BY SIMONE J. SMITH
I will never forget the first time that I met M. He had asked me to meet him at a gym that he was training at down in the North York area. I remember being excited getting ready to go down there. I wasn’t sure why, but when I looked at the picture on LinkedIn, I was quickly made aware.
That skin…
Those lips…
Famous last words; shake my head.
When I arrived at the gym, I parked the car, and gave him a call as he had instructed.
“I’m here!”
“Amazing! I am coming out to get you. Are you dressed to work out?”
It wasn’t until right then that I realized that he had an accent. Was he American? Something about the slight twang in his voice made me nostalgic.
“I am dressed. I am coming in. Do I have to say anything to the person at the front desk?”
“Nah! I am coming out to get you.”
I turned off the car and grabbed my gym bag. Naturally, I had put on my tightest pair of tights, and one of my favourite crop tops. Not exactly a workout outfit, but I had no problem getting sweaty in this.
I made my way towards the door, opened it up, and stepped inside.
The gym was buzzing with noise; weights clanging, music playing, people chatting loudly. I looked around for M, but didn’t see him.
“Hey Simone!”
I turned around and standing in front of me was that handsome face, the beautiful skin, and those big, beautiful lips, on the shortest man I had ever seen. I tried not to make a face, but I don’t know if I held my surprise. The picture on LinkedIn must have been taken from a low angle, because he did not look short in the picture. He could not be more than 4’2. He actually was 4’2. Imagine how it looked with me standing in front of him at 5’9.
“Hey Simone!”
I realized that I had not responded.
“Hello M. Nice to meet you.” I couldn’t stop staring at the top of his head.
“You ready for a workout. I want to show you what I can do for you, and maybe you can help me. You are here to help aren’t you,” he said with a smirk?
I had to laugh. “Direct me to the change room, and I will be right out to help you help me.”
“Head to the back of the gym. The women’s locker room is on the left-hand side. I will be waiting for you.”
I made my way back smiling to myself. What was this little man going to show me? I was pretty athletic and had been working out for a few years. As I changed my clothes, I reflected on the fact that I had assumed he was tall. That was my own fault. I couldn’t blame him for his height. Plus, this was business. Nothing else. I looked in the mirror; “Alright Simone. Let’s do this.”
OMG!
The workout with M nearly killed me. He showed me a few simple things, and honestly it nearly killed me. After 45 minutes he had me sweating and on the floor.
“Wow M! That was amazing. I was here thinking that I was in shape. You definitely showed me,” I said laughing.
“Hey, don’t let my size fool you. I have made bigger men than you cry after working out with me. Go ahead and shower up. Let’s grab something to eat. Put some fuel in your body.”
“Nothing would be better.” M helped me off the floor and I headed back into the change room to get ready.
Well, that was certainly interesting. He had completely caught me off guard. That would not be the first or last time M did that.
Things were about to get interesting, and not in a good way…