I missed the new girl the first two days she was at the gym.  But that’s how fate works.  We met on a Saturday, but for me, it started the night prior.

I had just broken up with a girlfriend, and my friend, Eleina was navigating through Match.com.  We would go out for “wing therapy” which consisted of wings, beer, and honest talk of what men and women are really thinking.  So after a Friday night of wings and beer, we decided to go to Saturday Bootcamp.

Bootcamp was at 10 am, which was perfect after a night of drinking.  A little late for Stacy as she had been going to 5 am CrossFit, and I usually went to the 8 am class.  I met E upon arrival, and we chatted briefly before the group warm-up started.  This is where I first noticed the “new girl”. We were instructed to the wall and started with leg swings.  She somehow managed to get between myself and E even though we were talking during the warm-up.  CrossFit is a group class and the “community” we have prompted us to part a bit to allow her a space along the wall.  As we exited from the wall to continue the warm-up, Eleina was still talking as my eyes moved towards this “new girl”.  I gave E a “shhh” with a finger held in front of my lips and pointed to her with my other hand.  Yes, I noticed something beautiful and intriguing that morning.

E and I partnered for the 30+ minute Bootcamp workout.  While these were usually long grinders, I stayed focused on the workout.  It was easily recognizable that this “new girl” was quite athletic and had an amazing work ethic in the gym.  Definitely not her first workout.

After the workout, the group gathered on the floor for a post-workout stretch.  Eleina and I sat beside this new girl and chatted about the work that we had just accomplished.  Stacy was her name, and she was down from PA enjoying the Florida sunshine and helping her gram recover from a broken hip. Her grandparents had a condo here and this was the first time that gram had been here since her husband had passed away.

We continued to chat and I offered suggestions of things to do in Ft. Myers.  Little did I know that Stacy and her family had been coming to Ft. Myers for about 15 years.  But I continued rambling on thinking this was her first time here.  Stacy mentioned that she had friends coming in that night and was looking forward to seeing old friends from high school.  I then mentioned that I was going to the beach the next day, and I asked Stacy if she would like to join me.  “How are you going to take her to the beach if you don’t have her number?”, Eleina chimed in.  Stacy and I kinda stared at each other, smiled, and then we exchanged numbers.

By now it was after 11 am and Stacy was concerned about gram being home alone.  We all parted ways for the day.  A few hours later Stacy texted.  I forget what exactly she said, but it led to our first date the next day at the beach.  I promptly texted E and said, “she texted!”  I am not sure who was more excited to go to the beach the next day as I had not been there in a while.  And yes, that “plan” to go to the beach was only in effect if I had Stacy with me.  I certainly wasn’t planning to go without her.  That was just part of my “pick up line”.  And that is how I met the new girl.

Guest Post was Written by Jeff F.

Jeff is Stacy’s (the new girl’s) husband and partner in crime. Jeff is an avid crossfitter, pilot, boater, amazing husband, brother, and father. Jeff has been in the Fort Myers area for over 20 years. He enjoys being a snowbird and spending the summers up north in Gram’s house in PA.