It was the bike in the window that caught my eye. The sleek carbon machine was matt finished, and liberally equipped with all the bells and whistles that an aspiring triathlete doesn't remotely need but seems to end up with anyway. It was out of my price range by a factor of, oh, all the numbers. You'd think after three years at a big City law firm I'd be rolling in it, but rent in this town is just stupid.
I went in anyway. A few minutes in the company of that glorious two-wheeled steed would rev me up nicely. I was racing at the weekend and needed a bit of inspiration. The woman at the counter flashed me a smile and then went back to tapping at her tablet.
I was browsing the cheaper end of the clothing aisle when she came over. Nut-brown skin and raven hair, bunched. Smile, perfect white teeth, the rest hidden under loose sweats. "You're a cyclist, aren't you? Just getting into tri?"
"Uh... yeah? How'd you know?" It couldn't have been from looking at me. My tee and jeans were baggy enough me and my sister could both have fit in them.
"You're still looking at the separates." She waved her hand at the rack of shorts and tops. "But you shouldn't waste your money. One race, maybe two, you'll be right back looking for one of these."
I'd never even considered wearing a tri suit. As a keen cyclist I was comfortable in a two-piece jersey'n'shorts ensemble. A tri suit was... overkill? For an amateur like me?
Did I say that out loud? "Nah, trust me, you want one. I've got just the thing. Perfect for cyclists. Cut a little bit bigger in the thigh, you know?"
I did. The pride I had in my thighs of steel! I caught sight of the tags. "A bit out of my range." More money than I saw in a week!
"Just try it," she countered. "Then you'll know what I'm talking about."
I let the slick fabric catch on my fingers. "Um...?"
"Through there," she pointed.
I headed to the changing booth. Why was I nervous? I wore tight clothing out on my bike most days. I just... for some reason, now that she'd seen me how I like to present myself, that...
No wait, I should say, it's not like that. I dress like a guy so I don't get treated like a woman, that's all. And I can't be bothered with all that fashion shit. Having short hair and no tits to speak of just makes sport more fun. So I was nervous because...
... that would have to wait. "Getting on OK?" She was right outside the curtain. "Let me have a look."
I was in it apart from the zip and it was comfy as fuck. Different from cycling kit. Thinner or stretchier or something. "Uh... just a sec..." The back zip was proving to be a bit more of a problem than I'd anticipated. I knew the theory but was having trouble catching hold of the leash. It kept whipping from one side to another in response to my ever more frantic attempts to grab it.
Eventually I stumbled into the curtain. She whipped it aside. "Steady, there." She caught me by the shoulders. My cheeks flushed hot.
They do that a lot, my cheeks. I hate it.