She kept booking appointments because the gym conversation was not enough

My name is Kevin and I have worked as a nail tech in Mesa, Arizona, for five years.

I met Ashley at the gym.

She was white, and trying to adjust one of the weight machines. After struggling with it for a while, she asked whether I knew how it worked.

I helped her move the seat and showed her how to change the resistance.

We started talking while she tested it.

Ashley asked what I did for work. When I told her I was a nail tech, she looked surprised and said her nails needed help.

I gave her the name of my salon because she asked, but I thought she was only being polite.

A few days later, she booked a manicure with me.

When she walked into the salon, I recognized her immediately.

Her nails already looked fine, so I asked what she wanted changed.

Ashley said she wanted a different color.

During the appointment, we continued talking about the gym, work, and places to eat around Mesa. She asked a lot of questions about me, but I assumed she was only being friendly.

Two weeks later, she returned.

Then she came back again.

She always booked with me, even when other nail techs had earlier appointments available.

My coworkers noticed and started telling me Ashley was interested.

I did not believe them at first.

I liked her, but I did not want to mistake a friendly customer for someone trying to date me.

One afternoon, Ashley came in for another manicure even though her previous one still looked good.

I finally asked why she was coming so often.

She laughed and admitted she wanted more chances to talk to me.

She said she had hoped I would ask for her number at the gym, but I never did. Booking appointments felt safer than walking up to me again while I was exercising.

I told her I had wanted to ask too, but I thought helping with the machine was only a small moment to her.

After I finished her nails, Ashley gave me her number.

She said I could text her if I wanted to get coffee somewhere outside the salon.

I waited until after work and sent her a message.

We met that weekend.

Our first date felt easy because we had already spent several appointments getting to know each other.

We have been dating for nine months now.

Ashley still comes to the salon, but not every two weeks anymore. Sometimes another tech does her nails because my coworkers say I become too distracted when she sits at my station.

We still go to the same gym.

Whenever she uses that machine, she asks me to check the settings.

I tell her she already knows how to adjust it.

She says she knows.

She just likes having another reason to talk to me.