Dinner and Dessert: Flash Fiction by cam8510

Inside the Workout World Fitness Center, three cardio machines stood motionless on a raised platform overlooking the free weight section of the gym where a man the color of polished bronze, glistened under fluorescent bulbs. Facing the wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling mirrors he flexed every muscle of his finely tuned anatomy admiring the results of his combined weightlifting and steroid regimens.

Two men and a woman approached the unclaimed cardio machines. Stu, a tall, lanky man, with no visible muscle tone, boarded the spin bike. He wore a sleeveless, moisture wicking shirt and unflatteringly short shorts. The other male stepped onto the treadmill. He sported a white cotton under shirt, plaid bermuda shorts, black socks and insanely expensive athletic shoes. Physically he fell someplace between Peter Griffin and Spongebob Squarepants. His name was Peter. Melanie began making large, oval patterns with her legs as she moved on the elliptical machine. She considered herself to be “curvy,” meaning she was loaded with bombshell potential, but could stand being a caliber or two smaller.

“It looks like we’ll have some live entertainment for our workout today,” said Stu, nodding toward the glistening, bronze man.

“Entertainment?” said Mel, “He’s disgusting. Look at him, he’s so self absorbed, he doesn’t even know anyone else is around.

“You’re kidding,” said Peter. “The guy’s staring right at you through the mirror.”

“If I throw up thinking about that neanderthal looking at me," said Melanie, "I’m going to spew it all over your fancy sneakers. By the way, Pete, that treadmill has an on switch you know?”

Peter flipped the switch and began walking. “Speedos should be outlawed, that’s what I think. How about you, Mel? Is that a turn-on for a woman?”

“Speedos rank at the top of my turn-off list, Pete. Right below bermuda shorts.”

“So you think he’s gross?” asked Stu..

“Of course he’s gross, look at all the sweat,” said Melanie. “And his muscles bulge like he’s inflated with helium. I’m surprised he doesn’t float to the ceiling.”

“That’s not sweat, it’s oil. I saw him putting it on in the locker room. This isn’t his workout time, it’s his show time,” said Stu.

“You watched him put the oil all over his body?” asked Peter.

“Now that’s gross,” said Melanie.

“It’s not like I stood there eating popcorn, staring,” said Stu. “He was sitting in the middle of the room pouring and rubbing and pouring and rubbing.”

“So you watched through two cycles of pouring and rubbing? This is certainly a side of you we haven’t seen before,” said Melanie. “Okay guys, you can continue talking about the hunk over there if you want. I’m going to listen to my music now.” She put her ear buds in and focused on her workout.

“Hey, he’s coming this way,” said Peter.

“It looks like Mel might be going out for dinner and dessert tonight,” said Stu.

Melanie popped the ear buds out and said, “I heard that you jerk.”

“Good afternoon,” said the bronze hunk as he stood in front of the trio.

“Hi,” said Melanie, quickly clearing her throat to hide that her voice had just cracked when she spoke.

“I couldn’t help noticing you while I was working out, so I thought I’d say hello,” said the bronze stud. He placed a slip of paper on the console of the cardio machine in front of him. As he walked away, he turned back and winked.

“Did you see that?” said Peter. “He did that telephone thing with his pinky and thumb and mouthed the words ‘call me.’”

“Well, well, well,” said Melanie. “Isn’t this an interesting turn of events?”

Stu picked up the slip of paper from the console of his spin bike and stared at it.

Melanie laughed and said, “What are you going to order for dessert tonight, Stu?”