Sure, they’re pretty to look at, but the reality of actually touching one of them, standing next to them in line, eating in front of them… No way. I promise you, most women do not want one of the four Chris’s in their bed. Meanwhile, every magazine, every movie poster now gives men an unrealistic depiction of what they should look like. Nobody wants to talk about body positivity issues, especially on the male side of the house.” “Yeah, well, we’re raised to think we’re not supposed to worry about stuff like that. It has been hard to get people to sign up for this project. Once I blew my knee out, keeping the fat off my body went out the window. I beefed up, but I had to spend all my time in the gym to keep it from turning into fat. When I was a kid I couldn’t put any on, and was one of the skinniest guys on the team. “You’re not growing self-conscious on me, are you?” “Not any more than usual.” I’ve struggled with my weight my entire life. Shirts off and everything.” Caleb smacks his beer gut and throws me a big smile. Plus, you’ll be doing my girlfriend a solid by participating in her thesis.” “You’re doing this, too, correct?” “Yeah, yeah. They’ll take a dozen photos, ask you a handful of questions, and give you a lollipop for your troubles. But I owe him for finding me a house here in Spring City, under market value, and in a seller’s market, so what can I do? “It’ll be fun. We played high school and college football together– that is, until I blew out my knee midseason my senior year.

I 1 RHETT can’t believe you talked me into this,” I grumble at my old teammate.

Behind The Mask by Kameron Claire