Laurie pulled her new red Saab into a too small space in front of her too small apartment. Struggling to open the driver’s side door against an offending elm tree, she stepped out of the car and right into a puddle.
“Oh, that was unexpected!” she huffed, sarcastically. She turned and grabbed her bag from the front seat and hurried into the apartment lobby. Once she was inside, she inspected her suede heel that was now covered in mud. Upon deciding that it was repairable, she deposited it inside the door.
Glancing about the sparsely furnished apartment, she felt a tug of longing. Laurie was missing the homey bacheloret pad she’d shared with her best friend Maxine through college in Pennsylvania. Now, her three month lease was almost up in the dingy, last minute apartment she’d been forced into when she moved to Michigan for graduate school.
Sighing loudly to no one but herself, she moved into the tiny bedroom. Rifling through the drawers, she pulled out a pair of short ratty shorts and a thin tank top. Removing her jeans and tee shirt ensemble, she inspected herself in the mirror.
Since her freshman year, Maxine had forced Laurie to go to the gym with her. Max’s decree was that they would get into shape, once and for all, and they’d do it together. All through high school, they’d been frumpy but cute. They were the kind of girls who had boy friends rather than boyfriends.
Now, the hard work showed. Laurie was a trim blond, standing at about 5’4” in her bare feet and weighing about 115 pounds. She was rounded in the right places, attested to by her firm 36 C bust and 39 inch hips. Laurie still went to the gym, however alone she felt without Max. She sighed again and tugged on her worn clothes and a pair of Nikes.
About twenty minutes later, Laurie pulled into the lot behind the Bash Brothers Gym. Laurie supposed it was rather sexist, but it had a great set of Nautilus machines and lighter weights, as well as a sauna and an Olympic sized pool. She parked and hopped out.
Once inside, she paid her monthly fee and headed towards the treadmills. The gym was always fairly empty by the time she arrived; it was devoid of any leering Bash Brothers, for which she was grateful. As she was stretching, she noticed two women on the bicycles chattering in hushed tones and looking in her direction. Sighing to herself, once again, she got on a treadmill and began her two mile jog.
After the jog, she decided to cut her evening short and headed for the sauna. Stripping to nothing but a fluffy white towel, she stepped into the foggy room. The deep tones of the cherry wood were slick with moisture and she was alone. Leaning her head back, she finally began to unwind from the stressful day of classes. She was certainly glad it was Friday. Suddenly, the door creaked open, and the two women from the bicycles snapped into her calm. Laurie held back yet another sigh.
The women settled themselves on the bench adjacent to Laurie’s. She noticed one was a redhead, with close cropped curls and a mischievous smattering of freckles across her upturned nose. The other had a long mass of deep brown hair tucked into a pony tail. Wisps fell about her porcelain face, and she was first to smile at Laurie.
“Hello,” she said. “I’m Renee. You must be Lauren.”
Laurie was taken aback. “Um, yes. How’d you know?”
The redhead laughed, “We’re stalking you,” she said. At the startled look on Laurie’s face, “Oh, hon, I’m sorry. I’m only teasing. We own the club. I’m Michelle.”
Laurie relaxed. “Oh, it’s nice to meet you. I guess I assumed some giant Bash Brothers owned this place,” she laughed. “If you’d like, please call me Laurie.”
Renee smiled another broad smile. “We noticed you stretching out there tonight. You’re very tone.”
Laurie blushed. “Oh, thank you. I used to workout where I came from.”
Michelle asked, “Where’s that?”
“Pennsylvania.”
“Where do you live now?” asked Michelle.
“Um, do you know Melwood Avenue?”
The women nodded. Laurie just smiled back, a little unsettled by the interrogation.
As if sensing how Laurie felt, Renee said, “We don’t want to bother you. We just like to get to know our clients, especially the ones who come in all the time.”
Laurie nodded, “Well, it’s nice to meet you both. I think I’d better get out of here before my blood boils,” she said with a laugh. Laurie was surprised at how much these women made her feel at ease.
Renee and Michelle stood, too. “It was great to meet you, too, Laurie,” Michelle said warmly.
The three women left the sauna and headed for the locker room. After showering, the three met again in the lobby.
“Hey, Laurie. If you’re not afraid of us yet, you’re welcome to dinner with us tonight.”
Renee said, fluffing her damp pony tail. Laurie almost backed out, but again got that welcome rush of familiarity that these girls seemed to bring to her. “Well, if you don’t mind having me, I’m free and I’d love it.”
Michelle and Renee both nodded. “C’mon, follow us back our house. We’re having Chinese stir fry and wonton soup. All home made!”