Check out the gym

I kept walking until I came across the campus recreation center.

I’d been inside before, but only a handful of times. Usually I’d walk past it on my way to class without giving it much thought.

Tonight, though, I figured, why not?

I pushed through the doors.

The place was bigger than I remembered. There were rows of treadmills and bikes along one side, weight machines and benches across the main floor, and a basketball court toward the back. Music played quietly through the speakers while students moved between the different areas.

I walked around for a few minutes, taking everything in.

A group of guys were playing basketball on one of the courts. Near the free weights, a couple of students were finishing a workout while talking between sets.

I hadn’t brought gym clothes, so I wasn’t going to work out tonight. I was just checking the place out.

As I walked past the weight area, one of the guys looked over.

“You new here?”

“Yeah. Just checking the place out.”

He nodded toward the equipment.

“Good place. You should come back.”

“Yeah, I probably will.”

He grinned.

“Come in the afternoon. That’s when all the hot chicks come in.”

I laughed.

“Good to know.”

He went back to his set, and I kept walking.

I headed upstairs and found a quieter area overlooking the main floor.

A few students were sitting at tables with laptops open, working between workouts.

I smiled.

“Not bad.”

I headed back downstairs and stopped by the basketball court for a minute, watching a pickup game.

One of the players hit a shot from the corner.

“Let’s go!” someone yelled.

The players laughed and started back down the court.

I stood there for another minute before checking my phone.

No new messages.

I put it away and looked around again.

There was something nice about being able to come here whenever I wanted. No schedule, no obligation. Just another place on campus I could make part of my routine.

And apparently, according to the guy I’d just met, there was another reason to come back.

I shook my head with a small laugh and headed outside.

I still had no idea what I was doing tonight.

And that was starting to feel like a good thing.