Page 86 of Bodybuilders for the BBW

“At home, sleeping, when he was supposed to take you out.” My sister shook her head. “Look, none of this matters if you don’t get serious about them. Are you getting serious?”

“I…”

Any answer I might have died in my throat.

“I guess you can make a decision after dinner tomorrow night.” Her smile seemed brittle somehow. “I mean, if they all turn up when they say they do…”

Unlike Dave.

The guys were so damn different to my ex, I hadn’t made the connection, but Mandie had. Somehow in her mind, they’d shifted from being hot rebound dudes to what…?

Potential partners, and that meant they were being judged by a whole new standard.

“Tash, back me up here,” Mandie said.

“Natasha,” she corrected, “and I think I should keep out of this part.”

“C’mon, you’re the only person I know who understands how polyam relationships work. It’s not that different to straight guy/girl ones, right? Flaking on plans, that’s a red flag in that community as well?”

“Communication.” I wasn’t sure if Natasha was on my side or Mandie’s, or her own, but she stared into my eyes. “That’s the most important thing. Being clear in your own head about what you want and then communicating that to your partners. Everything else.” She shrugged. “That’s for you to negotiate and not anyone outside the relationship.”

A meaningful look was shot Mandie’s way, forcing my sister to step off her high horse for a moment, and that was when Gwen returned with the boba.

“These are amazing!” She handed each one of us a plastic cup and a thick straw. “You’re gonna love it. The lady running the stall, she wants to shoot some content…”

I watched the three of them cluster together, not really hearing what they were saying. I couldn’t, not when I was still processing what had been said. Communication… I looked down at my phone and saw a bunch of messages had popped up from Rhys.

Found a cool pub in the hills we can go to. You’re allowed to have dogs in the beer garden, so find something pretty to wear, we’re taking you out.Seconds later, another message had been sent.Not something too pretty. I don’t want to be fighting guys for looking sideways at you on our first real date. I mean, I can and will.The timestamp showed that another couple of minutes went by before the next message was sent.Garrett told me to say that you should wear whatever the hell you want and we will love it. So, you gonna come out with us, Katie, and let us show you how good we can be together?

My lips twitched without meaning to and I’m sure I looked like a loon, smiling at my phone like that, but right now I didn’t care. I typed out the only answer I could.

Love to.

“Look.” Mandie appeared by my shoulder. “I’m sorry. Tash made clear I was overstepping.”

I looked past her to where her friend was standing, watching the two of us. She shot me a small smile.

“She did, did she?” I focussed back on my sister. “You won’t listen to me, but you’ll listen to her.”

“The point is, I’m listening,” she said. “Do you like these guys? Do you want something serious with them? Because if you do, I have ideas.”

I shook my head. She’d dimmed the light that glowed inside me momentarily, but I could almost hear Rhys’ excitement in his texts and somehow that got me through this.

“You do, do you? Why am I not surprised?”

“Dress shopping,” Mandie said, like that was the answer to well, everything. “You, me, Tash–”

“Natasha wants to come dress shopping with us?”

“She’s a freaking guru at dressing different sized bodies.” Her hand scratched the back of her neck. “A lot better than I can.” I crossed my arms, mentally replaying some of the times we’d fought pitched battles in dress stores. She grabbed my shoulders. “I want you to go on a proper date, where the guys don’t cancel on you. I want them to open your door for you and treat you right and most of all, I want you to feel beautiful doing it.”

Everything Dave hadn’t done, that was what she was saying, and perhaps that’s why I nodded in agreement.

“Alright,” I said, “let’s do this.”

Chapter43

Katie

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