Cassius, Stevens, Madison [moboreader txt] 📗

than corporate babble about concerns about effective brand synergy.” Graham snickered. “But we do have to face the reality that we’re doing twice as many videos these days, and we haven’t gotten anywhere near the views and engagement we had for the Hawaii series. We peaked.”

“That’s because it was Hawaii!” Kendra slumped down in her chair. “Of course more people are going to watch something about Hawaii. Sometimes I hate having to worry about that kind of thing. Views, engagement, sponsors.” She rolled her eyes. “It was supposed to be about the challenge, me versus the course. And now I’m having to worry about phrases like corporate synergy. That sounds so nasty.”

“I know, Kendra.” Graham gave her an apologetic smile. “But the sponsors and advertising pay the bills. We’re doing decently with the direct subscription stuff and extras, too, but the reality is everyone keeps saying the same thing. They want you at one of the big shows, and they’re wondering why you haven’t tried. You don’t want people to think you’re afraid, do you?”

“Like American Samurai Training Challenge?” Kendra sank lower in her chair. “Or Face The Angry Dragon?”

Graham nodded slowly. “I’m not saying you have to win them, but participation alone would do a lot to raise your profile.”

“But it becomes all-consuming,” Kendra complained. “I’m not afraid of the course. I’m afraid of what it’ll do to me. I don’t want to be the ASTC girl. People expect you to focus on ASTC, and then it ends up being a deal where you’re hyper-focused on that exact style of competition, or even the exact obstacles they use, and that’ll lower my flexibility for other courses, and it’ll restrict my freedom if I want to stay on the good side of the networks running them.”

“There’s another thing to consider, even if it’d put me out of a job.”

“What do you mean?”

Graham leaned back with a coy smile. “Girl, even in that current gray hoodie with messy hair, you’re stunning. You’ve got a good personality and a nice body. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while. You could pivot to being a pure fitness model. Then you don’t have to worry about intense training either way, just focusing on keeping that body tight.”

Kendra’s breath caught. “You know it’s not like that.”

“I know, Kendra, but you can’t do this forever. You need to consider your long-term career path.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m only twenty-three, Graham. I might not be able to do this forever, but I’ll be able to do it for a few more years at least, and…” She shook her head. “I’m never going to complain if people find me pretty, but I didn’t start Roving Champion to be a fitness model. It was about accountability in challenging myself. I don’t want to just be another pretty face with a nice body.” She smiled. “I’m greedy. I want to be that and a champion.” She pointed to her chest with a thumb. “I must have my last name for a reason.”

Graham let out a soft laugh. “I know you want to keep challenging yourself, but I’m trying to think of what’s best for you long-term. I feel some responsibility because I got you into all of this.”

“And I have absolutely no regrets. I’m living a charmed life, and I’ll never forget that, but what about you?” Kendra asked.

“I’ve gotten so much experience running things for you, way more than I had before starting with you, I could rent myself out to a lot of people or start my own show. But I’m more than willing to keep doing this for you until you’re ready to call it quits.”

“You’re a good friend, Graham.” Kendra smiled. “Better than I deserve. I know I’m too selfish. I never imagined a few years ago that I’d be able to make a living traveling the US and challenging myself athletically like this. I thought I’d have to settle down and finish my degree like my parents kept saying, but now I have this great life, this fun life… and I don’t want it to end.”

“It doesn’t have to end necessarily, but all things change.” Graham shrugged.

Kendra picked up her knife and sliced off another piece of her meat. “I wonder if that’s why I’ve been feeling so weird lately.”

“Weird?” Graham’s brow wrinkled in concern.

She gobbled down some more steak, imagining the protein flowing to every muscle in her body to fill in whatever small cracks she’d made during her race earlier that day. Doubt poked at her, making her not want to admit what she was feeling. It felt so petty and greedy. She’d been blessed, but still wanted more. Her mom had always warned her about being that kind of woman.

“Something’s missing,” Kendra explained, her voice quiet. “That’s what it feels like.”

Graham nodded slowly, understanding in his eyes. “Maybe it’s because you know you’re holding back and not taking on challenges like ASTC?”

She shook her head. “No, I don’t feel like that’s it. I enjoy what I’m doing, and I can’t complain. I’m not getting rich, but I’m making a decent living. Besides, I don’t care about money. I just…” She wrinkled her nose as she thought it through. “It’s like there’s a hole in me somewhere, in my soul, even, and I don’t know how to fill it, and I can’t even figure out how to fill it because I like my life.”

Graham laughed. “Oh? Is that all?”

“What? You’ve got it all figured out?”

“Yes, girl, I do.” Graham shook a fork at her. “You’ve got friends. You’ve got a loving family. You’ve got a job that you enjoy, and we both know you’ll find a way forward regardless of what happens with the Roving Champion. You’re missing one important thing though.”

“What?” Kendra leaned forward, gripping the table with anticipation.

“Someone to share it with.” Graham winked. “Or at least you could get laid. It’s a shame a nice, good-looking woman like you is alone and has been for so long.”

Kendra groaned