The Guy Who Works At the Gym Dilemma

I have been going to the same gym for almost 3 years. Not always as frequently as I need to be going, but I've been paying my dues there for that long. And through that time, there has only been one face that has remained the same: the guy who sold me my membership there the first day that I walked in. Let's call him Monty.

For almost 3 years, Monty has been on the night shift, working the desk when I walk in - anywhere between 8-9:30pm. That's my usual time for a visit (though i've had short stints of going at 6am that are always short-lived). Monty has always been extremely nice. Always happy to see me. Always fun to talk to, because he will do silly things like applaud when I come in the door for being there, even when I don't want to be. He'll praise me for the hard work when I leave, and he has always remembered my name (even if he does call me by my birth name, and not the name I actually go by!).

I hadn't been to the gym since the new job started until December 29th. It's really sad, I know. When I walked in that evening, Monty yelled out to me as I walked in the door that he was JUST thinking about me and wondering if I still belonged there. I smiled, scanned in and walked on by, a little embarrassed. As I came out of the locker room, iPod and water bottle in-hand, I asked Monty how his Christmas was. He suddenly got really sad and told me that all he wanted for Christmas was a hug and nobody got him one. This was the worst attempt at a pickup line I had ever heard, and I just giggled nervously. He then began to lay on the guilt with me about laughing at him and that he really just needed a hug. Finally, I caved and hugged the poor guy. It was harmless. It was over in 2 seconds and I was on my way.

The next day, I walked into the gym, said hello to Monty, and worked out. As I was leaving, he followed me out the door. I turned around to look at him, because it kind of startled me. And he looked at me and said "Nicole, if I could rearrange the alphabet...i'd put U and I together." And again, I just laughed nervously and kept walking. I really don't know what to do with that.

Fast forward to tonight. At this point, I've told the husband about these little incidents. And I left the house with a *slightly* jealous husband, and a conscious decision to wear my wedding rings (which i never wear to work out) to the gym, just in case the guy didn't know I am married. I walked in, and Monty stopped his conversation with another person at the desk to ask how I am, and how I liked the class I took yesterday. I told him I was very sore from it, but that it was great, and I kept moving. I hopped on the arc trainer, and about 31 minutes into my workout, Monty hops onto the machine RIGHT NEXT TO ME (with 6 other machines in the row open). I have never EVER seen this man work out while i've been there. Not in three years. He hops on with a big grin and looks over at what's on my iPod and smiles. I just ignored him. I did not take off my headphones, and I didn't really even acknowledge him. I was totally uncomfortable at this point. My 35 minutes was up, and I hopped off of the machine and into the locker room. I decided to leave because I was still very sore from yesterday, and wasn't going to do weights, and the cardio was definitely enough for my body tonight. As I walked out of the locker room, Monty is walking back to the desk. He couldn't have been on that machine for more than 5 mins (what's the point), and he's there just in time to tell me goodbye, and that he hopes to see me soon.

Now this is a bit of a dilemma for me because I don't think i'm imagining that this man is seriously flirting with me. And really, it makes me uncomfortable. I don't have it in me to say anything to the guy - unless he makes some sort of seriously inappropriate advance. And I don't plan to change my workout time. Does that mean I have to change gyms? Or do I just grin and bear it? At first it was kind of funny - I mean, it's been awhile since anyone besides my husband has flirted with me. But it's not so innocent anymore, you know? It's getting a little weird!

And I guess I just needed to vent it here! Ha! :)