‘Heading out now. I’ll be home soon.’ That’s what the text message reads as I hit send.
“Thanks for the ride, man,” I tell my brother with a fist bump. It’s way too hot and we’re way too sweaty for a hug. I load my bike onto the rack on the back of my car and he throws his into the bed of his truck. We go our separate ways until we meet again next weekend. On the drive home I roll the windows down and crank the radio up, still riding the endorphins. This new lifestyle is great. I’m in shape for the first time in my life, I’ve got energy, stamina. Life’s good.
I pull into my garage some time later and unload my bike, hanging it on the hooks above my car. I hang my helmet by the door and remove my shoes. When I open the door into the house I stop dead in my tracks. I hear the water running in the shower, but my girlfriend is sitting on the edge of the couch wearing her red silk robe. Her grin betrays that she’s been waiting for me to get home. She gracefully raises off the couch and walks, almost floats, over to me. Without a sound, she takes me by the hand and leads me to the bathroom.