Page 67 of Gigi and the Gym Rats

“Yeah?” Coco is cutting her piece of cake into small pieces. Smart. “What’s that?”

“I’m looking for a beta, male preferably. I want him to be intelligent and sweet, reasonably handsome?—”

“If it’s justreasonably…” June says.

“—interested in sports,” I count the desired qualities off my fingers, “kind to animals, not difficult with his food, good in bed of course?—”

“Of course.” June giggles again.

“—and into fantasy but not the sort that spends his every waking hour playing videogames, though cosplays are cool, someone interested in environmental issues and into helping others and?—”

“And who would that be? Do I know him?” Ronin looms over our table. “Hi, girls.”

“Hiya, Ronin.” Coco flutters her lashes at him and I have this inexplicable urge to scratch her. I really need to control my impulses more. I also have to stop thinking of—feeling?—Ronin as mine.

His gaze moves over my friends, reaches me and lingers. His smile changes, turns… wistful? “Hi, Gigi.”

Trying not to make it too obvious that I’m drinking him in, I gaze at those arctic blue eyes and that soft mouth so at odds with the piercings in his face and the ink on his body.

My bad alpha boy,I think and tense, because I shouldn’t be thinking anything like this at all.

“Have you seen Sawyer?” he asks, his eyes still on me.

“He was in the back,” Ruby says. “Wait, I see him at the bar now.” She gestures at the bar which is right behind me. “Is everything okay?”

“Thanks.” Ronin turns and heads toward the bar, without answering the question. I twist around in my seat and follow him with my eyes.

What is this about?

“Hey, Ron,” Sawyer says as he’s wiping down the bar. “What’s up?”

As I watch, Ronin leans over the bar toward Sawyer who is leaning back, an alarmed look on his cute face. “I’m finishing my experiment.”

Then Ronin puts his fingers under Sawyer’s chin and leans in even closer.

My breath catches. “Ron? What are you doing? What is he doing? What experiment?” I feel like I’m about to die, my heart about to give out. I don’t want him to kiss Sawyer. I don’t understand this. I like Sawyer. But this isn’t sexy like it was with Grey because…

Because I want Grey, too. Not Sawyer.

Why is this so complicated?

In the last second, Ronin pulls back, before his mouth touches Sawyer’s. “Fuck,” he breathes.

“Man…” Sawyer shakes his head. “What were you trying to do? You know I would have punched you if you ever tried that, right?”

Ronin hangs his head and chuckles. “I was ready for it.”

“What experiment is this, Ron?” I demand, raising my voice to be heard.

“Trying to see if I’m attracted to just any pretty person,” he says.

“What?” I’m still breathless. I realize I’ve stood up, my hands shaking. “Are you serious?”

Ronin’s cool gaze returns to me, and a shadow flits behind the icy blue. His mouth twists.

“You’re an idiot,” Sawyer says.

“You’re telling me.” Ronin shrugs. “I was right, though.”

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