Chapter 45
Katie
So this was what real dating was like.
Mandie’s hatred of Dave made sense now because for the first time in forever, I was the centre of attention. The pub, the beer garden, none of it mattered, because the guys’ attention was completely focussed on me.
“So yeah, the owners thought the dog had bloat,” I said, relieving a particularly horrendous experience that had happened at work. “But really they just had gastro of epic proportions.” I shook my head and took another sip of wine. “It took me, two of the vet nurses, and one of the vets to clean up the mess the dog made everywhere.” I shrugged. “Working with animals sounds cute in theory, but the reality is kind of gross.”
“Tell me about it.” Garrett shot me a long suffering look. “Working as a nurse?—”
“Is all hearts and flowers.” Rhys shut him down quickly. “Don’t let him start talking about work, Katie. I’m still not over some of the stories about things he’s removed from people’s rectums.”
“Cucumber,” Rhett said with a smirk.
“Banana.” Garrett nodded. “Fruit and vegetables are frequent offenders.”
“It was the football trophy that traumatised me.” Rhys screwed up his face. “Like all the pointy bits and the sharp edges?”
“Nah, that kid’s toy was the worst.” Rhett leaned forward. “What was it?”
“A Buzz Lightyear action figure,” Garrett admitted with a groan, then took a long drink from his glass. “Could not watch Toy Story with my nephews ever again.”
“To infinity and beyond…” Rhys cackled.
“OK, but why?” I looked at each one of them in turn. “What makes someone look at poor old Buzz and think yes, he belongs up my Emperor Zurg?”
“Usually it’s ‘I slipped in the shower,’” Garrett replied. “Always suspiciously slippery showers.” He shrugged. “Honestly, I think it’s just dudes not feeling safe and secure enough to buy something purpose built. I just wish they’d use something with a flared base.”
“You seem well informed about this sort of thing.” The mood was pretty playful, so I figured I could join in. “Anything I need to know?”
And just like that, the vibe changed. The three of them weren’t men anymore, not with that hungry look in their eyes. They looked like wolves on the hunt. Garrett met my gaze, staring all the while as his lips twitched into a smile.
“Is that something that turns you on?”
My brain couldn’t help but conjure a scenario, one where we were back on Garrett’s bed. He was naked, golden and gleaming in the half light, and bent over… It wasn’t something I’d ever done, pegging a guy, but?—
“My mum always said you shouldn’t answer a question with a question.”
Where the hell had that prim little retort come from? What was I, twelve?
“So answer his, and we’ll answer yours.”
Rhys’ eyes danced with amusement, but it was more than that. He was leaning closer, edging into my space. That little movement had me seeing other things. Him prowling across the bed, the others doing the same, right before?—
“I…”
My heart beat fast in my chest as I felt a sudden pressure. To answer them, to say the right thing. I blinked and then watched my fingers toy with the stem of my glass. This wasn’t a test I needed to pass. It was then I remembered what Mandie had said to me. Treat this like a real date. Spend some time getting to know them. Make them prove they’d be good for me. My jaw flexed and I looked up with a smile.
“I just find it educational. And I’m suddenly very glad none of you own action figures.”
“Yeah, no plastic toys here,” Rhys said with a grin. “Just the real thing.”
“You won’t need toys around us.”
When I glanced across the table, Rhett looked suddenly serious.
“Not unless you want them,” Garrett added.
It was now that I realised why I sucked so hard at dating. I didn’t want to test anyone on anything, except their stamina in bed tonight. Instead I got to my feet, feeling the rush of the wine go to my head.
“What I want right now is to find the little girl’s room,” I said.
“I’ll come with.” My eyebrows jerked up as Rhys moved to join me. “Inside. I’ll escort you inside. We all need another drink and…” He shook his head and then held out his elbow. “Milady.”
Bronson barked, ready to come with us, forcing Rhett to grab his lead.
“I’ll be back in a sec, boy.”
Rhys took my hand once we got inside the busy pub, and we wound our way through the crowd until we finally found the toilets. Of course there was a long line of women waiting.
“I can hang out here,” he offered when I let out a little groan. “We can talk about work, or action figures, or?—”
“It’s fine.” It was when he pushed me backwards slightly, forcing my back to rest against the wall, and then leaned over. The noise, the other women, they all fell away when he was like this. “Sometimes I wish I wasn’t a woman, and lining up for the toilets is one of those moments.”
“Well, I for one…” His eyes slid down to the ridiculously revealing neckline of the dress. “Am very glad you’re a woman.” That mouth drew closer, hovering over mine. “That way I’m safe from having action figures shoved up my butt.”
I giggled, snorted, then went to clap my hand over my mouth in horror at the sound I made, but his lips were already there. They brushed over mine, sweet but also promising so much more. I sighed, wanting to deepen the kiss, when he pulled away.
“So, wine or a rum?”
What? My brain took a few moments to come back online.
“Um… surprise me?”
“Mm… I’d love to.”
Before I could ask what the hell that meant, he pulled away and disappeared into the crowd, aiming for the bar.
That just left me standing there, conscious that the women on either side were sneaking looks my way. Were they wondering how the hell I bagged him? I didn’t know, instead catching his eye when he finally reached the bar as he turned and smiled my way. I smiled back, unable to help myself, before dragging out my phone to find messages from my sister.
Did they all turn up? she had written. And if so, how many died of cardiac arrest at that dress, because damn. You and Mum got so blessed by the boob fairy that there was none left for me.
I obviously hadn’t responded, but that didn’t stop her from continuing the conversation.
No reply. Promising. Either they’re all there, showing you a good time, or you decided fuck buying overpriced, watered down beer and went back to their place to have an even better time.
My head shook from side to side as I read more.
Maybe don’t do that. Look, I get I’m the younger sister and you’ve got this weird idea that I should listen to you. Never gonna happen, by the way. I just think if you want to get serious about these guys, maybe don’t fall into bed with them.
She’d waited five whole minutes to amend this by the time stamp.
Or do it. I’m not your mum. I can’t tell you what to do. Speaking of which, Mum called and we’re on for family dinner tomorrow night. Seeing as you’re giving me nothing to work with here, after spending all that time looking for the perfect dress, you can spill the deets there.
It was lucky Garrett didn’t have a blood pressure machine with him, because mine would’ve spiked dramatically. Right as I was about to furiously tap out a response, the line ended and a toilet door opened. I shoved my phone into my bag and went to do my business, emerging out of the toilets moments later after washing my hands. I gazed out over the crowd, wondering if Rhys was still waiting to get served, when this guy stumbled into me.
“Oh, sorry… boobs!” Those bloodshot eyes, that glassy stare made clear that he was drunk. His hands rose, fingers flexing, as if he was about to cop a feel. I dodged to one side, and he followed my movements, forcing me to move faster. I thought I was safe when I managed to outwit him, faking jerking left and then dipping right and slipping past the guy.
Then he said the words.
“Fucking fat bitch.”
They didn’t need to hurt. I knew from experience Mandie got called shit like that when she shut guys down, and if she copped it, so did every woman. Didn’t stop me from stiffening, though. I could’ve turned on my heel, given the guy a serve, anything, but instead I stood tall, took in a deep breath, and then kept on walking.
He was just some drunk idiot. What he thought of me didn’t matter, and there was a strange kind of freedom that came from that conclusion. I worked my way through the crowd, finally finding the back door.
And them.
Not just my three dates. Garrett, Rhett, and Rhys were all waiting at the table, fresh drinks in front of them, but hot guys like them would never sit on their own for long. Three girls I didn’t know had dragged up seats, inserted themselves in the spaces between the guys.
Including the seat that Garrett and Rhett had pulled out for me.