I reminded her of how nice Phil had been at their dinner-date.
"Oh yeah" she said. "I do have that date on Saturday with him."
By the weekend the abrasions on her face and her breasts, caused by Paul's beard, were pretty much gone, she felt better about that.
Phil, mild mannered, funny, nerdy Phil, sounded very safe - probably, we both thought, not right for what Tina was looking for. But, dinner at Marybells was fun, she remembered, and another dinner out with a man who could be "charming, at times" - in her words, would be ok..
"There's more to him than you'd think" was how she remembered him. "First, he looks like he's really in condition - his clothes hardly fit him, he's so big. And, he's really cute, and funny. I think I do want to go out with him, you know?"
It was hard to remember that her first date with him was only a couple of days earlier - the Paul disaster had come and gone since then!
Sure enough, the special phone rang that evening, and sure enough, it was Phil. Tina told me to listen in: well, us voyeurs do that stuff, don't we?
Yes, they decided, their first date was fun, they both had had a good time and wanted to do it again.
"I'm sorry that you're going to be leaving Long Island" he said, because I'd like to get to know you better." She hadn't told me she went that deep into her story with him.
"Anyhow", he continued, "where would you like to go Saturday? You name it. We could go to my place instead of us going out," he proposed. "I'll cook you a real gourmet dinner."
That was almost an out and out proposition! Maybe there's more to this Phil guy than I thought.
Tina smiled at me, paused a moment, then responded.
"No, Phil, I don't want to go to your place so soon. I wouldn't feel comfortable." Of course not, how could her dear husband watch? "I would like to see you, though."
That was offering him something, anyway.
"Tell you what: why don't you come over here, instead. We can go out for Chinese. Let's keep it really casual. . . "
And the plans for Saturday were confirmed!
The next day, Tina talked all about the informal evening she wanted with Phil, and chose to wear a set of sweats over some pretty lace panties and bra. When he rang the bell, Tina was ready to go - he never even got inside. I never got to see him. But all of that changed about hour and a half later, when they came back.
He was, as Tina told me "A big strong smart man." Well, the "smart" I had to take on faith, for now.
The monitors were on and all systems GO. Houston, we're ready for launch.
The door opened, Tina led the way in, then he followed. Good grief, he really *was* big - not really tall, but wide shouldered. I saw what she meant when she said he looked strong.
She directed him over to the sofa, and went for refreshments. She got some wine for herself - "Water for me", he said, "like I told you at dinner, I'm in training."
He got his water, she kicked off her sneakers and socks, and curled up there beside him, sort of sitting on her legs the way young kids do.
He reached for her, but she interrupted that with a question.
"So tell me more about competing in bodybuilding, Phil."
He sat back.
"OK. I love it: it's a great sport!"
"What's it like?"
"Well, we pose and we show off specific muscle groups, and mostly try to impress the judges.
"How?"
"There are certain poses that each of us do that feature our strongest points. Usually it's in an auditorium, in front of an audience, and of course, the judges. We all shave off all our body hair, then oil ourselves so we look all smooth and sleek - it's a great show, really!"
"Is it, you know, like, 'sexy'?"
His eyes lit up, and he smiled. "Well, I didn't get into it for that, and it's not supposed to be, but yeah, after a pose down, a lot of times I get asked out on dates, or invited to some woman's apartment. I guess they really liked the show."
"You mean, they "just want you for your body"?"
"That's pretty much it, all right. They don't care that this head has a brain. I'm a CPA during the day, and sometimes just a hard body that's nothing but a piece of meat at night! But, you know, sometimes it's kinda nice to be treated like a brainless piece of meat."
"Until tonight you'd only told me about your day job!"
He explained. "Did you ever date someone who just wanted you for sex? It's fun for a guy. . . sometimes, but I thought that meeting a woman who was smart, and fun to talk to, like you are, would be a lot better than one who saw me for the first time in a pose-down. And you know what? I was right. I really liked the date we had. It's
fun talking to you. You've got a good brain in that beautiful head and you treat me like maybe I've got one, too."
Tina turned even more toward him. "I guess I can understand that, but I've never met a body builder before. You know, I think I'd like to know more about it."
"You mean, my competition routine and stuff?"
"Yeah."
He laughed. "Yes but will you still respect me in the morning?"
"Sure!"
"OK then, as long as you cooperate, any time you want!"
"I'd like it here, and now actually. But wait, what do you mean, cooperate?"
"Well, remember I take this stuff seriously. So don't make fun of it, OK?"
"I wouldn't do that."
"OK. I gotta go get my posing tights from the car."
"You mean you expected to be doing this?"
"Nah, but I keep a gym bag in the car all of the time anyway. I'll just run out and get my stuff."
He left, and Tina faced the AC vent, where she knew I was looking, and blew a kiss at me.
In seconds he was back with a gym bag. "Can I change in your bathroom?"
She pointed the way.
In a couple of minutes he came out, wearing a pair of posing briefs - black, no less, with his body glowing. He was built about like that proverbial brick shithouse! "We use just a little oil to make our skin look good. It's all absorbed, and won't make a mess."
He carried a big towel, wiping his hands, then spread it on the floor, and stepped on it. "It would help if you put on some music while I loosen up a little."
She got Sara Brightman's "Time to Say Goodby" CD going, while he did some stretching, and some other moves, driving his body to what looked like a healthy glow, and a shimmer of persperation.
"OK. Here goes."
"Since you don't know much about bodybuilding, I'll explain what I'm doing as I go along."
"I just did some stretching and some isometrics to get a 'pump' going - you know, increase the blood supply to my muscles, and get warmed up. Now, watch this."
He began his routine, in time with the music.
He went from relaxed to "pumped" - what a transition!
"This is how we demonstrate arm development" he said, and showed biceps, triceps, striking pose after pose, one arm pressing onto the other, displaying impressive form, and shape, his arms and chest bulged! Yeah, I felt a little intimidated watching him.
"Judges seem to like my arms and back best."
He turned his back to her.
"I show my lats like this. . ."
