The following Monday Tom got to the gym first and was stretching when Kelli walked up. He saw her in the mirror and smiled, as did she. They'd chatted for a while when Kelli looked over at the treadmills. "Hey, there's two missing -- wonder what happened?"
Tom smiled. "Follow me."
He led her to the back of the room and turned the corner into an alcove, not visible from the main room, and there stood the two missing machines. Not a mirror in sight.
"Why'd they move them?" She asked, perplexed.
"I think the owners heard that some women might be uncomfortable running in the middle of the main room in front of mirrors and leering males."
She gave him a big smile. "Well, that was nice of them -- wonder where they heard that?"
Tom gave the 'aw shucks' face and held up his palms. 'My turn to ask. Hope she says yes.' "You up for Brewsters later?"
"That sounds good -- maybe I can pay this time?" 'Whoa, that just came right out?!'
He smiled. 'Wow, she didn't even hesitate.' "I don't know, I've been brushing up on my accounting knowledge since last week!" She smiled.
They chatted as they went through their workout routines. Afterwards he waited for her at the front door and they walked over to the sports bar. Tom was relieved that Ms. Bimbette wasn't on duty and their waitress wasn't trying to pick him up.
"So, there's an assistant controller job opening up at the bank. Is that something you'd be interested in?"
She thought for a few seconds. "Well, I hadn't really thought about changing jobs."
"Marjorie is the controller, and I really like her -- she's a good person and really smart. And the bank pays pretty decent - you said you don't make much."
She thought for a few seconds. "Well, maybe I should apply -- is the job posted?"
"Don't know, but why don't you give me your resume and I'll deliver it to Marjorie, make sure it doesn't get lost in some pile?"
"Oh, you don't have to go to that trouble."
"No trouble at all."
"Ok, I'll have to update it first. Can I email it to you?"
"Sure -- let's trade contact info." They did, and then he laughed. "Just realized I never knew you were Kelli with an 'i', or knew your last name!"
"Same here, Mr. Meadows!"
He held up his phone. "Can I take your picture for your contact?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Um, is that really necessary?"
"Yes, come on, I promise I won't post it on-line."
"But I've just finished working out -- I look awful."
"Hey, be careful what you say about my Gym Buddy -- she happens to have the prettiest smile....."
She stuck her tongue out and smiled, and he snapped a pic. She grabbed for his phone. "Let me see that!"
Holding it out of her reach, he showed her the pic. "You can't use that!"
He stuck out his tongue. "It's perfect!"
She rolled her eyes. 'Oh, he likes my smile.....'
The waitress came and they placed their orders. He asked to borrow one of the ten or so pens clipped to her blouse, wrote 'Musclehead" on a paper napkin and held it under his chin. "Ok, you take my picture!"
She laughed and took the pic. "You're not going to let me live that down, are you?!"
"Not likely!"
Her phone rang. "My sister. Hey 'T."
Tom listened to her end of the conversation. "Oh, I'm not home -- at Brewsters, next to Somerset Gym, with a friend."
Pause.
"Um, sure, come on by -- we just ordered." She clicked off. "Patti's in the neighborhood -- she's going to stop by."
"Cool!"
"Um, I should warn you -- not much of a filter between what my sister's thinking and what comes out of her mouth -- consider yourself notified!"
"Sounds like fun!"
"She's single, but having this torrid relationship with her boyfriend -- otherwise she would definitely hit on you!" She laughed. "Actually, she might hit on you anyway!"
"If she does, should I go out with her?"
"Hey, thought you had a girlfriend?"
He laughed.
She went quiet, a pensive look on her face.
He tilted his head. 'What's she thinking?'
She held up her ring finger. "So, if I wasn't married, and you didn't have a girlfriend, would you ask me out?"
"Is this one of those have-to-tell-the-truth questions?"
She nodded.
He gave her his biggest smile. "Yes, without hesitation. My turn: would you say yes?"
"Well, you might be ok, for a man, so maaaybe yes."
They laughed.
"So, where would we go on this date, and what would we do? Would you just be trying to seduce me, like a typical male looking to get laid?"
He smiled, shook his head, and thought for a little while. "Well, since we always wear sweats together, I'd suggest we go someplace where we can dress up a little, maybe a dinner at a nice place?"
"Really? Dressed up?" 'What's he thinking..' "And what sort of outfit do you picture me wearing?"
Tom smiled and closed his eyes. "Hmmmm....its a red dress, and it's, um, something that flatters you."
"Really?"