Page 103 of Hot for the Jerk

“Okay, so we’re going to do what are called super-sets.That’s fifteen reps of one move, one muscle group, then fifteen reps of a different muscle group.Then we go back to the first, and we do that pattern three times.Got it?”

He nodded.

Even though I was already halfway through my bicep and deadlift set, I didn’t mind restarting.It was an easy pairing to start off with.

“Remember to keep your elbows glued to your ribs as you curl your fists up.And go slow.”I set one weight down and adjusted his stance a little by gently kicking his feet out wider.“You should feel it right here.”I tapped his bicep before picking up my twenties again.I counted us down from five, then showed him how to get into the proper stance for a Romanian Deadlift.“You want to push your ass—I mean, butt—out behind you.Keep your legs mostly straight, a gentle bend in the knee.Do you feel it in your hamstrings?The backs of your thighs.”

“Yeah.”

“Perfect, that’s where you should feel it.”

We did fifteen RDLs, then went back to biceps, then RDLs, then biceps, and finally, our last set of RDLs.He was grunting like a tennis player near the end, his legs shaking, arms wobbly.I ducked out and grabbed him a water, dumping in a little electrolyte powder too.

“How do you feel?”

He was slightly out of breath, but smiling.“Good.What’s next?”

Grinning, I jerked my chin toward the bench.“Let’s see how much you can bench, kid.”

He reclined onto the bench, then I handed him the weight bar with eight pounds loaded onto either side.I didn’t want him to get hurt, so we’d start out light and go heavier if needed.I spotted him, holding my hands just under his in case he needed to let go.

“Great work,” I encouraged, after he finished his sixth rep.“How many more you got in you?”

“I want to get to ten,” he said, determination on his face.

“All right then, show me what you’re made of.”

His arms trembled with the last rep, but he did it.I helped him up and we high-fived, the pride on his face tangible.He sat up and his smile sank like a bag of rocks to the bottom of the sea.Then came the heavy sigh.A sigh much too big, much too deep for a nine-year-old, in my opinion.

“What’s on your mind, dude?”I asked, tapping his shoulder so knew to get up and move onto the next thing.

“I’m worried about my mom.”He grabbed the bottle of water and took another sip.

“Yeah?Why’s that?”

“I know she’s scared.”

Nodding, I patted the seat for the lat pulldown on my weight machine.He sat down and I got him ready.“Your mom is one of the toughest women I know,” I said.“I call her a little cactus, or a porcupine.Because she’s cute, but she’s also strong and maybe a little prickly.At least until you get to know her.”

That made him chuckle, and he gripped the bar in each hand, arms raised over his head and spread out.“That’s a pretty accurate description, actually.”

“Okay, you’re going to want to pull down, just bringing the bar in front of your face.You should feel it here.”I patted his lats so he knew where to engage.He did as I told him.I adjusted his grip a little and spotted him like before.“I get that you’re worried about her.And I am too.But she’s worried about you.That’s a parent’s job.To worry about their kids.Whether it’s being kidnapped by a lunatic, or if they’re getting enough vitamins from their veggies.Parents worry.And you worry about your mom because you love her.”

Meeting my gaze in the mirror, he swallowed and nodded.“It’s just the two of us.Yes, we have the others, but … it’s just us.”

“Try not to let it bother you too much, okay?You have a lot of people—a lot of grown-ups—who are worried and taking care of things.You just keep on being a kid.You’re too young to stress about these kinds of things.Just, keep your wits about you.”

“Wits?”

“Your smarts.Your mom says you climbed a tree just like Clint showed you.That was using your wits.You ran from your uncles, climbed a tree like a koala, and kept yourself from getting kidnapped.Just keep those smarts about you—those wits—and let me worry about your mom, okay?”I offered up a reassuring smile, then guided him to end that set and give his muscles a quick rest.

“Thanks, Jagger.”

“I’m here for you, kid.Anything you need.”

“Do you love my mom?”Oh, that earnest, innocent, hopeful look in his eyes cut me right to the bone.“Do you want to marry her and become my dad?”

It wasn’t often I was left speechless.I prided myself on my ability to think quick and always have a reply.But right here, right now?I had no idea what to say to Marco to not crush him, not lie, and not give him false hope.

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