by JJ Knight
Jason’s face returns. “We’re heading to Dad’s gate to snag him. You want to go for dinner?”
“I have to work out. I can’t eat carbs until Friday.”
“No prob. We’ll pick a steak place that’s open late. If you have any ideas, text us, otherwise Dad will do his thing and call around.”
I can see I’m outvoted. There goes an evening with Camryn. Would she want to come?
Before I think it through, I say, “I might bring somebody.”
I instantly regret it. Anthony grabs the phone back. “Max’s got a girlfriend!” he sings-songs.
Jason grabs the phone back. “Real ho or bro ho?”
God, we’re all teenagers again. “Real. And I need to ask her if she even wants to come. You might be too much. In fact, I know you are.”
“What? Us?” Jason makes another crazy face. “Besides, we brought reinforcements. Nova’s here.” He angles the phone and Nova gives a wave. She’s walking several steps behind the brothers, no doubt to distance herself from their antics.
“Hey, Nova!” I call.
“I’m trying to keep them in line.” She shakes her head. “And failing.”
“It’s been tried before, my love,” Jason says. He slows down so they can both be in the frame, like a cheesy selfie. “Nobody tames the BEASTS!”
Nova rolls her eyes. “Help!” she says.
“He’s no help,” Jason says. “He’s the worst of us all.”
The phone blurs again. “Oh, I see Dad. Catch you later.” He waves and the call ends.
Holy shit. The entire Pickle clan is descending on California to watch me on stage.
And Buster is paying for gym members to come as well.
If I wanted to keep quiet about my hobby, that ship has sailed.
I shove the phone in my pocket and head out to the kitchen.
Andre has all the staff surrounding him. “And there he is, our champion bodybuilder.”
A great cheer erupts, and I play the part, clasping my hands over my head in the champion pose.
“We need a display case,” Angelo says. “Right by the register. We could show off your medals or trophies or whatever it is you get.”
“I’m not sure that’s necessary,” I say.
“Of course it is,” Tiana argues. “We’ve got ourselves a winner. We want everyone to know it. Besides, we can point to your killer picture, and nobody is going to argue over expired coupons.”
I laugh. “We’ll see. I have to head out. The other Pickles have descended for the competition. Make sure everything looks good. You know how Dad is. He’s going to show up unannounced to inspect. We need everything well-stocked and as fresh as we’ve got.”
“We’ll take care of it,” Andre says. “Go have fun.”
I jingle my keys in my pocket as I head out to my car. I’m grateful for my team. Because my life just got a thousand times more complicated.
28
Camryn
Life turns down a notch for the next couple of days. Max’s family comes to town, and although he asks if I want to meet them, I decide that’s not the greatest idea. If his brothers, who from all accounts appear to be quite the rambunctious pranksters, figure out I’m the girl he mentioned, they could easily expose it to my brother at the meet. And we’re not ready for that explosion yet.
Stupid Franklin. Stupid mess.
I do my work, tanning and prepping clients for the big weekend. We decide Max can wait until the night before the competition for his last tan.
I miss him, and our evenings together play over and over in my mind. But I am glad to catch up on my sleep.
Today I’m meeting Amy, Max and Franklin’s posing coach. She asked to get together for a late lunch so we can discuss a business opportunity for us both.
I warn her I’m completely booked with a full waiting list, but she says I’ll want to hear what she has to say. She’s picking up the tab, so I’m fine with a quick lunch. Besides, it’s fun to talk about Max with someone who knows him. Other than Dahlia, of course, who still mentions licking that man candy whenever she comes over for a touch up. It’s hard as hell to keep the secret.
When I arrive at the bistro, Amy sits at a table along the back wall. Her blond ponytail swings as she waves at me. We don’t know each other terribly well, so there’s no hugs or familiarity as I sit down.
“So glad you came,” she says.
We order pasta and I ask her, “So what’s going on?”
“Franklin told me you’re interested in traveling. I know you have a lot of great clients here, but the opportunity I’m looking at would mostly fall after the amateur season. And if it goes well enough, you might want to leave your beginners behind.”
I stir my straw in my glass of water. “Tell me more.”
“So, there’s a company that contracts on-site assistance for the bodybuilders once they start traveling. They want there to be some continuity, plus provide English speakers so the competitors can communicate what they need. We’re not assigned bodybuilders, and the roster might change some from location to location, but there are enough of them who do the entire circuit that they could become regulars.”
“So what level are we talking about?” My heart is already thumping at the idea of traveling.
“We would handle most of the international meets in Europe, two in Australia, and one in South Africa. Over here, with everyone already speaking English, there’s less opportunity. But in these other countries, the bigger companies hire people to travel and provide services. People like us.”
It’s the next step up. I’m being offered it. “Are you going to do it?”
“I already signed a contract. But they still need tanning and makeup artists. I told them about you. They’ve seen how many people have moved up based on your work. They’re excited about you. You could always sign on for a single season, then decide from there if you want to keep doing it.”
“When does it start? There are two more amateur meets.”
“Three weeks. So, you would be able to work one of those and have time to refer out the other. You would clip the last two qualifiers, though. I’m not sure Franklin or Max will get further. Do you have more?”
“Maybe Camille.” Only Malachi ever reached that level, and he obviously isn’t my client anymore. “But what about Franklin and Max? Have you told them you’re leaving?”
“Not yet. I wanted to speak to you first. Do you think your brother is going to move up? I’m not sure he’s a candidate.”
“Hard to say. He just now got a win. But Max?”
“He doesn’t supplement, if you know what I mean. His journey is about to end. You know that.”
“He was out-developed last time, but he placed. He has stage presence.”
“And they will all have stage presence this weekend. Don’t get me wrong. Max is killer and I like him a lot. But he’s in the toughest category and he isn’t a career player.”
My gut rebels at this, but I can’t argue with her without tipping her off.
“Probably so.”
“See?” Her face is like sunshine, she so happy. “I would love to have someone I know going with me on this journey. Can you imagine it? All the international meets. Meeting all of the bodybuilders. Italy! Africa! Australia! This is an opportunity of a lifetime. I’ve always wanted to be able to coach all the way up to Mr. Olympia. If I meet the right bodybuilder and he likes my style, I could get on a real team.”
That has been my dream, too. Her energy is infectious. She believes it can be done.
But Amy doesn’t know about me and Max. Can I leave him in three weeks? Be gone for months and months? We’ve barely gotten started with this new relationship.
“I have to think about it,” I say. “I do have some things keeping me here.”
“You mean that brother of yours?” She sips her glass of tea, eyebrows lifted. I know what she’s getting at.
“Is he being difficult?”
Amy shrugs. “He’
s not the ideal client. I’m sure you know his good and bad points.”
“I know.”
“I’m telling you. This is the next big opportunity for you. You’re single. You’re young. What better time to travel around the world?”
Our food arrives, and our conversation shifts to more general, work-related things.
I like Amy, and she’s been a constant in the circuit for a long time. I know she’s good people.
And this is exactly the opportunity I’ve been waiting for.
There’s only one thing holding me back.
Max.
29
Max
Three days without Camryn is pure torture.
But with the entire family here, workouts, and planning the fiftieth anniversary, I have zero opportunity to see her.
Even our Friday night tanning session, which I had hoped would be a lot more, is interrupted when my brothers text me every three minutes.
Besides, I have a fresh tan, we can’t exactly wreck it getting hot and heavy.
I settle for a long searing kiss and a reminder that my family will be leaving town on Sunday. Then we can get back to our new normal.
Dad has insisted we all stay at the hotel so we can be near each other to plan the event while waiting for the competition. They follow me to the deli and even show up for guest passes at Buster’s.
It’s a lot.
Anthony is the most curious about my routine, so when I rise and shine at five a.m. on competition day to start my carb loading, he’s on a chair in the hallway, waiting for me to come out of my room.
“Hey,” I say. “I don’t remember you being an early riser.”
“Right back at you. Funny the things we adapt to when we start being adults.”
“Who are you calling an adult?” I shoulder my bag. “I’m meeting my training partner for an early breakfast. You want to come?”
Anthony jumps from his chair. “Absolutely.” He gestures to his jeans and a T-shirt that reads Pickles are a big dill. “Am I dressed all right for the day? I assume these aren’t fancy affairs.”
“Trust me. You’re classy compared to what a lot of people will wear to this thing.”
“Awesome.” We head down the hall.
When we arrive at the diner, Franklin is already there with three members of our gym.
“We have an entourage,” he says, gesturing to the other twenty-something guys. “They want to see how the champions do it.”
“Good to see you all. This is my brother Anthony. He wants to see exactly how much junk we’re going to eat today.”
“Let’s show him!” Franklin roars, and the sleepy servers glance our way. The diner is empty save for us and a lone table of two elderly men sipping coffee.
The guys whoop it up as they settle at a table, arguing over the calorie counts of French toast versus pancakes.
This day is already going better than the last competition, where I spent most of the day alone. I start to see the appeal of having a crew.
Anthony watches in awe as Franklin and I wolf down plate after plate of high-carb meals. Franklin makes a big show of taking insulin to make sure he doesn’t wreck his system with too high a sugar load after weeks of low carbs.
He’s never done that before, and I have a feeling it’s all for show. But I say nothing. This is his day more than mine. He’s been waiting a long time to feel like somebody.
When we finally clear the plates, Franklin and his crew head over to Camryn’s for his final tan. I send her a quick text as a heads-up that there will be more than her brother present.
She writes back. Thanks for the warning. Can’t wait to see you later.
I smile and tap out an addendum, Naked?
Always.
“You don’t need to tan today, too?” Anthony asks as we load into my Audi.
“I got mine last night. Camryn will touch me up on site.”
I’m careful to keep my tone even to avoid the slightest hint that Camryn is more than someone who makes me look good for competition. It seems to work, because Anthony drops the subject and reverts to talk of the various diets I do through different stages of the training.
We have time to kill, so I drop by one of the nutrition shops that open early on competition day. I show Anthony the supplements and superfood that get me through the long hours. He’s very thoughtful about the whole thing, and I finally ask him, “Are you thinking of taking up the call?”
“Oh no,” he says. “I’m always interested in different ways people eat. This is great.”
I’m glad Anthony has come along. Jason is fun, but our nonstop verbal jockeying wouldn’t help my nerves as I head into this new level of competition. Anthony is chill, thoughtful, and easy-going, the perfect sidekick for a stressful day.
I spot the chocolate bar Camryn brought me last time. I pick up a couple of them.
“What’s so great about those?” Anthony asks.
“Carbs. Fiber. They taste good without making you too thirsty.”
“I noticed you didn’t drink much at breakfast.”
I squeeze my fist to pump out the muscles of my bicep. “See these veins? They don’t show unless you’re dehydrated. Part of the judging.”
“Crazy.”
As we check out, he points out a sign that reads, Anabolic steroids are prescription only. He leans in. “So, do you do them?”
I pass my credit card to the cashier. “No. Not part of my process.”
“But people clearly do. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have a sign.”
I nod.
“Does your training buddy?”
I shrug. “Not as far as I know. Physique doesn’t require the bulk that traditional bodybuilding does. Although, they merge closer every year.”
We head out to the car. I could probably confide in Anthony about Cam, but as we head toward the arena, I don’t. I know what’s happening with Camryn is important and real. But I’m not ready to share it or defend it against my brothers’ endless ribbing and nonstop questions.
Anthony stays with me as I check in and grab my pin. He openly gawks at the size of the people around us.
“I thought you were big. But you’re looking small compared to some of these guys.”
“We’re getting to the big-time,” I say.
“You think you have a chance?” A female bodybuilder in a mermaid green bikini strides by and Anthony almost stumbles over his own feet.
“I’m going to get stomped.”
He drags his gaze back to me. “Really?”
“I’m going to have fun with it. That’s all it ever was.”
Despite this being a higher-level match, the setup is much the same as all the rest. Bodybuilders in their warm-up suits line the walls of a huge empty room. The women must be going first here, because they are the ones already showing skin.
Anthony is entranced. “They’re unbelievable. How do they look like that?”
“Dedication. Nutrition. Workouts. It’s simple. But you need the willpower to do it.”
“And you do?”
“So far.”
A line of women file by, only a few feet from us. A few glance at us and one winks at Anthony. “I’m down with big pickles,” she says as she passes.
I reach over and bump his chin where his jaw has dropped. “Control those salivary glands, brother.”
“You think I can meet one?”
“You going to ask them about their food choices?” I punch his arm.
“Maybe.”
“I take it you’re not dating anybody,” I say.
“I did for a while. But she moved on.”
“You never mentioned her.”
“Wasn’t too busted up about it. That should tell you everything.” He elbows me. “What about you?”
I choose my words carefully. “The way Dad keeps me hopping with this anniversary thing, I barely have time to bang one off in the shower.”
No lies there.
“But you were going to bri
ng someone to dinner the first night.”
Shit. Right. “I just started seeing someone. I can’t let you all scare her off.”
“Now that’s totally fair. Dad is on a rampage anyway. For someone who has turned over the franchise, he sure is all over this party.”
“It’s his last big shindig.”
“It’s a lot.”
Franklin and the entourage arrive, loud and jocular. There are more of them, four now. Security stops them at the door.
He’s forgotten he’s only allowed two guests backstage, spots generally reserved for your trainer and maybe a coach.
He chooses two of them, and the others take off.
Franklin grabs his pin, then they all head toward us and plop down on the floor.
“Now, we wait,” Franklin says.
I unzip my bag and pull out one of the chocolate bars. I toss it to him. “For luck.”
He holds the chocolate in his hands, and his expression sets off my alarm bells. “How did you know I like these?”
My heart skips a beat for a second, thinking I’m busted. But I smooth it over. “Dude, I know when you take a shit. We’ve been training together too long for me not to know all your brands.”
He’s not convinced. “Camryn’s the only one who gives me these.”
I decide I should confess at least that much. “That must be why she gave one to me. She told me you liked them. I offered to get this round.”
His eyes pierce mine. “When was that?”
“When I got my tan last night.” I hold out my arms. “I’m damn dark, right?”
“Yeah.” He shoves the chocolate in his bag. “You want to get a pump on?” He turns to the other two guys. “You have to keep your muscles pumped so they’re not flat for the stage.”
“I’m gonna wait,” I say. I decide not to remind him not to burn the glycogen stores too early. He’s in teacher mode and enjoying his spotlight. I’m happy to let him have it.
Franklin and the other two guys take off for another corner to do some light reps and push-ups. I keep my eye on the door, hoping Camryn will show while Franklin’s occupied on the other side of the room.
