Chapter 33
Katie
“That went well.”
I didn’t even get a chance to take a breath before my sister was waving a finger around with a knowing look. It was like she could see the good food, good conversation (even though Rhett was convinced it wasn’t), and good kisses. My fingers went to my lips and that was a mistake. Mandie’s wicked grin spread wider.
“Really well.” She slung her arm around my shoulders and steered me towards the kitchen. “Did you pash a boy, Katie?”
“We are not fourteen anymore,” I replied as I shoved her off me. “No one pashes anymore.”
“You did.” She went to the fridge and pulled out a couple bottles of water, cracking one and handing it to me. “So c’mon, bitch. Spill!”
I was going to, but not in the way she thought.
“You were right.”
“Yes!” She threw her arms up as if she’d just scored a goal at the footie or something. “Hang on, what was I right about?”
“I need to do things differently,” I explained, then sucked down a mouthful of water. “Live my life differently. That’s what new year, new me really means. The old me would’ve freaked out when Rhett turned up instead of Garrett. She definitely wouldn’t have gone on a date with him.” I shook my head. “She didn’t do dates at all, but…” Her smile had dimmed a little as I stared at her. “Apparently I’m going on another date to do puppy yoga.”
“At that cute place a couple of suburbs away?” she asked, suddenly excited. “They’re amazing and the pups are so cute.”
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “I don’t know because I’m going to just play it by ear. Say yes rather than trying to plan for every eventuality.”
“OK, who the hell are you, and where’s my sister?” Mandie wasn’t completely convinced, I could see that, but I’d just have to prove to her that I was capable of this, just like I needed to prove it to myself. “And if you’re saying yes to things…”
“Gym?” I snorted at her suddenly hopeful expression. “Sure. I ate my body weight in pizza, so go gently on me.”
“So just an hour of free weights then?”
I groaned and went to my bedroom, pulling on my gym gear, even if I wanted to just roll into bed and relive that kiss.
Rhett surprised me. That confession was disarming enough, but that kiss? I was still floating a few feet off the floor as we walked into the gym, barely registering the blare of loud music, the clang of weights being dropped on the floor. It was the sound of scrabbling paws that broke the spell I was under, warning me that I had someone barrelling towards me.
“Bronson!”
The dog’s paws hit me so hard I was forced to stumble backwards, but I recovered quickly. He didn’t know his own damn strength, but I loved that he’d lost that haunted look. A week out of the shelter and he was slowly coming back to himself.
“Hey boy!” He snuffled me all over, furiously seeking the scent of another dog. “You smell Hoppy on me.” The dog looked up then, as if wounded I’d do him dirty like that. “He’s very cute, but not a patch on you.” His tongue lolled out in a doggy smile, right as Rhys ran over.
“Bloody dog!” He said that in this high, squeaky tone, as if he was super pleased with Bronson. “I told you… Oh.” Rhys blinked, smiled, tried to stifle that, and then just gave in, grinning as he sidled closer. “Hey, Katie. Should’ve known that it was you when Bronson took off like his arse was on fire.” He looked me over closely, making me suddenly conscious of how thin this old t-shirt was. “Did you have fun with Rhett?”
“I’m going to go and set up,” Mandie announced. “That way you can ask Katie out without interference.”
“Mandie…!” I hissed, but the bitch just sailed past, leaving me to face Rhys alone. “So Bronson is looking a lot happier.”
“He is.” Rhys moved closer. “About that date.”
The brand new Katie would’ve stood there and flirted with the big strong personal trainer, but it appeared that I was still working my way up to that.
“He’s eating well and drinking?” I asked in a little voice. Bronson panted, as if shaking his head at my feeble attempt to make this about him.
“B-boy is doing just fine.” A hand went to my chin, tilting it up until I was forced to meet his eyes. “How are you?”
I swallowed because a pat reply came and went unsaid. Something self-effacing where I quickly redirected his attention to something, someone, else.
“I’m…” His lips twitched as I searched for an appropriate adjective. “Good.”
So, that was a freaking lame reply.
“Just good?” His eyebrow curled upwards as he shot me a slow smile. “Well, I’ll have to get on Rhett’s case, make sure he ups his game.”
“No, don’t do…” His smirk made clear he was just joking. I crossed my arms and cocked my hip, fixing him in my gaze. “The date was amazing, thanks for asking. The food was incredible. There was a really cute dog there, though not as cute as Bronson.” The dog barked in response. “And Rhett is a really good kisser.”
“He is, is he?” I expected Rhys to back off, perhaps look disappointed, but instead, a heavy arm went around my shoulders, steering me over to where Mandie was preparing for our session. “Care to do a comparison?”
My feet slowed, then stopped.
“Um… what?”
I was trying hard to be a cool girl and kissing Rhett spontaneously fit that bill, but kissing Rhys in the gym just to see who was better?
“Let me and Bronson take you out for a coffee afterwards,” he said, squeezing my shoulders and then turning to face me when we got to my sister. “We’ve been going down to the beach a bit.” I sucked in a breath, ready to lecture him about that. “At his pace, of course. I follow his lead.” His thumb brushed my neck, forcing me to shiver. “When he’s done, if the vibes are off, I bring him back. Been working well so far. I reckon the pup would like to show you how well he’s doing.”
“Using a dog to get me to agree to a date?” I said, but Bronson stepped forward, looking up at me as if wondering how I could possibly say no. Turns out he was right. “OK, but fair warning, I’m not sure how far I’m going to be able to walk after Mandie is finished with me.”
“Go easy on her,” Rhys told my sister. “Maybe focus on arms today. Or legs.” His eyes slid down to take in my new leggings. “That’ll give me an excuse to carry Katie when we go out afterwards.”
Mandie had thoughts, lots of them, but as she approached, he sketched a jaunty salute and whistled to Bronson to get the dog to follow him.
“Two dates in one day.” Her elbow came to rest on my shoulder until I shoved it off. “You go, girl.”
“Just taking your advice.” I turned to look at the array of free weights and equipment she had set up. “Is there any way to turn me into someone new without it hurting quite so much?”
“Pain is just weakness leaving your body,” she said, handing me a weight. “OK, let's see your bicep curls.”
Right now, I wished Mandie hadn’t taken Rhys’s advice. My arms felt like wet noodles, but as she was putting the weights away, he was there.
“How we doing, slugger?” Rhys asked, running his hands down my arms, looking at my hands.
“I wouldn’t touch me,” I groaned. “I’m all sweaty and gross.”
“Horses sweat, men perspire, and women glow, that’s what my nan always said.” He continued his inspection of me, then when satisfied, mopped my brow with a hand towel he’d brought over. “Babe, you’re glowing. So, ready to go to the beach?”
“Ready to hit the showers.” I looked up at him wearily. “I’m not sure the beach is on the cards this afternoon.”
“Have a shower and see how you feel afterwards.” The towel was put around my neck, a bottle of water placed between my fingers. “I’ll be here when you’re done.”
“You’re going out with him,” Mandie announced when we got into the showers.
“I went on a date today,” I whined. “I peopled and I exercised. Isn’t that enough?”
“A date with a hot guy who’s only got eyes for you and owns your soul dog?” She yanked her sports bra off. “This is the kind of date Dave should’ve taken you on.”
So that meant I needed to say yes. I emerged from the shower damp, in clean clothes, and feeling somewhat shy. Probably because Rhys was watching the door to the change rooms and started walking across the floor as soon as he saw me.
“We came in your car,” I hissed at her. “How am I getting home?”
“Rhys will take you.” Mandie grinned when he got close. “You can drive Katie home, right?”
“My pleasure.” He had Bronson’s lead in his hands and the dog was stamping his paws on the rubber floor, eager to get going. “Shall we?”