

He swallows hard. His throat suddenly feeling tight and his heart aching. There was no more waiting. It was now or never. He lets out a shaky breath. “We need to talk.”