I made it into Virginia just in time to prepare to deliver, as I was close to running out of hours for the day. I was able to park in a shopping center lot not too far from the consignee, and so I cut the engine, kicked off my boots and called all my kids just in time for a rain began to pour. My concerned daughter asked where exactly I was, and what I'd be doing.
"Shopping center, with the only thing open being a gym, and I'm going to eat this porkchop sandwich I ordered in Baltimore," I told her. "Otherwise, I'll mind my business, mom."
"Porkchop is for the devil unless it's grilled," she told me. "And don't press me for worrying about your well being. I'm sure your sons aren't doing the same."
I listened to her ramble and try to chide me as I grabbed my hot sauce from a cubbie, then splattered it throughout the smashed bread as she chattered through my Bluetooth.
"Honey, I'm too old to take orders, mmmkayyy," I told her with a mouthful. "When's the last time you paid one of my bills or fed me a home cooked meal?"
"Dad, me having your back has no age bracket or responsibility level. You should enlist in that gym you see, and do a 30 minute cardio," she told me. "Burn that fatty piece of pig."
"But it tastes so good," I told her as I chuckled. "What if I run in my sleep? Does that count?"
I loved pulling my "little girl's" chain even though she was well into her twenties. She was a get-fit enthusiast, someone who considered health wealth, and was always promoting such. She worried about me most from my three offspring, as the other two were short and pudgy like me and destined to be fat fathers as they had my grands.
"When I have my kids, I want them to meet Santa like I did," she joked, referring to the times I played Santa when she and her brothers were little.
She encouraged me enough to only finish half the sandwich, then toss the other part of it out the window for seagulls to devour the next morning.
"I'll pack a bag to go in the gym," I told her.
"You promise," she asked.
"If you think I could get something out of it, then I will. I have a jogging set in the bunk I've only worn once. I'll send you photos when I'm done," I told her.
We said our "I love yous" and hung up, and so I quickly changed out of my work clothes to the outfit, then pulled out a pair of Nikes I wore on occasion before packing toiletries and a change of clothes. I stepped out of the truck then went inside the facility, and right then made a membership to the gym that was part of a nationally recognized chain, by way of a handsome guy at the front desk.
"Hey. This is my first time ever being a part of any gym," I told the stacked Adonis. "I'm a trucker who travels all over the place, so I never saw the benefit of this."
The young man, who might've been Latino or Asian, had a gleam of teeth as he willingly showed me around, just patient with walking me through the initial steps of joining the gym.
"There is a health and liability waiver you must endorse first," he told me, then I paid my fee, and Gabe, the name of the guy, gave me a short tour of the place as it was completely empty.
"Need a demonstration on any of the machines," he asked.
For the hell of it I asked him to walk The Stairclimber, then the treadmill so I could see his balance. I watched the cute attendant work on the machines three minutes apiece as he gave me a glimpse of his gorgeous frame. He was wearing form fitted shorts that were above the knee, showing off his thighs and calves as he spent a considerable amount of time on lower body from what I could tell. I peeped at him closely when he did the treadmill, as I could see his biceps and pectorals through his shirt as clearly he was someone who lived in the gym.
"How many days you spend working out," I asked in admiration.
"I'm in the gym six, sometimes seven times out of the week," he told me.
I became a little hot and bothered seeing him, and when he finished I let him know I understood the movement, but I wanted to keep him longer so I asked questions.
"You're the only guy that works overnight," I asked.
"My part time gig," he told me. "I'm a Navy diver currently on shore duty, too."
That explained his physique, as well as his overall demeanor as he was a calm, toned gentleman, with an accent synonymous with the south.
"Thank you for your service. I can really admire a Navy man," I told him.
"I'm originally from Texas. "Currently going to school part time to become a fitness enthusiast," he added.
Gabe explained he was in the final year of his Navy contract, and that he was bored at his post to where he could make time for working overnight at the gym, and going to school.
"No girlfriend," I asked.
He blushed, then brushed me off as he let me get to my workout, offering his assistance if needed. He walked off and I watched him walk away as his perfect ass poked through the shorts, then I got to it, walking on the treadmill slowly while watching a Lifetime movie. I placed the speed at 1.0, them 2.0 with a slight incline as the television took my mind away from any pain. I immediately became drenched as it had been years since I did any exercises, the perspiration seeping through my clothes as my top was soaked, and my pants covering my thick, slippery inner thighs tightened only due to the sweat. I loved the sweaty feeling and was sure my daughter would've been proud so I took a photos.
"I'm making an instant dent in my fatness," was the caption to the photos, and I'd look over to the front of the building where Gabe stood, to catch him looking back at me, smiling.
"Doing a great job," he yelled before giving me a thumbs up, and I would speed up things, then increase the incline to really get my heart going.
After 45 minutes I was beat, so I decreased the incline and cut off the machine before climbing off and cleaning it, and figuring what to do next as I didn't want to throw in the towel.
"Some go for a sauna break after. Relaxes the muscles," said Gabe, as I approached him for advice.
I headed to the sauna, and wasn't a fan at first, as I'm not one who likes heat. After a couple minutes of sitting I felt my joints loosen and started to like it. I was fully relaxed when I started playing with my phone, then would hear the door open: It was Gabe.
"Just checking on you," he said as he was donning a tank top, looking ready for a workout. "I closed the front entrance to any customers, so I can get a quick grind in. How you liking the sauna?"
"I like it," I told him as I was eyeing his put together body. "You about to lift?"
