Page 21 of Almost Beautiful (Beautiful 3)

Every time I’d lifted there, Brandon had approached me with some kind of offer to hang out. Concert tickets, trips to watch a myriad of professional sports teams. He’d even invited me to Dubai. He was nice enough, in an annoying, superficial way, but he had a pregnant wife and more than one side chick—not someone I could stomach calling a friend.

I pressed the button and held the phone to my ear. It rang a few times, but then I heard a click followed by the screeching, banging, and intermittent yelling I’d expect if Brandon was still at the gym—and he always was.

“Brandon Kyle,” he answered. Pompous prick.

I couldn’t stand the kind of people who used their name instead of a greeting.

“Hey. It’s Travis Maddox. I heard you were looking for a part-time trainer.”

“Maddox! It’s about time you called. I’ve only given you my number a half dozen times. I was just at the Nickelback concert with Ty and Chuck. They told me you were thinking about the position. It’s not what you know but who you know, am I right? Man ... we’d love to have you on the team. Especially Chuck. He’s been watching you and says you know your shit. I agree. And holy God, would you bring in the ladies. Come get an application and I’ll show you around. We’ll discuss details and then we can decide if it’s something we both still wanna do.”

“Uh ...” I wasn’t expecting his response. “When do you want me to come in? Today is my early day from classes, but I have to go pick up my wife and ...”

“Wife?” Brandon laughed. “Since when?”

“Since last weekend.”

“Oh!” he said, his voice muffled. He was likely holding his fist over his mouth the way I’d seen him do before when he made fun of people. “Damn. Did you knock her up?”

“What did you just say?” I asked, feeling my blood boil. I turned on my heels, realizing I was pacing with my free hand balled into a fist.

“Nothin’ ... Nothin’. Just fuckin’ with ya, man! Is it that the Abigail chick I saw you with at The Red?”

“Abby Maddox.”

“Really?” He paused. “I saw you with her but hey, you’re always surrounded by pussy. You were all over her on the dance floor one night. She’s hot as fuck. I’m glad I didn’t approach her like I was going to. I didn’t know you two were that serious. But, yeah! Come on in! I’ll see you then.”

I stretched my neck before answering, trying to calm down instead of threatening his life before I asked him for a job. “So,” I blew out a breath. “Just whenever?”

“This is a pretty slow week. All the fatties have given up on their New Year’s resolutions. My schedule is open until Thursday. Weekends are too busy for administrative bullshit. You know how it is up here.”

I told him thanks through clenched teeth, and then hung up. There was no way I could work for that tweedle dick. I’d assault him on my first day.

Toto finished his lunch, and I put him in the green plaid sweater Abby had bought him. He pawed at the door, wanting out again. With some effort, I hooked his leash on his collar while he tried to lick my hand, and then led him outside.

We walked to the far end of the complex, and then began to walk back. His little legs trotted three to four steps to my one, and he was panting by the time we reached the bottom of the apartment steps.

Just as I turned to go in, a shiny Porsche rolled up, parking parallel behind my Harley. The window rolled down, revealing Parker’s smug smile.

“Maddox! Heard you’re in some trouble with the local authorities. And the non-local authorities.”

“Lick my nuts, Hayes.”

Parker’s expression turned serious. “Is it also true ... about Abby and you?”

“Didn’t she kick you to the curb for me? Twice?”

Parker frowned. “Is it true or not?”

“Of course it’s true. You didn’t think you really had a chance with her, did you?”

He waited a beat before speaking, his jaw tensing beneath the skin. He was a spoiled, entitled, rich, little fuck who wasn’t used to not getting what he wanted. He was subduing a full-blown tantrum. “You don’t deserve her, Maddox. You have to know that.”

“Abby thinks I do, and her opinion is the only one I care about. So you can eat shit and die, Parker, because no one here cares what you think. You were a distraction. A commercial. She was never going to end up with you. It’s fucking pathetic that you tried.”

“I didn’t try that hard. If I had, you wouldn’t be married.”

I tilted my chin down, glowering. “Get out of your pussy car and come say that to my face.”