Page 5 of Not Dating Material

If he knew about my mini breakdown before I left Kilborough, I doubt he’d be saying the same thing. “Not as much recently, but I’m hoping to get that back.”

“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. We all go through changes in life.”

“I’ll say.” I reach out a foot to nudge his bare thigh. “Nudist, huh?”

“Nudist, naturalist. Whatever you want to call it.”

“I never would have picked this in college.”

“Yeah, but in college, I was headed for the MLB and so uptight about my future and making it. After the injury, the more I looked into holistic medicines and natural living, it made me happy, you know?”

“Full-blown hippy.”

Well, as hippy as a dude-bro can be.

Madden lets out an enormous laugh that hasn’t changed. “Totally am. No shame in my game.”

“I think it’s cool.”

“Thanks. It’s always nice when people try to keep an open mind rather than assuming I’m weird.”

“Oh, no. You’re definitely weird. But not because of the naked thing.”

Madden shoves me. “That’s it. I’m not introducing you to any of the Daddies that I work with.”

“Urg. Mean.” I pretend to pout, but he’s already set me up on a blind date with one of them next week. The guy’s not an actual Daddy, thankfully, because I’m not into kink, but I do like my men older. Or at least, I thought I did.

I don’t know what to think anymore.

Madden shifts, and his dick falls against his thigh. I’ve been doing so well to not stare at him naked, but the movement triggers a memory I’ve tried to lock down tight.

Seven. Spread-eagled on his bed. Immobilized. Large, tattooed body on full display … along with a sneaky little surprise.

I lick my lips and flick my gaze to Madden and away again. “Hey, random question …”

“Shoot.”

“You, uh, ever …”

“Hmm?”

“Have you been with someone who has a Jacob’s ladder piercing?”

Madden slaps a hand over his mouth and points at me. “You talking about Seven?”

“You know?”

“Of course I know,” he says like it’s the most normal thing in the world. “How do you know?”

Okay, this is a question I didn’t see coming, and even though I don’t know him well, I’m not about to rat Seven out when I promised I’d keep his secret. “I … walked in on him in the shower.”

Madden’s eyes squint up. “I still don’t get—”

“He was hard,” I rush out, my cheeks getting hot. “Okay? Can we just … move on? Please.”

“Did you have sex with him?” Madden asks. “Is that what your question was about? Because, dude, I told you. We don’t sleep with each other. I can allow you the one freebie—like a welcome gift—but we’re a family here. That’s … it’s weird. And it doesn’t work if we want things to stay simple.”

I flop back on my mat. “Let’s pretend I never asked. Better yet, can I move back to Kilborough? I’m done. I’m sooo done.”

---