Spin class seemed to last forever. Rachel pushed down hard on the pedals, but didn't have sufficient strength left to follow the cadence of the music. She should have gone for that long hot bath instead of rushing to the gym again. Her cat Jamie should be balancing on the edge of the tub next to her, shooting her disdainful glares every time he nearly slipped in. She was getting too old for this kind of fitness regime. Rachel looked up and, through the drops of sweat raining from her forehead, caught a glimpse of Toni's strong arms. The instructor's skin was soaked and her top clung to her body so tightly Rachel could make out her abs gleaming underneath. To hell with that bath, she thought, this is by far the best place to spend a Thursday night.
"Come on, Rachel," Toni shouted, her voice brimming with authority, "try to keep up." Rachel thanked whoever invented the spin studio for the current darkness she found herself in, obscuring the no doubt bright shade of red flushing her cheeks.
She sat in the front row, right across from Toni—not her bike of choice but her photography teacher Jimmy had taken her apart after class again.
"To discuss the shadow lines in that picture of your cat in private", he had said, but they both knew better. Jimmy had fancied her from the start. Rachel hardly wore her sexual preference on her sleeve, but she believed that, even to the not so keen observer, it must be fairly obvious she was a lesbian. Or perhaps Jimmy liked a challenge. Thanks to him she'd arrived late at the gym and the only available spot happened to be directly opposite Toni. Rachel usually hid in the back, cultivating her crush from a safe distance, but she had to admit the view up front was much better.
"Rise," Toni yelled dramatically and Rachel pulled herself up, clinging to one last flicker of will power, for a hill climb. Maybe she was just as bad as Jimmy, but at least her mild obsession with Toni was increasing her fitness levels. She did, however, realise you couldn't judge a woman's sexuality successfully if you'd only seen her in workout clothes—the margin for error was simply too big. Nevertheless, she had a good feeling about Toni, even though she didn't know much more about her than her name. She knew she had rock hard abs though, and triceps to die for.
A current of sweat trickled down Toni's forehead while the toned muscles of her arms bulged spectacularly as she tamed the imaginary mountain.
"Come on, team," she shouted at the top of her voice, "one more minute and you're free to do whatever you like."
If only she knew, Rachel pondered, what I'd like to do to her.
Rachel, weary of people this late in the day, checked if the steam room was empty. She inwardly chuckled when she saw there was no one inside because, in life, she had learnt, it's small signs of good fortune like this that matter most. Late night spin classes, for some reason, were quite a male affair. She'd only counted three other women in the studio—and Toni of course.
This near to closing time the female locker room was almost deserted and Rachel let her back fall lazily against the damp chair, safe in the knowledge the steam cabin was hers alone tonight. She closed her eyes and immediately visions of Toni's sweaty arms and shoulders occupied her mind. The strength and stamina they promised filled her with both instant desire and disappointment. Sure, Rachel had been lusting after Toni long enough to acquire a more than acceptable body for a woman her age, but apart from the occasional polite chit chat before and after class, they'd hardly exchanged words.
Still, maybe it was wishful thinking, but Rachel did feel like she had some small signs to cling to. Not a class went by in which Toni didn't call her out—not an honour bestowed on anyone. Then again, maybe it was simply a perk of being a regular. They had exchanged appreciative glances in passing in the locker room, but it was Toni's job to train the gym's members and guide them towards firmer bodies. So, basically, she was only acknowledging her own work.
Steam hissed around Rachel and condensation drops seeped down from the ceiling. She'd give it another minute or two and then head for the shower. At least Jamie would be waiting for her at home and he was excellent at cuddling. A soft thud caught Rachel's attention and she opened her eyes. Seriously, she thought, someone's really going to ruin my blissful solitude now?
"Hi," a voice cut through the steam. Rachel couldn't make out a face through the vapours but she would recognise that clipped low voice anywhere. Instinctively, she wrapped her towel around her chest, then changed her mind and let it slip to the side again.
"I thought you'd have perspired enough today." Rachel fixed her eyes on Toni's shape, which was becoming clearer by the second. Please drop the towel, she prayed.
"There's always room for more." Toni took the seat opposite her and unfurled the towel from her upper body.
