“Yes, sir,” Max answered, extending his hand to Roadie.
The older man shook it emphatically. “It’s great to meet you, Max. Let me give you a tour of my gym.”
Max was astounded by the facility. He hadn’t seen the pool and racquetball courts. The customers seemed pleased with the place. Max knew he would be if he worked out there. Roadie led him to his office and offered him a seat. Max sat gingerly on the edge. It was time to turn on the charm. That was, if he had charm to turn on.
“So, Max, what do you think?” Roadie grinned as he sat back in his chair, weaving his arms behind his head to pillow it.
“It’s incredible,” Max breathed, astounded.
“Fantastic! Would this be someplace you would like to work?”
“I would, yes.”
“All right. Then, if you want it, the job is yours.”
“Don’t you have questions you want to ask?”
“I did. Then, I watched some of your videos and talked to your advisor. You have to be extremely fit to fight the way you did, and your advisor had nothing but good things to say about you. So, what do you think?”
Max paused. To take this job right now would mean walking away from Chuck and the gym. He would disappoint his old coach, and that was the last thing he wanted to do. “I do want this job, but I have another offer. Could I get back to you?”
“Sure. Take your time. Right now, you’re the stand-out candidate. I’ll look forward to hearing from you.”
Max stood and shook Roadie’s hand once more before turning on his toe and striding from the room. He grinned as he walked out the front door to his car. Feeling the vibration of his phone in his pocket, he swept it out and answered it. “This is Max.”
“Hey, Max,” Chuck’s voice greeted him. “Where are you?”
Max felt a tinge of guilt. It was as if he was cheating on Chuck. “I had to run to the Cities. What’s up?”
“I wanted to work on next semester’s class schedule with you. How about tomorrow morning?”
“Sure, sounds like a plan. See you in the morning.” He hung up.
Max unlocked the door to his Mustang and slipped inside, tossing his cell on the passenger seat. He sighed, his excitement over the job offer evaporating in the springtime sun. He didn’t want to disappoint Chuck. His coach was like a second dad to him. But being in the fitness center every day would remind him of the time he had spent with Tori. Would those be memories he could live with? He just didn’t think so.
Max turned the music back up as he backed out of the space. He had a lot of thinking to do. The drive home would be a perfect way to start.
»»•««
It was a perfect May afternoon. There were sporadic damp spots on the cement sidewalks from the drizzle earlier that day. It didn’t bother any of the graduates that mulled around outside the auditorium, waiting for their families.
Max wove between his classmates as he clasped his cap to his chest. He couldn’t wait to find his family, strip off his gown, and get away from graduation. He went out of his way to avoid Quinn and Tori. When he did see them, Max found Tori wrapped tight around Quinn, gazing at him lovingly. It was more than he could take.
Max dashed around the corner of the building, desperately looking for his parents. Get pictures taken then get on the road to New Ulm. Simple. Then he could leave school, and all the heartbreak, behind.
“Max Thomas!”
Max spun around, looking for the voice that had called his name. He didn’t see anyone he recognized. The only person in the vicinity was a guy a little older than him. He was dressed in a suit with slicked back black hair. Max fought off a chuckle. The man looked like the stereotypical used-car salesman.
“Did you say my name?” Max inquired.
The man approached, a sneaky smirk on his face. “I did. Jack Brighton.” He offered his hand.
Inside, Max recoiled. He didn’t have to ask who Jack was. Jack had already sent him a dozen emails attempting to recruit him. “Hard Drive,” he spat.
“Correct,” Jack confirmed, retracting the hand he had offered. The grin was still plastered on his face, despite Max’s rejection of his greeting.
“I don’t fight anymore. So don’t bother trying to recruit me.”
“I heard. It’s a shame, trust me. You were the best, you know?”
“What do you want, Jack?” Max demanded. “I have family looking for me.”
“I want to offer you a job. I need a trainer to work with my team.”
Max glared at him. “Not interested.”
“I’ll double any offer you’re given. I’m looking at bringing on a fighter from Chicago. I need the best to coach him.”
“I said I’m not interested. I’m done with MMA. Forever. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” Max stepped around Jack and rushed off to get away from the gym owner. He shook his head. He couldn’t believe the nerve that guy had, to try to recruit him on his graduation day. It was time to go home.
Max smiled as his mom waved him over. She gave him a huge, proud hug as his dad took a picture of them.
“Sweetheart,” his mother murmured. “Who was that man you were talking to?”
Max shot a glance over his shoulder to where Jack had stopped him. The gym owner was still standing there, watching Max and his family with the same cheesy grin. “No one important, Mom,” he snarled. “Is it all right if we get the pictures taken? I want to go home.”
His mother smiled. “Of course.”
They snapped a few more pictures with Max and the various members of his extended family and then headed for their cars. It seemed like the rest of the class were still visiting with each other and their families. He huffed. Let them. He was done with this place.
»»•««
Max forced a happy smile on his face as he greeted the guests at his party. His parents had decorated the whole house in the college’s colors. He cringed at the photos of his fights. He couldn’t tell them the real reason Tori had broken up with him. He knew they didn’t understand why he had quit fighting. However, they didn’t pry. He loved them for that.
Once the celebration was in full swing, Max retreated to the far corner of the backyard. He slipped his cell phone and a scrap of paper from his pants pocket. Studying the number written there, he dialed and waited.
He looked through the sparse trees at New Ulm below him. It was a benefit to live on the hill. The sight of the town sprawled out at the foot of the bluff was truly beautiful. It was peaceful. The peace gave him the courage to make this call.
“Roadie’s Gym,” a cheery female voice on the other end greeted.
“Roadie, please,” Max requested.
“One moment, please.”
Max waited for another minute or two, listening to the anthem rock that played. He glanced at the house. His parents were staring at him, concern on both their faces. He forced another smile as the line was picked up.
“This is Roadie,” a gruff voice announced.
“Hi, Roadie. This is Max Thomas.”
“Hey, Max. Thought about my offer?”
“I have. I’ll take it. When do I start?”
“Whenever you want.”
“How about a week from Monday, so I can find a place to live and move?”
“Sounds like a plan. Welcome to the team, Max.”
“Thank you, sir. I’ll be in touch.”
Max hung up the phone and tucked it back in his pocket. He let out a sigh as he trudged back to the house. It was time to tell his family the news.
He was moving to Minneapolis.
Epilogue
The bar was crowded and loud. Tables of people fought to talk over the hard rock band that played on the makeshift stage constructed on the dance floor. Max glanced over the throng, looking for Tyler. The two of them had become friends in the first few days Max had started at Roadie’s Gym.
That had been a year ago. Since then, every Friday and Saturday they were out on the town. Tyler drank himself into a
stupor and then Max drove him home. It wasn’t the most ideal friendship, but it worked.
Max turned back to the counter and took a sip of his water. He watched as the bartender picked up the television remote to switch the channel before returning to concoct the strange-colored martinis.
Max scowled at the screen. Two men faced off in an octagon, each waiting eagerly for the ref to call out “Fight!” It was the first time Max’d had anything to do with MMA since he’d left Mankato and moved to Minneapolis. He didn’t even watch it anymore. The memories of all that had happened were just too painful.
But Max couldn’t pull away from the scene. His mind tumbled with thoughts as he watched the two men attack each other.
A couple of months ago, Max had run into an old teammate at the mall. Apparently, Quinn and Tori had lasted about eight months, their relationship dying when Quinn was arrested for DUI. His legal troubles kept him from training just long enough to stop being useful to Tori. Before Quinn knew it, she had moved on to a fighter from an opposing team.
Max chuckled to himself. Couldn’t have happened to a better guy.
He studied the battle on the television as he took another drink. The smaller of the two, a dark-haired fighter, was quick as lightning. He seemed to anticipate his opponent’s every move before it was made. Max had been that good before his knee had given out, before everything had blown up.
He heaved a sigh as the black-haired fighter locked a triangle on his opponent. Moments later, the other man tapped in submission. The dark-haired guy’s hand was raised in victory. Max muttered the fighter’s name as he read it. “Rico Choate.”
Glancing to the background, Max could see Jack hovering near the octagon door. The second Rico Choate stepped from the cage, Jack was at his side, most likely making the fighter a deal he couldn’t refuse. Max laughed. “Good luck, buddy.”
Max was startled out of his thoughts by a body colliding into him. His fighter instincts kicked in. He fisted his hand and spun around, only to find Tyler behind him, a goofy grin on his face.
“Whatcha doin’?”
Max shook his head, relieved. “Waiting for your drunken ass. Are you ready to go?”
“Nah. There are some hot mamas on the dance floor.”
“And you think you’re gonna score?”
Tyler’s grin grew cheesier. “I always score.”
“Man, you never score. Quit while you’re ahead. Besides, I have work tomorrow.”
Tyler’s smirk turned into a scowl. “Fine. Let’s go.”
Max had to support Tyler all the way outside, the keys to Tyler’s car firmly gripped in his hand. He wasn’t about to drive his Mustang and let Tyler throw up in it. If Tyler was going to get sick, he could do it in his own vehicle.
Max drove Tyler to his apartment and helped him get into bed, fortunately without incident. Then he hustled to his own car parked outside Tyler’s place and went home, heading straight to bed as soon as he got there. He had to be to work at nine. It would be a quick night of sleep.
»»•««
Morning came too early for Max. He dragged himself out of bed and into the bathroom for a hurried, cold, wake-up shower and then shuffled to his Mustang.
The smell of sweat and disinfectant greeted him as he stepped into Roadie’s Gym. It fired Max alive. He loved this place. He couldn’t think of any better gym on the planet.
Roadie stepped out of his office, glancing around the space. For nearing fifty, the man was built, with bulging muscles in his arms and legs. He grinned as he saw Max. “Max, come here. I want to introduce you to our new employee.”
Max jogged over and stepped inside. He froze in the doorway. His breath caught in his throat and his heart picked up its pace. He had never seen anything so beautiful in his life.
The woman sitting in the chair turned in her seat to face him. Her long brown hair was tied up in a ponytail. She had incredible hazel eyes and curves in all the places Max liked. With a beaming smile, she stood and offered her hand. Max didn’t know whether to shake it or kiss it.
“Chloe Davis,” she announced.
Max had to swallow hard to find his voice. He shook Chloe’s hand. “Max Thomas. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too.”
“Max, I’d love to have you give Chloe the grand tour, but she has a Pilates class to teach in ten minutes,” Roadie interjected.
“Already throwing you to the wolves, huh?” Max winked.
Chloe let go a nervous giggle as her cheeks tinted pink. The sight took Max’s breath away. “Guess so. I better go get ready for class. Talk to you later, Max.”
Max’s voice came out in a squeak. “Yeah. Later.”
Chloe waved at him, still blushing and smiling, as she stepped around him and slipped out of the room. Max watched her go, his gaze transfixed on every curve, every lock of hair in her ponytail.
No woman he had ever met measured up to Chloe Davis, and he barely knew her. He couldn’t believe it. He’d fallen in love with the new girl at first sight. His thoughts instantly wondered what it would be like to hold her, what her lips tasted like.
Whatever it took, he was going to find out.
Breaking the Cycle by Tricia Andersen
Max is excited when Chloe, a girl that works for the same gym he does, agrees to go on a date with him. He is disturbed, though, when she becomes violently ill after he kisses her. Max can’t shake how he feels about her. He sacrifices his job and does everything he can to find an answer to her illness. But is it enough to save their relationship – and save her?
Chloe can’t believe Max Thomas, the hottest guy at Roadie’s Gym, wants to go out with her. When their date is a disaster, she thinks she’ll never see him again. She is stunned when he reappears in her life and tries to find the answer behind whatever has made her sick since she was a child. However, will he stick around or abandon her like her father did? Can she trust him enough to let him into her heart?
Acknowledgements
A Very Special Thank You To:
Keoni Koch and everyone at Hard Drive Mixed Martial Arts in Cedar Rapids – thank you for teaching me everything there is to know about Mixed Martial Arts and for making me a part of the family.
Silvia Robey and Marie Pierce for keeping me on track and helping me understand CVS from an adult sufferers point of view.
The Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Association for all your support from beginning to end.
Dedication
Breaking the Cycle is Dedicated to:
All those who suffer from CVS and to the caretakers who are by their side through every episode.
The doctors and nurses who work tirelessly toward a cure.
My husband and my sons for being my rock…
And to my Princess, from your Warrior Mom.
Chapter One
The sound of machinery and iron, the smell of sweat and strong disinfectant. It was a smell that repulsed most people. To Max there wasn’t a better scent in the world. He bent under the dead lift rack to pick up a couple of discarded towels.
He loved his job at Roadie’s Gym. The place was modern and state of the art. The exercise equipment was calibrated and perfect. Roadie made sure of it himself. Roadie wasn’t his real name. Truthfully, Max wasn’t sure what it was. Roadie’s wife signed the paychecks. She ran the business while he ran the trainers. And every so often she’d bake a sinful treat that a bunch of athletes shouldn’t indulge in. Roadie got the nickname from working on the road crew of one of the big-time, pro-wrestling companies. He had learned work out tips from the trainers there, and when the time was right, he had quit and opened his gym.
Max smiled as he gathered the roaming disinfectant bottles scattered around the free weights area. This is the life he wanted, Roadie’s life. Max wanted to own his own gym. He wanted to know that he had made a difference when it came to someone’s health. Max envied Roadie.
Max spun as he heard a long string of curses come from Roadie’s office. Roadie stor
med out, his face and nearly bald head growing redder by the second.
“Blast it!” Roadie fumed. “Chloe called in sick again!”
Max slowly exhaled as the rest of the personal trainers he worked with started to gripe. Chloe called in sick a lot, at least once a month. Everyone at Roadie’s Gym was sick of covering her classes and personal training sessions. Even Max had used her name in vain a time or two, especially when he was stuck training Mrs. Rozinski. The rotund woman liked to flirt a little too much and stunk of cheap perfume.
It didn’t make sense to Max. Chloe seemed to love her job. The petite brunette was always happy, always energetic when she was at the gym. Her big, deep brown eyes were always sparkling. Her shoulder length brown hair was always in a neat ponytail. The clients all loved her when she was there.
Max sighed. The clients weren’t the only ones who loved her. He had to admit he had a huge crush on Chloe. He had since she had started at Roadie’s. He had worked up the courage a couple times to ask her out. It always happened on those inevitable days when she called in sick.
Max looked at the nearest calendar, a puzzled look etching on his face. Thursday. Chloe always called in on Thursdays. What could possibly be going on in this city that makes her sick the next day? Is she getting drunk? Chloe doesn’t seem like the party type to me. What bar in Minneapolis has ladies night on Wednesdays? Why is Chloe only getting drunk every third week? This whole thing is bizarre.
Roadie’s voice broke Max from his thoughts. “Max, you’re going to have to cover Chloe’s kickboxing class. And her appointment with Mrs. Rozinski.”
Max groaned as he threw the dirty towels he held into the hamper. He wandered to the locker room to retrieve his hand wraps. Granted, for a class of mostly middle aged women he didn’t need them. He unzipped his workout bag and dug to the bottom to get them. He had them since college. Ripping free the fabric closure, he let them unwind to the floor. He studied them lovingly. They were stained dark in places. No matter how many times he washed them they didn’t come clean. It was all right though. They held memories that he would cherish for the rest of his life. Some very, very good. Some really, really bad. He glanced up at the clock. Two minutes until his private training session with Mrs. Rozinski. He wouldn’t have time to come back and get these. He raced out of the room, his wraps trailing behind him.
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