Free Bucket Nut by Liza Cody Page B

… and this time the muscles at the back of my thighs took the strain.
    Lying there and looking past Goldie I saw that Mr Deeds had come in. He was talking to Gruff Gordon. While they talked they sauntered across the gym in my direction.
    Gruff Gordon stopped in front of Goldie. He said, ‘Got time for a natter, Girlie?’
    â€˜My name’s Goldie Green,’ Goldie said. She had a lot of dignity, I will say.
    â€˜Miss Green to you,’ I said, and lost count of my reps again.
    â€˜No slacking now, Eva,’ Mr Deeds said. ‘You only managed to tear Bombshell’s muscles in Frome. If you keep up the good work you could break her back on Saturday.’
    He winked at Gruff Gordon who snorted.
    I pulled my feet out from under the bar and rolled over. I did not want to talk to these people lying on my face. But Mr Deeds took Goldie’s arm and walked her over to the window. I followed.
    â€˜Piss off, Eva,’ Gruff said and tried to elbow me out. ‘This is private.’
    â€˜Not from me it ain’t,’ I said. ‘I know your sort.’
    â€˜Piss off,’ he said again.
    Mr Deeds came back and said, ‘Take it easy, Eva. This is business, right? Get on with your work.’
    Goldie had her arms folded across her chest and I was sure she was clutching her thumbs, but she held her head high. There wasn’t anything I could do about it once Mr Deeds had spoken to me.
    I started work on another machine where I could watch them talking by the window. This one was for the back and shoulders. You grip a bar above your head and pull it down behind your shoulders. I was feeling so choked I didn’t bother to count.
    After a while Goldie came over and said, ‘They’ve offered me a job, Eva. Isn’t that wonderful?’
    I was sweating like a pig and I said nothing.
    â€˜They want me to be Gruff’s valet. Starting Saturday. Cash in hand. Isn’t that great?’
    â€˜No,’ I said. I let go and the bar shot up. The weights fell with analmighty clang. You’re not supposed to do that because it damages the equipment. But I didn’t care.
    I got up and went over to Gruff and Mr Deeds.
    â€˜If she’s going to be anybody’s valet,’ I said, ‘she’s going to be mine.’
    I wished I’d thought of it before them – Goldie holding my robe and standing in my corner. Goldie cheering me on.
    Gruff starting laughing. ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ he said. ‘Don’t be so bleeding thick, Eva. Girls don’t have valets.’
    â€˜Why not?’
    We were standing toe to toe. I could have punched him in his fat belly. I pictured my fist sinking in up to the wrist.
    Mr Deeds pushed Gruff away. He said, ‘Calm down, Eva. It’s all settled. I was looking for a new heavyweight gimmick, and your friend is like a gift from heaven.’
    â€˜No!’
    â€˜Be sensible. She can’t be your valet, and that’s final. The punters might have bad thoughts about that.’
    â€˜More than they do already?’ Gruff asked.
    â€˜Shut yer face!’ I yelled. He was really winding me up.
    Goldie put a hand on my arm. ‘It’s just a job,’ she said.
    â€˜Fuck off,’ I said. ‘It’s not just a job.’
    I turned away from them and went back to the machines. The one I chose is like a rowing boat. You sit facing it and pull the bar back hard until you’re almost stretched out backwards and then you let it in slowly, feeling the resistance all the way. It’s a very good machine for the abs. And I needed to work on my abs.
    I worked on my abs.
    Harsh said, ‘You’re pulling too much weight, Eva. Stop.’
    I stopped. I hadn’t seen him coming. He took several kilos off and I started pulling again. He watched.
    â€˜How many?’ he asked.
    â€˜Dunno,’ I said. ‘I lost count.’
    â€˜Stop.’
    I stopped.
    â€˜You’re pulling too