Hot Pickle - J.J. Knight Page 0,63
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