Page 25 of Body Check

Dakota sipped his green tea and talked to Leah while they went through the pre-flight preparations. She was bemoaning her latest bad date.

“Please tell me it’s easier when you’re a gay man,” she said.

He snorted, lifting his arms so the flight attendant could verify his seat belt was fastened. “Not really. Wealsohave to date men.”

“The hookups have gotta be easier though, right?”

Dakota thought of his conversations with Gavin and grimaced. “Not always.”

“Damn.”

“How would that helpyouanyway?” he asked, taking a sip of his tea.

“It wouldn’t. But at least I could live vicariously through you.”

“Sorry, I’m no help there either then,” he admitted.

The plane began to taxi on the runway and as he felt the momentary pressure of being forced back into his seat, and the weightless feeling once they finally lifted off the ground, he thought more about what Leah said.

After the way his ex, Bryce, had screwed him over, he had no interest in ever dating again. And well, he wasn’t doing much better than Gavin was for hookups. As far as he knew, he didn’t have a reputation for canceling or anything, but he simply didn’t have the time.

He’d promised his sister he’d try but between the travel and the team, and the side gig he had as a private fitness coach, where would he find the time?

His schedule wasn’t as bad as Gavin’s, but it wasn’tgood.

“Wake me up when we’re in California,” Leah muttered, already pulling an eye mask in place and tugging a blanket close around her.

“Nah, leaving you on here.”

She shot him the finger without even lifting her mask and he laughed softly.

Gavin glanced up, quirking an eyebrow at him, and he shrugged. It was impossible to explain from here.

But a moment later, Dakota’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out to see a message from Gavin.What’s so funny?

Just joking around with Leah.

Isn’t she already asleep?Gavin shot back.

Not quite. She was awake enough to flip me off.

Ahh, friends.

Right?Dakota smiled down at his phone. God, it felt weird to be joking around with Gavin of all people but now that they’d actually lowered their defenses and talked a little, he wasstarting to realize Gavin had a good sense of humor. He was funny and a little irreverent and it was a nice contrast to his typically stern and intimidating demeanor. Dakota typed out,Hey. Have you had a chance to look at the plan I sent you?

I did, briefly. Planning to study it more on the flight.

Don’t you have Super Important Top Secret GM Stuff™ to do?

Ooh, trademarked and everything. Fancy! And yes, I do. But I thought we established me taking care of myself was good for the team?

It is!Dakota fired back.I wasn’t sure if you’d take it to heart.

I’m trying.

Well, that’s the first step.

Pulling your plan up now. Give me a bit.

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