Chapter 27 #2
“Push your ass back without caving in the lower back.”
It’s fascinating how quickly my body obeys, I don’t even have to think about it.
“That’s it! Perfect,” Tyler praises, rubbing circles into my hips. Not helpful at all. “Huh, I guess I’ll have to use a different terminology with you.”
“Only if you want me to break something due to lack of focus.”
“Now you’re just tempting me to test out all the ways to make you distracted.”
“Don’t.” Please do.
He goes through the technique with me several more times, and while it’s true that I’m like a new born doe, I still suspect he’s doing it on purpose.
I’m actually relieved when he makes me give it a go with a kettlebell, because the added weight equals ‘a new way Jamie can hurt himself’. Which means he’s suddenly serious.
“Okay, great, you’ve got that down. We’ll give your legs a break. Benchpress is next.”
“Your favorite, I presume,” I comment, with a pointed look at his chest. It earns me a wink.
At the bench, I spread my towel over it as I’ve seen others do.
“The bar is about 45 pounds, so you want to start with dumbbells instead,” Tyler explains.
He removes the bar from the rack and picks a pair of ten pounders instead.
He gets into the position on the bench, arms stretched out straight above him.
“With these, the biggest challenge is to make sure that both arms move at the same time. Your palms should face forward—”
“Well, well, well, look who the cat dragged in,” a melodic male voice speaks from behind me. The skin in the back of my neck tingles, as if my senses registered a predator nearby.
I spin around. The guy is about my age and only an inch or so shorter than me. That’s where the similarities end.
Everything about him is…louder, and I don’t mean just his voice. Wavy dark hair, deliberately messy, falling into his eyes like he wants the attention it brings. His skin has that warm undertone that makes me think mixed heritage. Latino, I guess?
His eyes are lined with black eyeliner, smudged too neatly for it to be accidental, like from sweating too much. There’s a small ring in his lower lip that glints when he shifts his mouth into a smirk.
And then the clothes, if they can be called that.
The leggings he’s wearing are skin-tight and colorful.
Like he woke up, chose chaos, and committed.
The top is barely doing its job. Thin, loose, slipping off one shoulder, the fabric so flimsy it might as well not exist. A glimpse of a nipple, pierced, shows when he tucks his hair behind his ear before the material falls back into place.
In short, he’s like a shock to the system. To my system, definitely.
And I know, even without introductions, exactly who I’m looking at.
“Seth, hey.” Tyler heaves himself up, setting the dumbbells aside. He’s smiling, and it’s genuine, but there’s also a nervous edge to it.
My God, he really is afraid of this twink.
“Long time no see, sweetcheeks,” Seth purrs like an honest-to-God cat, taking a step closer. I think he hasn’t spared me a single glance yet. “I was starting to get lonely here.”
Tyler huffs a laugh. “Doubt that. You probably found some other prey when I was nowhere to be seen.”
Seth shrugs, chewing on his lip ring. “Maybe, but you’re still my favorite.”
What the fuck am I listening to? And why is Tyler letting me listen to it?
My thoughts must be loud, because Tyler’s attention shifts to me—thank you, finally!—and his face twists apologetically.
“Sorry. Seth, this is Jamie. Jamie, Seth.”
Seth seems to realize that yes, there’s another person here.
I brace myself for a display of hostility, but there’s none.
He looks at me with an expression that’s open and curious.
Although his gaze is intense, amplified by the effect of the eyeliner, I can’t say it feels judgmental or negative in any way.
Ugh, shit. I really wanted him to give me a reason to dislike him straight away.
“Hey,” he says and…smiles. Small, warm. And I hate that the first thing that pops in my head is: Wow, he’s beautiful.
I croak out a response.
“I’m showing Jamie the ropes today,” Tyler carries on jovially. “If he doesn’t hate it, he might be coming with me from now on. Actually, I was hoping you two would hit it off.”
We would what? What on Earth is he thinking? Is this a blind date: friendship edition? Because I never signed up for one.
“Jamie...” Seth murmurs, a line appearing between his dark brows. “Jamie, Jamie. Why do I—” He stills, face blank. And then angry in the matter of a second. And aimed at Tyler. “You’ve been fucking your roommate? Are you kidding me?!”
Tyler actually cowers, shoulders curling inwards.
“That’s not—”
“Don’t lie! You think I can’t spot a situationship from miles away?” Seth’s arms flail wildly in the air. “Seriously? You were sooo worried about hurting his feelings, and then you go and do the opposite of what I tell you?”
Excuse me, who does this guy think he is?
“Your radar isn’t as good as you think,” I inform him, with quite a bit of satisfaction. “There’s no situationship. We’re dating.”
His eyes jump between me and Tyler like a yo-yo. “What?”
“Jamie is telling the truth.” Standing up, Tyler shuffles towards me and snakes an arm around my waist. I very much enjoy the display of ownership. “We’re dating. Officially.”
Seth gapes at us, not even blinking. Maybe we broke him?
I get a view of his slightly crooked lower teeth. It’s annoying that even those look cute on him—mine definitely weren’t cute before I got them fixed.
“When did that happen? And how?” he demands when he’s recovered.
“Yesterday. And, well, it’s a long story,” Tyler replies, grinning down at me. “I brought him today to show him off.”
I huff. “No, you didn’t.”
“Did too!”
“You just wanted to get handsy in public and watch me squirm.”
He purses his lips. “While I’m not denying that…”
Seth snaps his fingers several times in a row. “Excuse me, I’m still here. I’m still fucking confused.”
“Look, you’re not completely wrong,” Tyler concedes. “We were in a situationship at first. But we talked it out. Realized we’re on the same page.”
“Same page.” Seth scoffs, crossing his arms. “Queer page?”
I wince. This is the last thing I wanna discuss right now. Tyler was already willing to admit he’s not straight (to my pleasant surprise), but the last thing I want is to push specific labels on him.
Before I can drag him away to save him from having to reply, he shrugs and says, “Yeah. I believe I’m swimming in bisexual waters.”
I look at him in disbelief. “You are?”
“I mean, it’s the logical conclusion,” he reasons, like it’s no big deal to redefine your sexuality. “I know you’re the only man I’ve ever been attracted to, but that still counts, right?”
Oh. My. God. I’m legit about to bawl my eyes out in public. At Tyler’s gym, no less.
His expression softens and he draws me into a hug. It gives me the opportunity to hide my face against his chest.
“Yeah,” I sniffle. “Yeah, it counts.”
His arms tighten around me and he drops a kiss to my hair. “I better get my pins soon.”
“I’ll get them for you.”
“Sweet.”
For a good while, no one says anything. I ignore the music pouring from the speakers and listen to Tyler’s steady heartbeat. I could fall asleep to that sound.
“You’re serious,” Seth observes, voice strange. Not jealous or anything, but kind of…wistful? Maybe melancholic is a better word.
“I am,” Tyler says.
Another beat of silence, followed by a sigh.
“I admit, I’m still a little skeptical, but—”
“You can be skeptical all you want,” I snap, turning around to face him. I’m really getting fed up with all the unsolicited opinions. “This doesn’t concern you.”
Seth’s brows flick up. Then he shows his hands, expression amused. “O-kay, someone is very clearly marking his territory. You can chill, he’s all yours. I just wanted to make sure it’s not one-sided.”
“Why do you care? You don’t know me. We are not friends.”
Tyler makes a sound, like he’s surprised that even a bunny can bite when provoked.
Seth doesn’t miss a beat. “Do you wanna be?”
Is he fucking serious? “Why? Because we’re both gay?”
“Yeah,” he admits breezily. “Also, I’m delightful.”
I…am officially speechless. Who is this guy?
“He makes a good point,” Tyler comments, unhelpfully.
Seth shoots him a glare that could make a lesser man pray for his life. “Don’t suck up to me. I’m still pissed at you.”
“Me? Why?” He sounds genuinely bummed about it.
“Because you came to me for advice and decided to do the exact opposite.”
“It worked out in the end, though!”
“Yeah, I’m sure dating was on your mind when you decided to stick your dick in him.”
I don’t like the way he’s talking to Tyler, but…a part of me is actually quite grateful. How often is a stranger this protective of you? He does rub me the wrong way, but I’m willing to admit that might be jealousy talking.
Tyler looks at me, then at Seth. Then collapses onto the bench.
“Please, be friends. I need someone to hold me accountable if I ever fuck up.”
Ironically, that seems to gain Seth’s approval. He smirks, satisfied, and gives me an inquiring look as if asking: ‘Well? What’s it gonna be?’
Okay, I admit—I’m a teensy bit intrigued.
Maybe because he’s my polar opposite? If I set aside the fact that he’s been lusting after my boyfriend, I can see how Seth’s abrasive nature could be refreshing.
Intimidating as fuck (now I understand why Tyler is scared of him), but there’s a sense of freedom in it.
Like there’s no need for pretenses, because he’ll see right through them anyway.
I jump when Blake comes barreling in our direction.
“He’s here, he’s here! Help!” He grabs Tyler’s shoulders and shakes him. “What if he asks me to be his spotter again?!”
Tyler stands up, scanning the gym. “Who?”
Blake grabs his chin and forces his gaze, mine and Seth’s following in the same direction. It’s not hard to guess which man he’s referring to.
Correction: That’s not a man, that’s a whole-ass mountain.