Intimidated

The gym is less busy than the times I usually go. I tell the desk attendant that I’m just giving Mindy an informal tour and will be gone in a few minutes. I walk her through the rows of machines, the free weights, the side rooms, and let her check out the locker room.

While waiting for her, I check for familiar faces. No Cesar today, but there are several hot women getting their sweat on. I see one with lime green hair at a distance and wonder if is the same alt chick that I saw last time. She is on a treadmill, her head bobbing up an down to her stride. Her hair is tied into short, low angled pigtails that end abruptly. I wonder if Sunday afternoons are her regular workout day.

I’m suddenly aware of Mindy standing next to me. She looks uneasy. I’m about to ask her if she is ready to go when an attractive woman in her late thirties approaches the water fountain near us. {if purple_sex = true}As she bends down and puts her lips to the water, I realize I’ve seen that skeletal snake tattoo before. It is the purple dress lady. When she stands up and sees me, she gives me an incredibly obvious wink and walks away.

Mindy looks at me. “Do you know her?”

I hesitate for too long. “Sort of.”

Her dark eyes narrow a little. “Do you mean... did you and she... did it?”

I try keeping what I hope is a neutral face. {else}She bends down, keeping her ass out and back arched, and puts her parted lips to the stream of water. When she stands straight and sees me, she gives a little smile. Just as she is turning away, I notice a tattoo winds around her ribcage and disappears enticingly into her sports bra.

Mindy looks at me. “Do you know her?”

“I don’t think so.”

Her dark eyes squint at me. “Is it getting hard to keep track of them all?”{endif}

I give a light-hearted shrug. “Ready to go?”

Mindy is staring at my like I have something on my face. "Yes."

On the ride back to Mindy’s house I finally ask, “So, what do you think about the gym?”

She knew the question was coming and sighs, “Well, I see why you like it. The women there could all be models. They are gorgeous. I would feel too self-conscious of how I compare. I don’t want to pay to feel bad about myself.”

I didn’t expect such a firm negative response. I think on it for a couple seconds, then decide against arguing that she should feel differently. That’s what she feels, lets work with it. “Okay. I get what you are saying. So... fuck the gym. You don’t need it to get what you want.” I watch to see if she reacts to me swearing. I’ve never done it in front of her before, but the emphasis seems warranted. “Then I have a better idea. I have some home equipment that I only use if I can’t get to a gym, but I can use my apartment building’s facilities instead. Why don’t I bring it over tomorrow night? I’m coming over anyway... You could use Lewis’ old room as a workout space.”

Mindy looks intrigued. “Are you sure?”

My enthusiasm grows as I speak. “Yeah, It’s no problem. I can help you make a workout plan. And I can do the routine with you a couple times a week. It is motivating to have a workout buddy to be accountable to.”

“Really? Wouldn’t that take away from your gym time? I don’t want to hold you back. I’m starting from zero here”

“Naw, it is easy to increase the difficulty of the exercises. You said you need a hard push, right?”

“Wow. That’s the bigger push than I had hoped for... Why are you so excited about it?”

“Because I went through it myself. It will be hard at times, but fun. And it will totally change your outlook.” Then I add, maybe going a little too far, “And you will make your ex look like a moron.”

She laughs then looks at me with a warm smile. “Okay... I guess I will be seeing a lot more of you.”

I smile back enthusiastically. It would be awesome to see her get her confidence back.