Hot Pickle - J.J. Knight Page 0,85

examines her calves. “Perfection.”

“You better get going,” Camryn says.

She nods and straightens the strap to her shiny silver bikini. “Congrats, Candy Man. You going to kiss me for luck?”

I lean in and give her a quick peck on the cheek.

She rolls her eyes. “One day, hot one. One day.” She flounces out of the room.

Camryn shakes her head as she stands up. “She’s a pistol.”

I wrap my arms around Camryn. “I felt guilty competing in the natural bracket.”

Camryn rests her head on my chest. “Why? You’re clean as a whistle.”

“I’m a monster compared to the others.”

“Take it back a notch, then,” she says. “But remember, you’re showing everybody what is possible.”

“Was Dahlia your last?”

“She was. I’d planned to watch you compete and then we would spend the day together. These things never run ahead of schedule!”

“We can have our day.”

Camryn unfastens her toolbelt. I take it from her, fold it up and stuff it in my bag. “You want to go watch the women compete?”

“Not today,” she says. “I had eleven competitors to manage. I’m wiped.”

I wrap my arm around her shoulders as we wander down the halls.

“Sounds like someone needs a hot bath and a massage.”

She turns her face up to me, her long hair streaming down her back. “Somebody offering?”

“You bet I am.”

We take our time cutting through the guts of the arena, occasionally pausing to say hello to competitors and trainers still working with Camryn. She was both right and wrong about the consequences of quitting the international circuit.

The men’s side unilaterally snubbed her. But the women bodybuilders just laughed. “We can totally believe they overworked you,” the women’s coordinator told her. “The fact that you lasted as long as you did tells us everything we need to know about your longevity in the sport.”

The majority of her female clients returned to her, plus scads more. She opted to drop all the men, except for me, of course.

Switching to natural competitions has been a good move. Less pressure. More fun. I’ve gotten to know several of the leaders, and we work out together at the gym one of them owns. Sometimes I even get Camryn to come over and pump a few weights, although she complains for days about being unable to lift a brush.

This is the first mixed competition we’ve attended since the new season began. The natural set and the classic competitors don’t mingle a lot.

So when we turn the corner and spot Franklin with the crew from Buster’s Gym, it’s the first time we’ve crossed paths since the night Franklin rammed his truck into my deli.

Camryn stumbles but recovers quickly. The whole group of them halt in the hallway.

Camryn also draws to a stop, so I stay with her.

She speaks first. “Hello, Franklin.”

Franklin tugs on the collar of his jacket. “Sis.”

“How did it go today?” She sounds calm, but I can feel the tension in every muscle of her body. I grip her more tightly.

“Silver.” He unzips his jacket to show off the medal around his neck.

“That’s great. “You headed to the invitational then?”

He glances right and left at his buds and adds a swagger to his next words. “Let the winner through. I’m doin’ fine.”

I can feel Camryn stifling her laugh. “All right. You look great. Good luck.”

We both continue walking. As we’re about to pass shoulder to shoulder, my gaze meets Franklin’s. His eyes narrow and look me up and down. I consider fishing out my gold medal to flash at him, but I’m not going to do that.

I’m glad he’s finding some success. And friends. Everybody needs someone who has their back. Franklin was that for Camryn most of their lives. He just didn’t know where to draw the line.

I almost walk by without saying anything, but at the last second, the words pop out. “Thanks for watching over her. Growing up, I mean.”

Franklin’s glance shifts to Camryn, then back to me. He thrusts his chin up, and then they pass us and move on down the hall.

Camryn wraps both arms around mine. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“But it’s true. From what I hear, you were a real handful for a big brother to manage.”

“I do have rotten taste in men.”

“Hey!”

“Present company excluded.” She grins up at me, and my world breaks open with happiness.

“I want to ask you something.” We pass another acquaintance in the hall, and I wait until they’re gone to continue.

“What’s that?”

“There’s a house for sale in the neighborhood that backs Lucas Street. I could walk