Where the hell is she? Ginny’s always here, and now that I need her, not a sign of her. We joined this gym together over two years ago, and even though a lot of shit has happened for both of us since then, we’ve been pretty faithful to our workouts.
The truth is, we make each other keep going. I’d probably have quit without her and I had to talk her out of leaving once. She said it was the money, but I know damn well it was that asshole boyfriend of hers. I’m so glad she got wise and dumped him; he was ruining her life.
And mine.
“Ellen?” I hear her yell over the rumble of the Ellipticals! How the hell did she get in here without me knowing? I see her coming and wave, I’m too self-conscious to scream in public like she does and it’s against the rules, but of course she ignores that.
In a minute she’s pumping away beside me, but I’m already soaking wet. Almost done.
She says something about shopping, bla bla bla, but I’m just glad she finally got here. Wiping the sweat from my face I glance over at her. “Ginny, I’ve decided; I’m going to do it!”
“Yeah sure girly, I’ve heard that before. The thing you’re best at is chickening out.”
“Uh uh you gym slut, just because you’ll take anyone home that’ll go with you doesn’t mean we all have to. You know I’ve been watching this guy for months. And he’s here! Now! On that curl machine right in front of us. And I’m going to do it!”
What I said wasn’t really fair, Ginny is a few years younger than I am and the animals in the weight room at the back really turn her on, even though a lot of them are even younger than she is. And there’s no denying, a lot of them are built like to die for if you’re into that sort of thing.
And she is. I saw her walk up to a guy she’d never said hello to when he was resting between sets and put her hand around his biceps. Well no, not even close, but as much of it as she could. No doubt it’s a way to start a conversation if you’ve got the guts! They left together that day.
But that’s not for me. I appreciate bulging muscles and a massive chest, but I prefer the hard look. A body that’s tough as nails from head to toe. I know damn well they’re just as strong without all the bulges.
They don’t need to show off, they have brains somewhere besides their biceps and an inner confidence that almost glows. And he’s one of them, older, salt and pepper on the temples, but every inch of him says “MAN”. And hell, I’m older too. At 42, after two kids I think I still look pretty good, but I guess my tastes have changed. And I can almost taste him! Mmmmmmmmmmm.
He fits the profile, and I’m hoping he likes a woman that is just as hard as he is. After two years in this place I’ve got every muscle in my body toned up, from my ass to my lats. And not an ounce of excess fat, although I’m not so skinny that my ribs stick out, like Ginny.
I want to have some curves left. And by god I do, an hour-glass figure and a tiny waist! My tits are 34B, but still high and firm, and I’m proud of them. Good enough to get me plenty of looks, especially with the right bra.
And some of them have been from him. At first I was really put off by that. He watches all the decent looking women in here, not just me, from co-eds to seniors. His expression never changes but I can see his eyes on them. He thinks no one notices.
But I do! The unnerving thing is, one day I was walking down the aisle towards him and he was looking right at me. And he never turned his head or looked away. Not even after I focused my eyes on him! I’m not used to that. Most any guy will look away when he knows he’s caught. But his expression never changed then either. And I don’t think he does that with most of the women.
Of course it makes me wonder what he’s thinking.
Analyzing? How old, how buff, what we’d look like spread out on a sheet, how good we can … Oh my god I’m getting wet thinking about it! Isn’t that dumb? But I have noticed one thing. He seems to concentrate more on red-heads. Bingo! And it’s natural too. And I can prove it. And maybe, if he’s lucky … Who am I kidding?
I’d feel like the lucky one! Dammit I want him! Or at least, I want him to pay attention to me! See where we go from there. So … I have a plan. Scatter-brained I’m sure but it’s the best I can do.
“So Ellen, what are you going to do, tackle him?” Ginny brings me back.
“Hell, that’s your technique!” I snort. But it’s not far from what I have in mind. “I’m just going to bump him a little bit, just enough to need to apologize and go all flustered.”
She looks at me. “If I know you, that is just what you’ll do apologize and be on your way. Why are you so scared of men? You know they want the same thing you do!”
Oh my god! She’s not one to mince words! But she’s almost right.
“I’d like to think that any man I’m interested in has at least a little interest in me. It’s not like I want something permanent, you know that, but maybe someone to talk to, even go out with! And maybe someone to convince that asshole ex of mine that I DON’T want to get back with him, just because he thinks no one else gives a shit about me. He’s a total wimp, and I think if he saw this guy he’d run pretty fast.”
“Honey, I understand that, I do. But we don’t know shit about this guy! Maybe he’s an axe murderer! I’ve never seen someone keep so much to themselves in here. At least, not the good ones. Most dudes who’ve got it flaunt it!”
“You’re talking about the children you go with,” I snort. “Maybe that’s the difference. He doesn’t have to. And he knows it!”
“You’re bad, you bitch. I don’t know why I’m hanging around with you.”
“Same reason I do. A crutch. And someone to gossip with. I listen to your tales of woe and conquest!”
“And I’d listen to yours if you had any. Conquests. Plenty of woe!”
“Oops, there he goes, on the Lat Bar. That’s where I need him to be. Wish me luck honey, see you later.” And I hop off the Elliptical, mopping the sweat from my face and body a little. I have time; he does three sets of everything.
By the time I finish wiping my machine down he’s finishing his second set, and I wander around for a bit, waiting for number three. When he gets into it I start, from the back of the gym, not exactly running, but hustling down the aisle, and I reach him just as he lets go of the bar. This is it!
I’m going to bump his shoulder with my elbow. But at the last second he gets up and steps one foot into the aisle! And I slam into him, elbow hitting the middle of his back and my body running squarely into his shoulder! It’s a disaster!
Off balance, he catches his other foot on the seat and lurches five feet ahead, hopping on one foot, before he catches himself. And the bottle of water goes flying from his hand and smacks against the building column, where it splits open and sprays water everywhere!
But I get the worst of it, feeling like I’ve run into a tree and falling backwards onto my ass! And I manage to shriek with surprise so everybody in the place knows it! I’ve kind of had my bell run, my chin hitting his shoulder blade, and it takes a few seconds before I shake my head and realize what’s happened! And my nose is sore too!
When I finally open my eyes and look up he’s staring at me like I’m from Mars. “Ellen! What the hell are you doing?” And he puts his hands on his hips and just looks at me. But I’m so shocked by that I just look at him for a few seconds.
“I … I was just … how the hell do you know my name?”
He laughs. But at least he lowers his voice. “Ellen, I heard one of the girls at the desk call you that, but everyone in the place knows your name. You can thank your friend for that!”
Of course the son of the bitch is right! Ginny’s yelling may have gone unmentioned, but no way is it unnoticed. If I can hear her, so can everyone else. Maybe outside the place too. Sheesh!
Finally, he walks back to me, putting a hand out, and I reach up, really needing the help to get my ass off the floor. But he grabs my wrist instead, and the next second I’m standing! He pulled me up like I was a toy! Of course I’m beet red, embarrassed like never before, with half the eyes in the gym on me, and totally flustered.
Oh God! “I … I was just …” What the hell can I say? I was trying to get your attention?
But he saves me. “Never mind. You were speeding. Now, are you all right? Your nose and chin are redder than the rest of you!
“Come here and sit down!” And he leads me to the Lat machine seat. As I plop down I feel my nose, then my chin. Still stings a little, but everything seems to be attached and in the right place. He hands me my towel and I wipe the tears away, along with a fresh coating of sweat. I look up again and try to smile, but I would really like to find a hole and crawl in.
“Oh God, I’m so sorry … sir, I never meant to …” I have no idea what his name is and even less of an idea what to say.
“Tony,” he says. I know you didn’t. It’s ok, whatever happened.” He laughs. You owe me some water! And Here comes Sheila with a mop for you.” He’s kidding, the floor is carpeted, and Sheila is standing behind the desk, grinning like a Cheshire Cat and whispering something to Bob. But he’s given me an idea.
“Well … Tony … I’m glad you aren’t mad. And I do owe you, that’s for sure. I was just going to … take a shower. Then I’m going to go to Charlie’s Grille, down the other end of the mall, for a drink. I really need it now.
If you want, come down and join me when you’re done here and I’ll buy you one too, to replace the water.” By the time I finish I manage to be smiling, and giggle, rather shyly. Although I’m shaking I feel much better.
“It’s ok Ellen, I was kidding. I brought the water from home.” He stops and I’m afraid that’s the end of it, and I can’t think of anything else to say. But then, “If you mean it, I might join you for one though, so I can make sure you’re all right!” And he’s grinning, but his voice says HE means it!
Oh my God! I can’t believe it! Talk about making lemonade out of lemons! “Gee Tony, that would be nice. See you in a little while?”
“I want to finish up in here. Maybe in 45 minutes or so if that’s all right?”
Yes yes yes! “Terrific, I’ll be looking for you!
Table over in the right corner if it’s open.” And just like that, we have a date! Sort of.
Of course, I barely make it to my locker when Ginny comes in at a trot. “That was a hell of an intro girl! I might have to try that!” And she gives out with one of her laughs. “What the hell happened?”
“I planned it like that!” I growl back. “You saw what happened, I’m lucky something isn’t broken.”