CareBear's Story - Narc in my backyard - Part 1

Sorry this is so long...it felt really good when I started writing!

Outsiders it would appear like I was living the perfect life as a young professional with a great job, a masters degree in my field and married to an attractive professional man, who took pride in being the owner of a small condo in a metropolitan area. We had many friends, spent many nights out wining and dining in the city & indulging in fun vacation trips. Over the years both of our weights increased, ((ok, ok - I had gained 40 lbs since my wedding- prob about 60 total from when I first met my husband)) During my yearly physical, I had a wake-up chat with my Doctor that scared me, so together we decided to make some healthy changes. My husband was there to support me fully, even grilling chicken and making salad for me when I got back from the gym after work & joining for workouts too. At the time, he had the time to do so- he worked nearby & most of his team was overseas so he often finished work early when I had many hours to go. He had taken that job when we were engaged as he thought his job as a traveling consultant wouldn't be fair to me as newlyweds- as he was 100% on the road...but he was unhappy there, the work was not challenging and he didn't have the opportunity to make as much via bonuses, also other people in his company that started when he did were now directors in the practice he used to work in - he felt he was behind and not living up to his high expectations for himself. Then the real estate bubble bursts and he is no longer so proud of the small condo purchase in an up&coming area of the city. The value of our property had plummeted- We were stuck & we knew it.

I didn't see this as a failure, I knew there was nothing much we could do immediately outside of winning the lottery, as we were one of many Americans that were in the same boat with their mortgages slowly sinking underwater due to the economic conditions. My husband did not feel the same way, he became fixated on "failing" on his big purchase and consequently then being "behind" of his friends and ex coworkers in the rat race. Instead of joining me at the gym- he decided to take solace at the bar with the 16 ounce curl. I tried to help, but I knew I could only help so much, its not like I could change the real estate marker or economy...So I just continued to concentrate on my job & my job of getting healthy and losing weight. I was steadfast in the gym - I was there daily - faithfully doing my weight routines and cardio. Combined with eating healthy- and lots of hard work/gym time the weight was falling off and I felt great! I joined a running club - I started running races & marathons- I had never felt better! I had lost about 55 lbs and was getting lots of attention- not all of it wanted...

My husbands old traveling job called him back - they gave him an offer he couldn't refuse - we talked about it and it seemed like this could help us in starting to bail ourselves out of the mortgage situation with other budgeting. Also it would help him personally, going back to a role where he felt challenged and appreciated. We would sacrifice him being on the road to make things better - and honestly after all of his bad/ negative attitude I thought it would be best if maybe we had some time outside of our once cozy small condo home which had now become an oppressive shoe box condo prison.

He started his new job was out early mon morning to the airport and back late thurs or Fri home...I didnt have many friends in the neighborhood, so sometimes I would go out with coworkers or running club friends but mostly I stuck to my gym and healthy eating routine - although this time my hubby was not around to be company on the treadmill or to cook at home.

So now, I'm down 60lbs and feeling great - back to my early 20's physique...doing my gym thing and was getting comments from the gym peanut gallery who had watched my transformation. Some of it was respectful the others not so much...

There was one man, who I had always noticed watching me- he had this quiet confidence like he knew who he was - he was also in the gym everytime I was there...he was not drop dead drool worthy hot - but he had a "look" about him...tall, Latin American, long curly dark hair- very manly. If you have ever seen the movie Domino with Kiera Knightley - he reminded me of the actor who's character was Choco. Everyone knew him and he always seemed like the cool guy- a good dude.

One day he made a comment to me- you lost your training partner - I guess he noticed I no longer was accompanied by my husband- I didnt really respond with anything concrete. The next day he happened to cut me off in his car parking near the gym and he gets out and i'm like- oh, its gym guy! Damn him! Next week, I'm running down the street to sign up for this bootcamp class otherwise the class fills up and who do I smack right into - gym guy! And he goes - oh hey, gym girl - where are you going so fast- and I said to sign up for the class and he goes, oh I want to take that one - so I keep running and beat him, but now we are signed up and waiting. So he starts talking to me - asking where I live cause I kind of smacked into him on the block he lives- and wouldn't you get this - he lived in the building on the corner of my street! What are the odds???! Then the questions start - just basic - like what do u do? Blah blah...he thought I was in college, he was surprised that I wasn't - asked me if I had a roommate - I'm like - yeah, my husband! And he said oh- that guy that you used to come to the gym with you, makes sense...that was it that day.. but then he kept on coming to the bootcamp classes and making chit chat with me...the nice guy - seeing if I needed help cause he was such a great neighbor! Neighbors can help eachother, right? He drove me home one night after bootcamp because it was pouring, a deluge and I had walked and had no umbrella. Then he asked me to take his number because he really liked going to bootcamp but sometimes he got stuck at work and couldn't leave early enough to sign up and he got closed out of the class. Would I be able to sign him up if he texted me and he was late? We exchanged #'s ...he texted me like once or twice over the next couple months to sign him up and he would always want to have a spot by me.

However the turning point of this "neighborly friendship" was one Saturday morning class the bootcamp trainer said it was his bday and a bunch of ppl & trainers were meeting at a venue for some drinks and everyone was invited..since I was also an employee of the gym (part time spin instructor - I really got into the fitness thing!) I really wanted to go. So my hubby and I went - of course we were on time but everyone else was late. While walking around looking for my gym work friends, guess who my husband & I ran into? Gym guy!

Gym guy was like hey man- playing the part, of the cool dude- I live in the building on the corner of your street- havent seen you at the gym. My husband told him he was working and traveling a lot -
something I felt for some reason to keep to myself for safety reasons! Oh and apparently gym guy had a roommate - and it was a girl I went to college with who lived in the town next to my hometown - what are the odds of that?? She was there too -!: we figured it all out.

After the chit chat my hubby was getting impatient, he didnt feel like staying - he wanted to go to another bar in a far away neighborhood to meet his friend and go pub crawling - finally the gym crew came - but not all the people I really knew, I wanted to wait for my peeps - but my husband got impatient and left to go with his friend. He said he would walk me home - but why should I go home, it was early - he wanted to leave - and he said ok, can u text me when u get home or walk home with college buddy and gym guy?

Too perfect of a situation for gym guy! He had seen the talk and my husband leave and I turn around and guess who is there!? gym guy!!

Wow, I was left tipsy at a bar with seemingly innocent people and friends - although what I didn't know then is that I had been targeted for months and months by gym guy and now his investment paid off! He got so much information from my hubby that evening - and now I was unescorted - my gym friends weren't there yet so then the questions by gym guy narc started ...the first one, is everything ok- I mean- if you were my girl I would want to stay in the bar with you - I wouldn't want to go out and meet my friends...you seem a little upset - are you ok??

To be cont....