Page 71 of Bodybuilders for the BBW

“Tell me I can have a do-over.”

We’d arrived at my apartment building and for a second, Rhys sat there, hands on the wheel, as Bronson panted from the back seat.

“What?”

“I had this whole grand scheme planned out,” he admitted, shooting me a sidelong look. “One where you fell into my arms as the sun set behind your head…” He shook his. “Give me another chance at a date and it’ll be better. One hundred percent less yappy dogs, promise.”

“Promise?” I found myself smiling. “Tell me a fact about skateboarding.”

“The US military trialled using skateboarding as a means to navigate battlefields in the 90s,” he said, but before he could say much more, I leaned over and pressed a kiss to his lips. His hands went to the back of my head, stopping me from pulling away. It was a slower, sweeter kiss, because this was one of goodbye, not of starting something. “The first bowls were pools forced to empty due to an extended drought,” he said hurriedly as I pulled back. “Some of the greatest skateboarders of the 70s were the Z Boys, sponsored by Zephyr surfboard shop.”

“Save those facts for next time,” I said.

“There’ll be a next time?” I ignored him and turned to Bronson. The dog was subdued but OK. “When? When, Katie?”

“You’ve got my number.” I got out of the car before I asked him to turn around and take me back to his place. There I could’ve helped Bronson resettle, and then when he was quiet and relaxed, I could…

Nope, not yet. My mind rebelled at that reality. I wanted to be the free-wheeling girl that jumped into bed with three guys like it was no big thing, but I wasn’t quite there yet.

“Texting you now,” Rhys said, pulling out his phone. “We can do a group date to puppy yoga. Dinner? Dancing?” I smiled and shook my head, turning towards the steps.

“Home alone?” Mandie appeared with two glasses of wine in hand. I grabbed one gratefully. “No harem to drag back to your lair? I half expected you to fill the apartment with the dulcet tones of you having multiple orgasms. Natasha and I were prepared to turn the TV up real loud to cover it.”

“Too soon for that,” I said, sinking down into the lounge chair. “Hey, Natasha.”

“Good date?” she asked, taking a sip from the other glass of wine as Mandie went to get another.

“Amazing, then terrifying, then amazing again.” I looked down at my phone as a flurry of notifications came in. Rhys was peppering me with suggestions and pictures of Bronson, letting me know which options the dog preferred. “And kinda confusing. I know you’re just talking shit, but…” I frowned slightly. “I struggle with dealing with one dude, let alone three.”

My sister sucked in a breath to answer, but Natasha interrupted her smoothly.

“Same as any other relationship,” she said. “Lots and lots of communication.”

“You dated several dudes at once, Nat?” Mandie asked, sitting down and setting a charcuterie board before us. My stomach rumbled as I speared some cheese and salami.

“I’ve been in polyam relationships since high school, when I couldn’t work out if I should go out with Greg Kennedy or Adam Wills.” Her lips curved as she went on a little trip down memory lane. “I don’t know if I’ve ever been with just one guy.”

“Yeah?” I leaned forward. “Well, I have questions. So many questions.”

Chapter36

Garrett

“I can’t go.” It was five in the morning, the day he was supposed to take Katie to puppy yoga, and yet when I heard his raspy voice, the hacking cough, I knew why. “Last day of night shift and we had a bloody factory fire.” He broke off, coughing and coughing in a way that had my fingers itching for a stethoscope. Was he wearing PPE? Did he inhale toxic fumes? All good questions, but needless, as I knew the fire service would’ve had him checked out after they put out the fire. “I’m gonna pass out. Didn’t want to just text Katie that I need a rain check. Can you touch base with her at a more reasonable hour?”

I paced back and forth across the kitchen floor. The week felt like it was filled with moments like this. Tentative bookings that ended up getting pushed back due to work, life, everything. I felt like we were already on thin ice, though Katie was always cool about it, probably because Rhys swept in and took over when we couldn’t make something.

Maybe I needed to change my career. I could run a gym too. Be my own boss, make my own hours… I shook my head as I turned the kettle on.

“I’ll go,” I told Rhett. He made a grumpy sound, but I cut in before he could say no. “You went to the brewery in my stead. Makes sense that I should do the same for you.”

“Fine, just… tell her I’ll make it up to her. I’ll buy her a damn puppy if that will help.”

I looked down at Bronson, who was sprawled out on the kitchen floor. He was like a shadow, following me everywhere I went around the house.

“Let’s just look after the one we’ve got, OK? Look, I’m gonna take him out for a run while it's still quiet.” Bronson was getting a lot better about other people and dogs, but he was definitely at his best in the quiet of the early morning. “I’ll make sure Katie knows what’s happening. Hopefully she’ll understand.”

“That’s why we came up with this whole poly dating thing, remember?” Rhett’s voice sounded like gravel under car tyres. “Together we make up one whole boyfriend.”

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