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‘Good point,’ Kit admits. ‘Yikes, there’s a woman here slamming Izzy for trying to use you to leverage her own interests.’
‘Whoever she is, I like her!’
‘Whoa, whoa, back up there.’ I look over to see Drew taking control of the mouse and scrolling the screen. ‘Anna Coulthard is saying you guys should train together. You and Izzy, she means. She’s saying she challenges you to follow Izzy’s advice and Izzy to follow yours.’
‘Coulthard?’ I move over to the screen and start reading. ‘It’s her sister. She wants to write about it in some British newspaper. No way. Not ever. Izzy Coulthard is not training in my gym.’
I stand upright and find two sets of eyes on me.
Drew speaks first. ‘It might not be a terrible idea, Brooks. It would mean publicity for the gym. A chance to set the record straight.’
‘Clearly you haven’t been in the same room as Izzy and me. We’d kill each other. Throw a diet of greens and pent-up frustration into the mix and I really will be the Hulk.’
‘Or Popeye,’ Kit says, mimicking Popeye swallowing down cans of spinach.
‘No. Not happening.’
‘Jokes aside, you could speak to Madge and get her advice. She looks after the kids now but you know she was a publicist, right?’
I rub my chin. ‘Yeah, yeah. I’ll give her a call.’
* * *
Whatever you do, take the moral high ground. Be nice. Be the bigger person.
Madge’s words play over and over in my mind as I sit on my sofa with my laptop on my knee, trying to watch baseball on my flat-screen and ignore the ever-growing number of comments on Izzy’s blog post.
It’s like they’re taunting me, forcing me to read them. I set the laptop to one side and grab my guitar. I strum a Tim McGraw track in an attempt to distract myself. This is not what I need on a Saturday night.
It’s no good. I pick the laptop back up and start reading the latest comments.
Green Pixie: You tell him, Izzy. We’re proud of you, girl. We don’t think you’re fame hungry. Love, your London Salsa Ladies.
Alvin Dawson: Brooks is dead on. You can’t build core strength and muscle if you eat like a bird.
Melissa Z: I love the idea of Izzy and Brooks trying out each other’s advice. That would be hilarious.
FitnessFanatic: Melissa Z, it wouldn’t just be entertainment, it would actually be useful. All these trainers say their method is the best. Now’s the chance to put them to the test.
Diane16x: This post is disgusting. Izzy Coulthard is trying to tarnish Brooks’ good name for her own benefit. I’ve been a client of Brooks for five years and I’ve never looked or felt better. He doesn’t adopt a one-size-fits-all approach like this Izzy woman tries to do. I say you should go back to England, Ms Coulthard, and spout your poisonous BS there.
‘Wow, you go, Diane!’
Be nice. Be nice. Be nice.
‘Don’t respond, Brooks, come on buddy. Don’t respond,’ I tell myself.
The devil on my shoulder wins. I click to open a new comment box and begin to type. At first, I follow Madge’s advice.
Dear Izzy, I apologize if you feel threatened by my methods and put out because I didn’t allow you to train in my gym. I did, of course, give you access to a studio to film your new DVD. As I have previously explained, I have a wait list of clients. Some names have been on that list for months. I do not operate on a system of preferential treatment, therefore, I could not allow you to take a slot in my gym, thereby favoring you over others. I hope you can understand this. I am sure your classes and fitness advice work for many people. I wish you success with your new book and the upcoming DVD.
As I hit submit and complete the CAPTCHA – God, those things are annoying – I’m more riled than I started out. Why should I be nice to her when she’s nothing short of awful in return?
Before I can add another comment, she replies:
Dear Brooks, I only wanted to try out your gym as a fellow instructor for one hour. You were rude and obnoxious. Good luck to anyone who decides to go to your gym and train with you!
I can’t help myself.
