Page 44 of Bodybuilders for the BBW

Katie, my mind supplied instantly.We could ring Katie.

No, we couldn’t. After trauma dumping on her last night, it wasn’t right to rope her into dog sitting as well.

Bronson had his own ideas. He stumped forward, eyes trained on me, his tail wagging furiously. Did he…?

“Out?” That tail worked faster. “You want to go out?”

A sharp bark made clear his thoughts on the matter.

Keep him at home. Provide a safe space for him. Make sure it was quiet so he could orient himself. Taking Bronson to the gym was none of those things, and yet he seemed keen.

“Well, alright, boy. Let's go!”

His claws clattered across the floor as he went running towards the front door.

“You brought the damn dog?”

Drew looked all pale and sweaty, his skin gone a weird greenish colour, but Bronson was the complete opposite. He seemed energised by the ride over. Coming into the gym took a little longer, but as long as he was pressed into my leg, he seemed OK with it.

“I’m dog sitting today and you…” My nose wrinkled as Drew retched. “Are going the fuck home. No more dodgy seafood places for you. I’ll get some of the staff on clean up duty, wiping down everything you touched.”

“I…”

Beggars can’t be choosers and Drew was forced to confront that fact right now. His hand slapped over his mouth as he went marching towards the door. They slid open, letting him run out to his car and…

For Katie to walk in with Mandie.

Bronson went on high alert, that’s what caught my attention. He tugged at the lead and then broke free, going running across the floor.

And I knew exactly why.

If I was able to go sprinting over and sweep her into my arms, I would’ve. Instead, I watched her get ambushed by the dog. My mouth spread into an increasingly sloppy grin. The way she yelped in surprise, then fussed over him. It all made sense. This was meant to be, and so I strode forward to join them.

Chapter23

Katie

“Gym!”

“Can you stop yelling that at me and help me with this bucket?” I asked as I struggled to get the massive bucket of flowers inside the house. The vets had found a couple spare buckets for me to carry them home in.

“Jesus, who freaking died and bought you a whole florist…” My darling baby sister smiled then, not even having the good grace to look hungover after last night. “Who sent them?”

“I’m not sure?—”

“Who sent them?” She didn’t bother asking me again, snatching the bucket out of my arms and then plonking them on the kitchen counter before looking at one of the many cards.

“Mandie—”

“Rhys!” She bounced up and down. “I knew it. I bloody knew it. ‘Just gimme a chance?—’”

“Shut up,” I said, dumping my bag on the floor. “Just shut up.”

She grabbed my hands and started waltzing me around the lounge room.

“He wants to make you the hinge of his polycule!”

“He wants to do what now?” I asked, then shook my head. “Don’t answer that. Help me get the rest of the flowers from the car.”

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