Page 58 of Gigi and the Gym Rats

And brushing past me, he walks away.

This time, I don’t follow him, because there’s a lot to digest in what he said, and sadness is dragging me down.

* * *

“He said that? That Ronin never invited him over?” Bee is chewing on her lower lip.

Yeah, I broke down and called her the next day, needing someone to talk to, someone who isn’t my mom.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my mom and we’re good friends, but I can’t talk to her about all this without admitting to wanting and liking more than one man, and generally failing my plan.

Bee won’t judge me. Neither would Coco, or June, or even Ruby, I’m sure, but I don’t know. Sawyer was a thought, but he’s kind of stressed right now and won’t tell me why.

Bee has a calm energy about her these days, and I need calm.

“And he said that he’s a convenience to Ronin?”

“Yeah.” I’m in Bee’s pack apartment, and Jae, the male omega of the pack, is baking a cake in the kitchen. The entire apartment smells deliciously of butter and sugar. “Those were his words, and the sad thing is, the previous night Ronin said… he said they have an arrangement, that they just… fuck. No clubbing, no romantic dinners. Something like that.”

“Jesus.” Bee stares at me. “And why?”

“Phobia of commitment.”

“To Grey?”

“No, to omegas and alphas, apparently. So he has this arrangement with Grey. To blow off steam, I guess.”

We’re sitting inside what looks like a study. There is a desk with a computer shoved under the window, a giant computer screen set with a screensaver of swimming koi, and the big plush leather sofa on which we’re sprawled right now is set against the wall.

Underneath the cake aroma, the room smells pleasantly of leather and male spice.

“I don’t know what to say,” Bee whispers. “I know not everyone has a pack or wants one, but why would Grey agree to that?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know. He’s so handsome. You should see him. And when he smiles, he has the most adorable dimples! I thought he was sweet, but now… Now he sounded so bitter.”

“He thinks he lost Ronin to you.”

“But they weren’t even properly together,” I protest.

“That’s what he said, but is that what he felt?”

I let my head fall on the backrest and close my eyes. “No. I think he was hurt.”

“He has feelings for Ronin. Does Ronin have feelings for him, though?”

“How should I know? And here I thought that Grey would be my one and only.”

“Really?”

“Well, he is a beta. And he’s cute and sweet.”

And somehow wounded, all that bitterness that came pouring out of him hooking me even more. It makes no sense.

“So you want Grey. I thought you wanted Zayne, your trainer. And maybe Ronin.”

“I do want them,” I whisper. I open my eyes and stare up at the ceiling. “And Casey.”

“Who’s Casey?”

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