Page 42 of Full Strength

One of the members of the wardrobe team approached us handing me a white T-shirt and skinny jeans. I held them up and looked between them and Nikolay and Addison trying to figure out who they were for.

The wardrobe assistant pointed me in the direction of the makeshift changing room and I stared back at her.

“Go.” She said in a clipped voice.

“What do you mean go?” I was baffled.

“Go change.” She drew out each letter like she was talking to a child that wasn’t understanding. I guess in her mind, I was.

“You can’t possibly be serious.”

She stared at me with zero expression.

“They’re too small.”

Her eyes looked up to the ceiling for a second before looking back at me. “They’re your size.”

I held them up to my waist. “There’s no way I’m getting a single leg through these.”

She shrugged and turned to Nikolay, handing him another pair before walking away.

“We will have to suck it in.” Nikolay said with a look of concern and a bit of amusement.

I turn back to Addison as my panic increased. “You’ve got to help us out.”

She bit her bottom lip and shrugged. “This isn’t my shoot. Go on boys. Get changed.” She waved us off towards the changing room. I headed over while I tried to stretch the jeans out but nothing short of extra fabric would make this work.

“This will be a struggle.” Nikolay said with a shake of his head.

I went behind the divider and pulled off the nice loose-fitting chinos they had me in. I put my foot through one leg and cringed I wasn’t even passed my ankle. There was no way I was going to get these all the way up.

I tugged and tugged until I finally got them over my calves then looked down at my thighs. I wasn’t a skinny man by any means. Playing hockey your entire life will do that to you. I needed a lot of stretch and at least two sizes bigger to fit in these abominations.

I kept hugging and jumping and pulling at the same time. I was sure that the entire salon heard me grunting behind the screen.

Addison’s voice called out. “You guys doing okay over there?”

I groaned. “There’s no way this is gonna work.”

Nikolay just groaned.

Ronny’s voice joined in on the joke. “Do you need some help?”

I wanted to laugh but this wasn’t the time. “No, you stay back.”

I heard them laughing and I decided to take Nikolay’s advice. I sucked in my breath, jumped and pulled as hard as I could. By some miracle they went over my thighs and around my waist. With my stomach still in, I buttoned them before finally releasing my breath. For the first time in my adult life I felt fat. This was not good for my self-esteem.

I pulled on the shirt knowing I was probably sweaty from the unplanned workout, but that was something make up could take care of. I walked around the divider to see Addison’s eyes go wide.

“How do I look?” I asked.

Ronny was snickering. “Magnificent, my man.”

I cringed but decided not to look at any mirrors just in case I chickened out before it was my turn again.

Nikolay stood next to me and I made sure not to drop my eyes to what he was wearing. I didn’t want to know how bad our situation was.

“Over here, guys.” Walker waved us to him. They had lights set up around a few of the chairs and I immediately cringed.