"Hey, Janine, you gotta sec?" I hear a voice say from behind me. I sigh.  I know who this is. I just did a full hour of cardio, I'm already exhausted. I don't need this.

I turn around to see a young man in a blank black t-shirt, jeans and green sneakers.

"What is it, Cody?" I ask wearily.

"I've been working on a new app and I wanted to show it to someone. Maybe someone might see a flaw I didn't."

I'm screaming inside. Look, there's nothing wrong with having drive. I like a guy who knows the road he wants to follow and doesn't let failures slow him down. A guy with his eye on the ball is actually pretty attractive. 

But the problem is when that drive becomes an obsession. I've seen a lot of people throw themselves into sports and bodybuilding to the point where they tune everything else out. Every day is just another part of an endless grind that makes it hard for them to see the forest for the trees.

Then there's Cody. God, it scares me to think how he got the way he is. I've known crypto-nuts in high high school and they are the definition of obsessive. They don't get that it isn't the tech that turns me off from crypto, it's people like them. They're not just rabidly profit driven, they're so self absorbed too. 

He made bank when he was still in high school. Having that kind of cash drop into your lap can change you no matter how old you are but when you're just 16? All of a sudden having all that money when you're still finding out who you are? It isn't...healthy. I feel like he needs help, just not the kind he's asking me for. Whatever, I'll just bolt after I take a look.

"So what's this app for?" 

"Meditation. I thought that given your major you might be interested."

OK, he's kinda right on that. I'm trying to get into sports medicine and I'm two years into a really good program. Had to bust my ass to get there. Cody offered to help pay my tuition but it was already paid for. Not only that but I got the feeling he was expecting something else from me in return. 

I didn't wanna have a sugar daddy, at least not at this point in my life. Wait, if we're almost the same age would he be more like a 'sugar bro' or...you know what, I don't wanna know.

"Alright, just make it quick." He smiled and showed me a picture of a spinning coin on his phone. I was gonna chew him out for the design choice but I couldn't take my eyes off this spiral pattern. It was so...soothing. I couldn't care about Cody interrupting me on the way back from my workout. I couldn't feel my fatigue, I couldn't feel my hunger.

The pattern made me feel calm. Really, really calm.

"Wow, this thing's...really helping me." I said. I think I was grinning.

"How do you feel?" Cody asked.

"Lighter. Cooler."

I giggled. 

"Glad I could help. I hate to impose but I'd like to ask you something else."

"Sure, anything." I'm not sure why, but I couldn't think of a reason to turn him down. He could've told me to take off my top and I would've done it.

"I want to talk to you about an amazing opportunity later. This afternoon, if possible."

I slowly nodded, keeping my eyes on the swirl.

"Sure...I'm game."

"We could meet up someplace nice," he said. "Nice, relaxing, private." I nodded again.

"Relaxing...private. Alright...dinner maybe?"

"That sounds wonderful. The Bear Trap at five thirty?"

"Yep...see ya there."

I got so relaxed that I think I zoned out for a few seconds before he turned off the spiral. I shook my head.

"Holy crap, that was amazing. You mind installing that app on my phone?"

"Not at all. See you tonight."

"See ya there!" I walked off back to my apartment, feeling like I'd just taken a nice cold shower.

For the first time since I met him, I was looking forward to seeing Cody again.