Uncut
The sauna, no towel, and the man who stayed
Everyone else left when the heat climbed. One man stayed, and I decided that meant something.
The neighbour who needed a hand with a wardrobe
He asked for ten minutes and a pair of hands, and we both knew which of those he actually wanted.
Long haul and the man in the aisle seat
Eleven hours, one armrest, and a stranger who kept finding reasons to be closer.
The builder who kept finding reasons to come back
He had measured the same wall three times and I could tell the fourth visit had nothing to do with plaster.
The tailor and the inside leg measurement
I walked in for a wedding suit in my work trousers and a tailor on his knees measured me three times.
Alone In The Hotel Gym, Until He Walked In
Empty treadmills, one open door, and a stranger who had exactly the same idea I did.
The physio who took his time with my hamstring
I went in with a pulled hamstring and left knowing exactly what was going on in that room.
Locked in the gym after closing
You have the keys and every right to send me home, and every Tuesday at twenty to ten you find a reason not to.
When I decide the night is yours
You did not pick tonight. I did, hours ago, and you have been walking around all day not knowing it.
Late night, my number, your move
It is gone midnight, you have got my number, and I am the one sat here waiting to see what you do with it.
If you were mine for a weekend
Two days, one door, my rules, and you finding out what you are like when somebody finally takes the decisions off you.
The sleeper train and the other bunk
One berth left on the night train north, and a stranger three feet below me.
My gym, my rules, your first lesson
You came in early because I told you to, and we both know it was never about the weights.
A drink, a look, and the door at the back
The best looking man in the place is down the other end of the bar, undressing me with his eyes, and neither of us has stopped thinking about that door.
The kind of man who can't look away
You spotted it in yourself the second you saw me, and you have not looked away since.
If you spotted me tonight
You would stand behind me, hands ready, telling yourself it is about the weight.
The way you watch me
You didn't come here to train. You came to be noticed by me. Good boy for admitting it.
Still in the work gear
I haven't even showered yet. You'd take me exactly like this, wouldn't you.
The text I don't send
It's 1am and you're the reason I'm still up. Don't let it go to your head.
A weekend that's just mine
One room, no signal, no schedule. Just how slow I'd take my time with you.
After the last set
Everyone's gone. Just steam, tile, and the way you can't look away.
My gym routine as a UK gym lad
How I actually train. The split, the discipline, the boring bits that work.
A day on the tools, self-employed
Early starts, hard graft, my own boss. What a normal day actually looks like.
Training, travel and staying disciplined
How I keep it together on the road. Routine beats motivation every time.