"Bridget. We've been thru this a hundred times. This week." If he sounded frustrated, he couldn't really be blamed. He hated repetitive conversations. And his girlfriend, Bridget Rileigh was a parrot when it came to conversation. At least this one.
"It's because you have commitment issues, Jonas. Your afraid to commit to me." She stomped her foot and crossed her arms, looking for all the world like a giant toddler.
"What?! We've been dating for over a year. Exclusively. What is that if not commitment?" He was about at his wits end. Bridget had gone way beyond just dropping hints.
She was always leaving bridal magazines on his coffee table, or listing which of her friends would make good brides maids, and why. But after two months of that without success, she'd gone straight to hounding him, every waking moment. She accused him of cheating, fear of abandonment, fear of marriage, and now, he had commitment issues.
"But you never I say I love you. And you don't want to take our relationship to the next level." She stuck out her bottom lip in an adorable, and thoroughly irritating pout.
"Bridge, look." He tried to stay patient with her. "I just don't think that a year and a half is enough time to know, whether you want to spend the rest of your life with someone."
"But we know each other. Inside and out." She smiled sweetly, switching tactics yet again. She wrapped her arms tightly about his waist, her blue eyes aglow with mischief. This same expression had won her countless arguments in the past. But this was not an argument where he was prepared to give ground.
"Babe." He prepared to dissuade her again.
No, Jonas. I think we care enough to tolerate each other for the rest of our lives."
He inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. He wanted more than to just tolerate the one he married. And Bridget was a little too shallow to have a deeper more meaningful relationship with. But, unfortunately, she was also too persistent to let go of the issue.
"I'll tell you what. I'll think about it while I'm at the gym." She frowned, not truly satisfied with his answer. He continued. "I told Kyle I'd meet him at Doug's gym at four, I'm already late."
He kissed her forehead and peeled himself away. This time he'd managed to escape a proposal. Next time he might not be so lucky.
Walking, or biking, were the fastest ways to get around in a big city. And since the gym was six blocks away, he strapped his gear to his bike and got on his way.
Jonas had one good friend. Kyle Marsh. THey'd grown up on the same block, and went to the same schools. Kyle had gone on to become a fireman, and Jonas had aspired to become a medium-weight UFC champion, with much success.
With very different schedules, the only time they saw one another, was at the gym. Jonas, went in thru the back with a special access key, and hit the locker room. He met up with Kyle in the weight room.
"Hey man, whats up?" He called, as he began his warm-up.
"Hey. Thought you were going to flake out on me for a second." Kyle clapped him on the back, and stretched out on a bench while TJ, HJonas usual sparring partner, spotted him.
"Nah, I just had a long talk with Bridget." Jonas stretched, and grabbed a jumprope.
Kyle was benching 250 unassisted. "Oh yeah?" He grit out between lifts. "Whats Goldie locks got on her mind?"
"Marriage." Jonas chuckled as he jumped.
"Wow. Never thought you were in mind to settle down." Kyle grunted under the weight.
Jonas could feel his heart rate climbing. "I'm not." He huffed, crossing ropes. "I think I'm moving out."
"Whoa... Big decision. You've been with Blondie, what, two years now?" Kyle dropped the bar back into the hooks and sat up.
"Almost." He stopped jumping, and grabbed a forty pound dumbbell. TJ added an extra ten pounds to each side of the bar and Kyle sank back down.
"So what's Bleach Barbie got to say about it?" Kyle asked, trying out the new weight.
"She doesn't know." He used the dumbbell to work his quadriceps. "I just decided." Kyle didn't respond as he pressed the new eight, so he went on.
"I think it's for the best, ya know?" He switched hands. "She wants to get married and have kids. I'm not ready for all that." Kyle grunted his agreement. "To be fair, I should let her go, so she can find someone who shares that goal. And I don't see myself ever wanting to marry her. Someone, someday, but not her."
TJ took the weight bar from Kyle, allowing him to sit up again. He stretched his arms and stood up. "Well man, gotta say it on this one. I told you so."
"Yeah you told me. When I met her. That was over a year ago." He set the dumbbell down.
Ok. Ok, granted. It lasted longer than I thought it would. But when it comes down to it, your relationship was destined towards failure. I told you so."
They grabbed some bottled water, and went to strap on gloves. Kyle was no match to Jonas in the ring, but he was a good sport about it.
"Face it." Kyle continued. "A seed watered in vodka strongs and gold martinis isn't gonna grow very big." They laughed and climbed into the ring.
"Bridget was pretty wasted when I met her." Jonas chuckled, tapped Kyle's glove with his own and went to his corner.
"As I recall, you were both wasted, and it was all I could do to keep you from buying tickets to vegas that night." The bell rang and they circled each other. "You were convinced she was the one then."
Jonas swung, and the conversation was forgotten, until later, when they hit the showers. They chose shower heads opposite each other, and each faced the wall. It was the unofficial code of conduct. "So you think I'm doing the right thing?" Jonas inquired.
But Kyle did not answer. Jonas was about to ask again when Kyle finally responded.