Love Evolution (4 page)

Stunned, Avery stared at him for a moment, letting the news sink in.
“
I can
’
t believe it!
”
She finally blinked.
“
I didn
’
t want to get my hopes up. But Brutal Strength!
Woo-
hoo
!
”
After the initial moment of elation, her smile faded.
“
But what happens when they find out I
’
m not a guy, Trevor?
”
So far, she had gone along with the plan, not really believing anything would come of it. Frankly, she
’
d not been thinking straight since Justin died. Between this charade and the Campanella thing, her world seemed to be collapsing in on her from all sides.

“
Look Avery,
”
Trevor replied, gazing at her steadily,
“
bottom line, it was your music they liked.  Marcus and Stephen believe you have what it takes.
”
He pushed his glasses back up. 
“
Seriously, whether you
’
re a man or woman is irrelevant. Jobs should be merit based.
”

“
Uh, yeah in a perfect world, right?
”

“
Lookit
, Marcus is a Neanderthal. That
’
s why I don
’
t feel too bad about deceiving him. We stick with the plan to tell him the truth on a need to know basis, after you pay Campanella back. It
’
s really a win-win situation for Brutal Strength, anyway.
”
She rolled her eyes at him.
“
All true, kid.  You
’
re a
helluva
guitarist.  And when everyone finds out you had to pretend to be a man to get in the band, the publicity will be huge, bigger than when Lady Gaga dressed up like a guy for the Grammys. The public loves controversial stuff. They
’
ll eat it up.
”

Avery knew Trevor was right. Anyway, she was out of options at this point. Joe Campanella was not the Bank of America. He didn
’
t just threaten, he acted. She
’
d experienced that firsthand. Getting the extension had bought her a little time, but where else could she come up with that amount of money? Like it or not, she had to let this play out. 

Avery nodded reluctantly to Trevor. Being a guy for one afternoon hadn
’
t been all that difficult. Extending it out a little longer shouldn
’
t be too hard. She knew how men acted, having been around them all her life. They were definitely lower maintenance than girls.
“
What
’
s next?
”
she asked.
“
I know you, Trevor. You always have a plan.
”
 

Trevor smiled fondly. He reached out and fingered a long strand of her hair.
“
This will have to go. You can
’
t wear your hair up in a hat all the time, you know.
”

Avery breathed a sigh of resignation.
‘
Hair grows back,
’
she reminded herself.

He took a step back, fingers under his chin, looking Avery over head to toe.
“
It
’
s going to take a major transformation. But if you are going to be a guy, Avery, we
’
ll make you THE best looking one we can. And I know just who to call.
”
Trevor pulled out his cell phone, scrolling through his contact list.
“
Here.
Ricardo Benito.
The best celebrity stylist in the business.
”
He tapped in the number.

A woman
’
s voice answered,
“
Studio LA, can I help you?
”

“
Yes, I need to speak with Benito.
”

“
I
’
m sorry, sir. He
’
s with a client.
”

“
Tell him it
’
s Trevor. It
’
s an emergency.
”

“
One moment, sir.
Please stay on the line.
”

While Trevor held, he informed Avery,
“
Benito is very discrete.  He
’
s been keeping his celebrity clients
’
secrets for years. That
’
s one of the reasons he
’
s so popular. Besides, like I said earlier- he
’
s brilliant.
”

CHAPTER 5 

The following night, a taxi dropped off Trevor and Avery in an alleyway behind Benito
’
s salon in Beverly Hills. Trevor, trying way too hard to remain incognito, wore a ball cap dipped forward and sunglasses.
‘
At night?
Really?
’
thought Avery.

He
’
d also insisted that she wear a hoodie to hide her face.
“
I look like I'm getting ready to rob the place, Trevor. And you look ridiculous. Is all this cloak and dagger stuff really necessary?
”

“
You bet. You never know when someone from TMZ might show up, Avery. Studio LA is a hot spot for celebrities. The fact that you
’
re going in tonight as a woman and coming out as a man just might draw some unwanted attention.
”

Before Avery could respond one way or another, the back door flew opened. Momentarily blinded by the sudden light, she stumbled.  A warm hand clasped her arm gently and drew her inside. Trevor followed. Avery blinked, and as her eyes adjusted, a handsome, middle-aged Hispanic man fashionably dressed all in black came into focus.

He pulled back her hood.
“
B
ienvenido
, you must be Avery. I
’
m Ricardo Benito. My friends call me Ricky.
”
He took her proffered hand, but instead of shaking it, he kissed it like in some old fashioned movie. 

Avery giggled. 

Ricky turned around to face Trevor and abruptly cuffed him on the side of his head.

“
Ow
!
”
Trevor exclaimed.
“
What was that for?
”

“
Oh,
pobrecito
.
Don
’
t be such a baby.
”
Glancing back at Avery, he went on,
“
When you called me, I
’
ve
gotta
say, I was intrigued. Not many things I haven
’
t seen or been asked to do in this line of work, but this is a first. And
mi
hermano
, you way undersold the magnitude of what you
’
re asking me to do here.
”
 

Ricky cupped Avery
’
s chin with one hand, while the other dropped downward, about an inch away from her body, outlining her curves. He raised disbelieving brows to Trevor.
“
You
’
ve got to
be kidding me, right? It
’
s going to take way more than a simple haircut for anyone to believe this
chica
is a
chico
.
”

Trevor nodded. Knowing Benito loved drama almost as much as flattery, he told him,
“
I figured it would require a miracle, which is why I brought her to you.
”

Benito preened, soaking up the compliment. He studied Avery again.
“
Alright then, we better get started. We
’
ve got our work cut out for us
mi
bonita
.
”
Grabbing Avery
’
s hand, he led her further into the warehouse-like building. Avery admired the art deco furnishings and black and white photographs of celebrities that lined the walls. At the reception desk, Benito stopped momentarily, releasing her hand to pick up a piece of paper. He glanced at it, looked at Avery again, and then scribbled something down.

He passed the paper over to Trevor.
“
Here.
I
’
m sure you didn
’
t think to get clothing, did you? I put together a list of things she will need. Size four, right, Avery?
”

She nodded, impressed by his guess.

“
That should translate closely enough into a small in the men
’
s department.
”
Benito smiled wryly at Trevor and winked at Avery.
“
She
’
s also going to need something to flatten down that chest.  No red-blooded guy will fail to notice those and then it won
’
t make a difference what I do to the rest of you.
”

Avery blushed, suddenly finding her feet very interesting.

Trevor told Benito,
“
That
’
s something we already figured out up in Vancouver, but I
’
ll pick up another ace bandage just to be safe.
”

Noticing Avery
’
s embarrassment, Benito couldn
’
t resist teasing her more,
“
We also need to decide about undergarments. Will it be boxers or briefs?
”
 

“
Huh?
”
she blurted out.

“
Babe, if you
’
re
gonna
play the part you
gotta
go in all the way.
”

“
No way briefs! That
’
s too weird for me. Boxers, I guess. I
’
ve worn those to sleep in before.
”

“
Don
’
t just stand there, Trevor,
”
Benito chided.
“
Make yourself useful.
Head to the Beverly Center with that list.
We need it all.
”
He gestured at Avery.
“
We will be real busy for at least a couple of hours. Babe, I
’
m
gonna
have to give you a crash course, the 411, on how to look, talk, think, and act like a dude.
”

Trevor pushed his hair out of his eyes and tossed a nervous glance back in Avery
’
s direction, apprehensively wondering who or what he would return to find.

*****

When Trevor returned several hours later, Benito grabbed the large shopping bags from him and disappeared into the back. Before Trevor had time to finish scrolling through the emails on his phone, Benito came bustling back in and announced dramatically,
“
I present to you Metro Male, Brutal Strength
’
s newest member!
”

The transformation was remarkable. Avery looked every inch the stylish young teen heartthrob wearing a structured jacket with an attached hood over a button down white dress shirt. A thin black tie was wrapped around her neck. She had belted on low rise straight fit jeans. Stylish black boots completed the ensemble. 

Trevor nodded his approval.
“
Amazing,
”
he whispered.
“
I don
’
t believe it.
”
He clapped Benito on the back.
“
Ricky, you are a freaking genius. Avery, you look fantastic!  Clothes really do make the man. The
Bieber
haircut is perfect. Chicks are going to dig you!
”
 

Avery scowled. That was so not what she wanted to happen.

“
Sorry, Avery, just saying.
”
Trevor gushed,
“
You are as pretty as
Bieber
himself.  Black Cat will love your look. You
’
ll bring a whole new demographic to Brutal Strength
’
s fan base.
”

Benito chimed in with instructions:
“
The urban metro look is real popular with a lot of the west coast bands.  Avery, I suggest you
google
some
pics
of Bryce
Soderberg
from
Lifehouse
or
TobyMac
to get ideas to maintain the look. The layered style they favor really works to your advantage.
Mira
, look, it covers up your curves -top and bottom.
”
He smirked at Avery.
“
I would stick with leather jackets or loose military ones like you have on. Boots for casual- keep your feet covered. They are a dead giveaway that you
’
re a woman. You can dress your look up with button down shirts. With your coloring, darker clothing will be the most flattering. I
’
d get some newsboy caps, too. Do vests and go for thin loose ties, or a scarf, to cover up the fact that you don
’
t have an Adam
’
s apple. No shirtless rock concert performances for you, eh
que
chulo
? 
Also, shiny black jeans will work for dressy occasions. I
’
ll text you some examples of outfits I think will work for you.
”

“
Great,
”
Avery responded, overwhelmed by the plethora of details.

“
Did you deepen your voice just now?
”
Trevor asked.

“
It kind of goes with the disguise, don
’
t you think?
”

Trevor nodded.
“
We
’
d better get going. Our flight
’
s early in the morning.
”
He extended his hand to Benito.
“
Congratulations, Ricky. You are incredible.
”
 

“
Absolutely,
”
Avery agreed, opening her arms to give him a hug.

“
Whoa- Wait there, mister. Remember what I taught you. Guys give man hugs.
”
Ricky demonstrated by putting the proper body width
distance
between the two of them and then double hand-slapping her on the back.
“
Also, don
’
t forget what I told you. Guys stride purposefully, shoulders back. No more girly gliding and hip-swaying action.
Remember,
keep your hips straight in line with your stride.
”
 
Avery followed his instructions, swinging her arms like he
’
d shown her earlier.

“
Bueno
.
Bueno
.
I predict you are going to be a big hit, Avery. And the publicity,
maldicion
, when you let the cat out of the bag, it
’
s
gonna
be stratospheric. They see you,
”
he pointed to her,
“
they
’
re
gonna
remember me,
”
he pointed to himself.
“
It
’
s
gonna
be great for business!
”