When I started my workout at Planet Fitness my life was about to change in a way that I could not have imagined.
At 6 o'clock that evening she was just another gym rat, a girl whom I had never met.
She is my height, 5' 6. Her dark-brunette hair hung in a ponytail down to her shoulder blades. Just a hint of shadow adorned brown eyes. She has an oval face, thin lips and high cheekbones. She was wearing a medium-gray heather tank too with black leggings, an outfit similar to mine.
At 33 years old, I find myself single again, It's not that my x husband is a bad guy. It's just that the marriage didn't feel right. The occasional fantasy of being sexual with another woman had been a closely guarded secret. I told myself over and over again that I would never try to make it a reality.
Anyway about 10 minutes into my workout I came to a pec fly apparatus. She was working out at the pec fly apparatus next to me.
After a few seconds I remarked that "this is new for me."
She nodded so I continied, "I'm used to running outdoors."
She gave a longwinded reply.
"I started a daily workout regimen four years ago. I do the entire circuit, upper body and legs."
The conversation lasted a few minutes longer. I talked a lttle bit about my job as a graphics designer. She mentioned that she is a legal secretary. As it turns out we live equal distance from this gym but in different directions.
Later that evening as I slouched in the gray fabric sofa Cheryl from the gym was alive and well in my head. The tattoo on her upper right arm had held my gaze for a second, though I didn't ask about it.
I opened my copy of "Coast Guard Rescue One", the first ever lesbian romance after reading dozens of straight romance novels.
I was totally engrossed in the tale of the Australian "Captain Jordan Armstrong" and American expatriot "Sarah Matthews"
The next several days passed in a blur of long days at the design studio and deadlines to meet. My workouts at the gym started later in the evening. They became a stress relief activity as much as for conditioning.
A part of me deep down missed chatting with Cheryl DeLuca.
Two weeks had passed before I could go again to the gym at my usual hour, 6 o'clock. As I walked into the locker room Cheryl was there changing into workout clothes. My gaze went to her breasts and she didn't seem to mind.
"Haven't seen you in a while," she remarked.
"Been busy at work," I replied. "We had to neet deadlines for our designs plus new orders came."
"Well it's good to seed you again."
"Likewise," I replied.
We worked out together for more than a half hour.
Just before leaving the gym she said, "let's go someplace for coffee Saturday morning."
I accepted happily.
As the days passed I quietly looked forward to our coffee date.
The butterflies were flying around in circles in my stomach as 9 o'clock Saturday approached. Could our casual friendship go to another level? I wanted that.
Cheryl waved from a corner table as I came inside the small independent cafe where she goes frequently. I slid into the seat across from her. As we sipped our coffee and ate our pastry conversation came easily. We chatted about so many topics that were trivial, until they were not.
"My x and I used to come here often. It was her favorite place."
My spirits soared at her mention of an X girlfriend,
If nothing else at least I know she's into women.
I opened up.
"I used to be married to a man, until recently. Jake is a really nice guy but it felt wrong. I told him that I'm gay because I didn't have another reason to leave the marriage. I didn't have a girlfriend at the time but I realized that it might be the way to go."
"All that's good to know," Cheryl replied.
"Tell me about your X."
"We parted on good terms. She had just finished college and said she had a job offer that she couldn't resist. It was in California. I wasb't ready to move across the couuntry. Family and friends are here."
"I'm currently in the middle of a lesbiam romance titled "Coast Guard Rescue One."
"I know that story, I read it after the breakup with Jackie."
