I had gotten to the point while working at the gym, where I knew 98% of the people coming through my door everyday. I got along well with just about everybody (even the ones who couldn't handle my following of the rules). Some people were a quick high and bye. Others I felt I had a deeper connection with. Ask any gym employee worth their salt, and they will tell you - even with all of the wonderful eye candy, or free membership - the best thing about working at the gym is the members.
There was this one guy in particular named Logan. I adored him. He was a single father with three young kids. He was a little shorter than me. Probably in his late thirties early forties. His body was tight and slender, but very well toned. Thick dark brown hair and beard. And really dark eyes. He seemed like a total hard ass...but he was actually just this really sweet quiet gentleman.
I saw him on occasion with women, he dated a couple of members that he had met here at the club.
I knew his baby's mother as well... she had come in on occasion with the kids. They were no longer together but I knew they still had a good parenting relationship.
There's no quicker way to tell if a man is good or not than by looking at the happiness of his children. Logan treated his kids so well, and they always seemed like such a happy family. I really admired him.
He worked like a dog to keep his family happy. And I knew he was having a bit of a hard time, because his membership bill was falling a bit late. Many members would try to sneak the children past the desk if they weren't on the membership (please DON'T DO THAT) but Logan always stepped up to pay. I really appreciated this and started to charge him just for one kid and let the others in free. (Okay so I did break some rules)
I would say things like. "Oh, its buy one, get two free today!" In a hushed tone so nobody could hear me. He knew I made that shit up. He would thank me sincerely, and keep it moving. I even started to let them in free. Especially the hot summer days when they would all come to swim.
Even still sometimes Logan's membership would slip behind a couple months. One time he hit the three month mark where the membership access is denied and will start to cancel itself out.I could see the stress on him as he would check in. There were times when I worked splits, he would come in the morning on his way to work. And when I was finishing up my work at night, he would come to use the steam or sauna, shower, and then head back to work that night.
One thing about our members is they would rarely accept their change. So our till would build up over time. One particularly busy day my drawer had built up to $250 over. I used the extra money to wipe Logan's account clean.
Days later I was chillin in the steam room when he came in.
"Oh hey buddy!" He said to me. He looked like he just got out of the pool. His shorts clung to his body. I couldn't help but notice a significant bulge there. I looked away quickly, but I know he saw me look.
"Hey man!" I replied. He took his seat across from me. We sat in silence for about three minutes.
"So I went to pay down my bill today..." I looked over at him. His face was hard to see in the steam. "They told me I didn't owe anything." He said. He was smiling and looking very intently at me. I swallowed hard.
"Is that so?"
He got up and moved closer to me. "Do you like me or something... is that why you're always so nice and shit?"
I got red hot with embarrassment. I mean I did like him. But I had done the same thing for other members.
"I just appreciate you man. You're a good dad, the world needs more of you." I said. He recoiled at my words, his face twisted, and he hung his head and covered his eyes. He was silent for a while.
"I think you're the only one who thinks so." He said, his voice low and slighlty quivering.
"You're right you know, I do like you." He looked up at me with surprise. I just smiled. "But I like a lot of people."
I sat back and pretended to be chill.
