Chapter 3
Brad
Joey’s a boss.
The guy is strong. Way stronger than he’s letting on, I’m sure of it. Pretty sure he could lift me clean above his head if he wanted.
I chuckle, my mind supplying the mental image of Joey lifting me up like Baby from Dirty Dancing .
I eye his biceps as he does some curls. We’re winding down at the free weights now.
“Do you think I’d make a good Baby?” I ask him. “Like, the name, not the infant.”
Joey gives me a look I’m not entirely sure how to decipher. “I guess,” he says slowly. “Although I think it would depend on the person you’re with.”
I nod. That makes sense. “Think you’d be able to lift me?”
He blinks a couple times before setting down his equipment. “In what capacity?” he asks, voice quiet. “Like, against a wall?”
I purse my lips. “I mean, wouldn’t really have the same effect as if I were on top of you, you know? But we could work on it.”
Joey leans closer. “Are…are we talking about the same thing?”
I cock my head. “ Dirty —”
“Hey, Brad.”
I look over at the new voice, which belongs to one of my coworkers I rarely ever see, considering I’m rarely ever in the regional office. “Oh, hey, Suze. How’s it going? This is Joey.”
Suzy barely gives Joey a nod before refocusing on me. “I’m good. Haven’t seen you in a while.”
“Yeah,” I say with a shrug. “You know how it goes. I work from home, so…”
She nods, a small smile on her face. “Sure. Hey, would you want to get drinks again sometime?”
My own smile feels a little brittle. “Still can’t, sorry.”
“Oh. Okay. Well, I guess I’ll see you around?”
I nod, and Suzy walks off, frowning to herself.
“Ugh,” I groan, taking a seat on the mat in front of the mirrors. “Hate that.”
“What was that?” Joey asks, joining me on the floor.
“She works at the office,” I tell him. “We went out once a while back. She’s pretty and all, but it was one of those things where I knew it wasn’t going to work out, so I was honest with her. Told her we couldn’t go out again. Hate having to say no a second time.”
Joey is quiet for a minute, so I get up and put my weights away. When I plunk back onto the mat, he asks, “Why didn’t it work out?”
“Hm? Oh. She was rude to our waiter.”
“You… You declined a second date with her because she was rude?” he asks. He doesn’t sound miffed by that, more intrigued, maybe.
I shrug. “I mean, yeah, man. I know not everyone in the world is kind. But I get to decide what sort of people I let into my life, you know? I don’t want to surround myself with negativity like that.”
“Wow,” he says quietly. “That’s… Yeah, I like that a lot.”
“Yeah?” I ask with a grin.
He nods, cheeks a little red from our workout.
I bump his shoulder with my own. “Glad you approve. Now help stretch me out?”
A little puff of air leaves his lips. I think he mutters a fuck as I roll onto my back, but maybe he’s just worn out? Would make sense if he’s coming off a cold.
“If you’re too tired, we don’t have to…”
“No, it’s fine,” he cuts in, popping up onto his knees. “What are we doing?”
“Hamstrings, man. They’re tight.”
He groans quietly, eyes slipping shut for a second as he nods. “Yep. Okay.”
Poor guy seems a little off, but I’m not going to push him on it. If he says he’s fine to keep going, I’ll trust he knows his limits. Besides, it’ll be quick, and he doesn’t even have to do much. Then we can hydrate, smash some protein bars or something, and call it good.
“All right,” I say, thrusting my leg into the air. “Have at it, man.”
Joey blows out a slow breath as he eases into place near my ass. He presses against the back of my leg with his upper body and arms, not too hard, just right. I groan at the stretch.
“Fuck, yeah,” I mutter. “Can really feel it, you know?”
Joey coughs out an affirmative. Once my first leg is stretched, he leans back, and I toss my other into the air.
“Do me again,” I tell him.
He huffs a short laugh, sliding over a couple inches. “Christ, I can’t tell if you’re doing this on purpose.”
I’m about to ask doing what? when he presses his weight onto my leg. “ Fuuuck . Good. Yep. Right there.”
“Jesus, Brad,” he says, shaking his head a little.
“What?”
Joey’s eyes dance with humor, voice dropping as he says, “You’re just so fucking tight.”
“I know it, man. You’re telling me. Sorry I’m all sweaty, by the way. I’m getting you wet.”
He huffs another laugh, his hand shifting down my thigh for a better hold. “I was already wet. And I don’t mind.”
“Guess that’s what showers are for, huh?” I say, easing out a breath as he lets go of my leg. “Washes away all manner of sins.”
Joey gives me a look as he stands up.
“I don’t mean blood,” I clarify, accepting his hand so he can pull me to my feet.
“I…didn’t think you did.”
“Okay, cool,” I breathe, shaking out my limbs. “ Definitely not into blood. So…showers?”
“Oh, God,” he mumbles, sounding pained. “Yep. Let’s do it.”
Joey and I wipe down our area, grab our water bottles, and head into the locker room. His locker is in the same place as last time, right near mine. I grab my shower stuff and head into a stall. I can’t help but hum a little as I wash up, feeling good after the workout. I swear I’d go a little stir-crazy without regular exercise. I love my job. Love it. But I can only sit for so long before I need to run a few laps. Or break a sweat in the gym.
At least now I have another gym-buddy apart from Cas. Oh , maybe I could get them to double-team me sometime.
Fuck, that’d be fun.
When I get out of the shower, Joey isn’t done yet. I dry myself, get dressed, and wait for him out in the main part of the gym. I’m chomping down on a dark chocolate almond bar when he comes out, his hair wet enough for the strands to curl like tiny waves.
“Hey, man. Nuts?” I ask.
Joey blinks at the granola bar I offer him. “Can’t, actually. I’m allergic to almonds.”
“Oh, shit,” I say, whirling around and chucking my half-finished bar into the nearest trash bin. I shove the packaged one in my bag before spinning toward Joey, my heart racing like I just sprinted a mile. His eyes are wide. “Don’t get too close, dude. I’m contaminated.”
His smile is a slow thing. “It’s fine, Brad. I’d have to ingest them to have a reaction.”
“Oh, okay. Phew,” I puff out. “In that case, don’t lick me and we should be good.”
“I’ll try to restrain myself,” he says, sounding amused. “Uh, thanks. For today. This was a lot of fun.”
“Yeah, man, it was awesome,” I agree. “We should do it again sometime. You know, without the near-anaphylaxis.”
The smile that crooks his lips has me feeling bubbly. “Definitely. I’ll text you?”
“You better. Quick question before you go. Are you into hugs?”
“Um… Yes?”
With a wide grin, I swoop in and wrap Joey in my arms. I swear there’s nothing like a hug between bros. And Joey? He’s a great hugger. His arms are big, and he’s warm. Plus, he smells nice, like pine or something. I breathe in happily and let out a sigh.
“Um,” Joey says, voice soft. “Not that I’m complaining, but how long do these hugs normally last?”
“Another ten seconds at least,” I tell him.
He squeezes me tighter.
When we finally part, Joey looks happy. Power of a good hug, I’m telling you.
“Don’t forget to text,” I remind him.
“I will. See you soon, Brad.”
I send him a wink as I toss my bag over my shoulder. “Not if I see you first, Joey-roo.”
He huffs a laugh, grabbing the door for me to walk through.
What a cool dude.
Instead of heading straight home, I make my way to Jason and Cas’s place. It’s not that far, actually, just a handful of blocks in the opposite direction of my own apartment. I don’t bother knocking when I get there. I have a key, and they’re expecting me, so I open the front door, drop my gym bag inside, and head for the couch at a jog.
“Oh, no. No, no, no,” Jason says, trying to scramble out of the way.
He doesn’t make it in time.
“Birdie!” I crow, jumping and smushing him into the couch cushions. I smack a kiss against his cheek as he groans.
“Gross,” he complains, trying to push my face away. “Stop slobbering on me.”
“I don’t slobber.”
“Then why am I wet?”
“Sounds like a you problem,” I inform him. “Dude… Stop squirming. You’re kneeing me in the balls.”
“Then get off me, you giant sack of potatoes.”
I let out a sigh. “ Fiiine .”
I roll to the side, and Jason sits up, scrubbing both hands through his messy blonde hair. He mutters something about me falling in quicksand and finding my ultimate demise, but I spot Cas in the kitchen and hop up to head his way.
“Cat-man!”
“Hey,” Cas says with his usual gentle smile. “Pizza sound okay tonight?”
“Uh…when have I ever said no to pizza?” I ask, stopping at the counter. “Ooh. Salami me.”
Cas grabs a thin piece of salami and holds it my way. I snatch it with my teeth.
“Stop asking for my boyfriend’s salami!” Jason shouts from the living room.
“Touchy,” I mutter before raising my voice. “I’m not after your man’s salami, Jason. I have my own.”
“Don’t need to hear about that,” he calls back.
Cas shakes his head, layering toppings on the pizza.
“Oh!” I say for the both of them. “Guess what? I made a new friend.”
“Yeah?” Cas asks. “Where’d you meet?”
“At the gym, believe it or not. His name’s Joey. Super-nice dude.”
Jason comes into the room, eyeing me as he grabs a drink from the fridge. “Super nice, huh?”
“Totally. But don’t get jealous, Birdie. No one will ever replace you.”
He narrows his eyes. Aw , poor guy. So jealous.
“He’s new to town,” I tell them, snagging another piece of salami. “I think he was glad to have someone to work out with, you know?”
“Uh-huh,” Jason says. “And were you, by chance, doing that wink thing?”
I frown. “It’s customary to wink at your gym-bros, Jason.”
“It’s…not,” he says. “That’s not a thing.”
“It is,” I reply, keeping my tone patient. Dude’s not a gym-bro. He doesn’t get it. “Just…trust me on this, okay?”
Jason merely shakes his head. “Bee, the one and only time I ever agreed to come to the gym with you, you winked at no less than five guys and two girls. Want to know how many of them checked out your ass? Five guys and two girls.”
“What?” I say, shocked. “No way. Really? No . Wait… Do I have a nice ass?”
Jason rubs his forehead, looking pained. “I’m not answering that.”
“Like you’d even know,” I say, trying to glance behind me. Fuck , where’s a mirror? “You only have eyes for your guy.”
Jason gives Cas a smile that’s so sweet I nearly swoon. My best bud. Such a sap these days.
“Hey, Cas. Do I have a banging ass?” I ask, spinning around.
Jason practically leaps in front of me. He tries to shove me out of the room, but I hold my ground. “I regret inviting you here,” he grumbles, pushing at my shoulders.
“You don’t,” I shoot back.
“You have a perfectly nice ass,” Cas says evenly, not even looking my way.
Jason growls, and I back up fast. I don’t want to get bitten. Again .
“ Anyways ,” I say loudly, skirting around Cas to grab the last few slices of salami. “Joey’s cool. And he was not checking out my ass, thank you very much. At least, I don’t think. And don’t worry, Cat-man. He’s not replacing you, either. I have plenty of room in my heart for more than one gym-bro. I’m polygymorous.”
“That’s…also not a thing,” Jason says. “You know what? Never mind. I’ll stay out of it. But don’t be surprised if I send you a big fat I told you so in the future.”
I reach around Cas to pat Jason’s head. “Not everything is about sexual attraction, Birdie.” As my ace friend should well know. “Joey’s cool. Believe me. I’ll make sure you guys meet.”
Jason continues doing that narrow squint thing, but he finally nods, swatting my hand away when I try to pat his face.
My phone pings, and I pull it out of my pocket with a triumphant, “Aha! Here he is now.” I grin as I read Joey’s text.
Joey-roo: Would you want to grab dinner with me tomorrow?
“Dinner with my new bud,” I mutter aloud. Jason shoots Cas a look, but I ignore my pessimistic bestie and type back.
Me: You bet! Want to pick me up, or should I meet you there?
Joey-roo: I’ll pick you up, and we can walk, if that works?
Sure does. I send Joey my address.
Yep. This is going to be my year—I can feel it. My year to find myself. Maybe try something new.
And my new bud Joey? I think he’s just the beginning.