Page 89 of Bodybuilders for the BBW

“You’ve never really had guys that have made an effort for you.” Apparently today was the day for truth bombs, and everyone was dropping them. “They’re idiots, but also…” Her hands rubbed my arms. “You let them. Do me a favour and treat this like a real date. If you think you want to pursue things with them, spend some time getting to know them and make them prove they’ll be good for you.”

That was the accepted wisdom about relationships, right? Men could be anything from lovely or serial killers, and you’d never know without spending some time with them, and even then, there were no guarantees. Mandie was right. I just seemed to… fall into situations. Some guy said he was into me or wanted to fuck and I went along with it. He never went home, and I didn’t make him. Could this time be different? I tweaked the dress, hoping to get it to sit better, but before I could answer my own question, we heard a knock on the door.

“I’ve got it!”

Mandie ran out of the bathroom and towards the front door like a woman possessed, forcing me to shove the mascara wand back in the bottle and then move, lest she harangue my date on the doorstep.

Only for me to stumble into the living room and see Rhys standing there.

I almost didn’t recognise him. No longer in his uniform of gym gear, he looked amazing in the dark pants and pale grey shirt. His hair was still damp and combed back from his face, showcasing those brutal cheekbones, a dimple popping the moment he caught sight of me. Part of me worried that he wouldn’t like the dress, that it would be too formal for a date in a beer garden, but the way those grey eyes lit up? I knew for certain that this was a winner.

“Where are the others?” Mandie peered over his shoulder, not letting him take a step closer. “Tell me they didn’t have a ‘work emergency’ or something, because I will march down to that hospital, that fire station, and kick?—”

“The guys are waiting at the pub with Bronson,” he replied, though he remained completely focussed on me. “After the other day, I wanted a little one-on-one time for the drive. Katie, are you ready to go?”

“Yes.” I finally dared to smile. “Yes, let's go.”

Chapter44

Rhett

Earlier that day

“Why the hell didn’t you talk to us about going to dinner tonight, before you asked Katie?” Garrett said. He paced back and forth, his phone to his ear, because he was trying to get someone else to take his shift.

“Because you guys took a massive step forward,” Rhys replied, reaching down to twiddle with Bronson’s collar. Somehow he’d found one that looked like a bow tie. “Because I want a chance to catch up.” Garrett sucked in a breath and I knew what he’d say. That Katie and Rhys should go out on the date tonight by themselves. “Because if we’re going to do this whole polycule thing, then we need to start trying that on for size and see if it fits all of us.”

That stopped Garrett in his tracks. His brows creased and then he was nodding, but before he could reply, someone answered the phone.

“Hey, Gloria? Yeah, it’s Garrett from work. Look…”

He walked off, talking fast as he tried to convince the woman to swap shifts with him.

I’d had it easier. Brent, my boss, wasn’t keen to see me back on deck after yesterday as it was. The factory fire was one shit fight after another. Nothing went right, and the hours stretched on and on, even when teams from other stations were brought in to relieve us. I worked fast now, rolling up my shirt sleeves over my forearms, and waited for Garrett to return.

“She’ll do it.” He looked harried as he strode over to his bedroom and started yanking shirts out of his wardrobe. One was dismissed, then another, until Bronson pulled free of Rhys’ grip and went trotting into the bedroom. He put his paws up on the edge of the bed and then pawed a gunmetal coloured shirt. “This one?” Garrett held it up against his chest and stared into the mirror on his wardrobe. “Yeah, that might just work. You’ve got good taste, fella.”

The dog wagged his tail in response, barking once Garrett was dressed. He was raring to go, and I knew exactly how he felt.

Yesterday… I woke up this morning hard, aching, the dream I’d had a glorious re-enactment of everything that went down in Garrett’s bedroom. No, even better. In my dream, Katie climbed on top of me, her brows creasing as she reached down between us and then there was a little sigh, then a long moan, as she slid down my cock.

Fuck…

I didn’t just want a repeat of yesterday. More, that’s what my heart beat, more. Every word I’d said to her, about not being her rebound, but rather becoming her final destination. I meant each one of them.

“Ready?” I asked in a gruff voice.

“Here.” Garrett squirted some spicy cologne on, then rifled through the other bottles he kept on his dresser and handed me one, then another to Rhys. “Not too much. Just?—”

“Enough to enhance our natural scent.” Rhys mimicked Garrett’s tone perfectly. “I know. Where’s Bronson’s?” The dog wagged his tail in response to his name. “Got some eau de doggy somewhere?”

“Cologne would be murder on a dog’s olfactory system,” Garrett said, feeding a belt through his pant loops. “Now, before we go, don’t go signing me up for anything next weekend. I’ll have to spend the entire weekend at the hospital in return for Gloria taking my shift.”

“Even though you bailed her out all those times her kids were sick?” Rhys’ hands went to his hips, his button down stretching. The guy never seemed to wear anything other than activewear, so non-stretch fabric always sat badly on him. “When she was sick?”

“I’m the one rostered on tonight,” he said and we both shook our heads, having heard this time and time again. “It’s my responsibility to find someone to replace me and no one is obligated to take over.” So how do other people’s obligations fall on his shoulders all the time? His phone started to buzz, but when he went to look at it, I plucked it from his grip and then pocketed it. “I need?—”

“To get to Katie’s on time.” His gaze locked with mine, but I wouldn’t be the one to look away first. “We’ve already spaced on her more than once. One more time…”

---