Page 35 of What are the Risks
Elephant
Ryker
I stood above Evan, resting my hands beneath the Olympic bar as he pushed it away from his chest. His pecks expanded as he exhaled heavily. We were at the tail end of a weight session, and the fatigue was starting to set in.
“What time are we leaving tomorrow?” I checked.
“Nine,” he grunted.
Evan was signed to the same marketing agency as me. Outside of football, his Ken-doll appearance had helped him to land a few campaigns and ads. He loved being in front of the camera, unlike yours truly.
We had a bye this weekend and our publicists were making the most of it. We were shooting a commercial for a new energy drink. Some low calorie, high protein, sugar-free recipe.
While Evan had booked the gig without trying the drink first, I’d made sure I didn’t hate the taste before committing. I couldn’t vouch for something I didn’t believe in. I’d also made Ruby test it out when she was down for Senior Night. Somehow, despite the exclusions and inclusions, it was still delicious.
I used to find all the social media and press uncomfortable. Being in front of a camera had never felt natural until Ruby gave me the simplest advice.
“Just be your charming self, Wheels. That shit will sell.”
To this day, I still whispered those same words to myself before stepping outside of my comfort zone. Though if I could work out a deal where I got to play football and Evan did all the personality bits, I’d take it.
The commercial wasn’t until Monday, but Evan had decided we’d make a weekend of it. He had our entire schedule planned out. A club tomorrow night, the pool Sunday to sober up, followed by a solid dinner so we weren’t hungover for Monday’s shoot.
There were other college athletes flying in for it too. Evan had been chatting with a volleyball player travelling from Arizona. She was meeting us at the club tomorrow night. I’m sure Evan had every intention of turning this business trip into pleasure.
Once he was done with his set, I lifted the bar back before switching places. This was my final round of the day.
“Let’s set some ground rules,” he began as I wrapped my hands around the bar. “Or at least some signals. If one of us sayselephant, it means the other needs to vacate the hotel room for at least an hour.”
Brady glanced up while foam rolling on the ground. “Why elephant?”
“It’s what I call my dick.”
Pat barked out a laugh from where he was spotting Kyler on the bench beside us. “Why the fuck do you call it elephant?”
“Because it’s a huge trunk,” Evan answered.
Chuckling under my breath, I lifted the bar above my chest and started my set. I was at my max weight and feeling gassed, but I pushed through the exhaustion. One more effort and I was done.
Despite the cool temperature outside, I was a sweaty mess. Moisture was building between my pecks and across my abdomen, so much so that people might think I was oiled up. I’d never touched the stuff – couldn’t say the same about Evan though.
“What about if you both pull a girl?” Kyler checked.
“I’ll happily share.” Evan leaned forward, winking at me over the bar. “And swap if you’re into that.”
I didn’t put it past him. It’s not like he hadn’t been open to things like that in the past.
In junior year, we’d both tried picking up the same female soccer player at a frat party. Rather than one of us backing off, we’d stayed on her all night, telling her she could decide who took her home. When she’d suggested we all go home –together– Evan had been more than game.
I’ll admit, I’d been close to agreeing until a call from Ruby had interrupted. She’d been hyped on adrenaline after reviving a man who’d had a heart attack at the cinema. By the time I got off the phone, Evan’s tongue had been down the soccer player’s throat, and I hadn’t been keen on playing catch-up.
I shifted my head. “No thanks. I don’t want to give you or your trunk an inferiority complex.”
Evan glared. “Maybe don’t insult my dick while I’m spotting you.”
Once my set was done, I sat up, using my towel to wipe the sweat off my forehead.
The football team had taken over the whole weights area of the athlete’s gym. There were still other sporting teams around the place though. The hockey team were partway through a conditioning session which looked fucking gruelling, even to me. Grace Hughes was with her swimming team, stretching in the recovery area. And Gretchen and her cheerleading squad were warming up on the mat floor.
