Reggie let himself drop to the floor. He rotated his head on his neck and heard a crack.
“Damn, Reggie. What have you been taking? Aren’t you like five times bigger than you were last week?” Suarez, one of the crew on B shift, asked.
“Hey, little guy. Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you.”
Suarez flicked a hand under his chin at Reggie. “You wish. Bring your girlfriends and maybe you’d have a shot.”
Reggie grinned. “Your problem is you suck at math. ’Cause what you say you’re packing clearly ain’t six inches.” Reggie put his thumb and index finger close together.
The guys laughed.
Lori was lifting behind Suarez and nodded, putting her fingers even closer together, which had everyone laughing.
Suarez whipped his head around. “What? What’s so funny?”
Brad clapped Reggie on the back. “Lori, leave him alone.”
“Lori.” Suarez scowled. “Why are you mocking me when you know I’m the only one you’ll ever love?”
That got Lori and Suarez placing their own bets on who could out-pull-up the other.
“Hey, Reggie. Focus.” Brad shoved him toward the bench. “Spot me.”
While Brad lifted, Reggie told him, and by extension the eavesdropping Mack and Tex, how much fun he was having with Maggie. Without getting into sexual details, he shared that she also disliked bugs, camping, and really enjoyed a good “I told you so.”
He didn’t realize how enthusiastic he’d been until after they finished working out and cleaned up, all heading to breakfast at a diner by Brad’s apartment. Before Reggie could get into his car, Brad took him aside.
“What?”
“I want to meet her.”
Reggie rolled his eyes. “No.”
“Reggie, she sounds amazing. And you’re happy. Which we all love. But if she’s that great, it shouldn’t be a big deal to bring her over for a game night.”
But what if the guys didn’t like her? What if he’d overlooked something about her, as he’d done with Amy, and they pointed it out? Reggie didn’t want to go back to grumping at everything. Not now that he’d seen how good life could be with a woman who seemed to like him so much. Or who gave him so much pleasure, she wore him the fuck out.
“Brad, I know you mean well. But we’re new. And right now, everything is golden. Let it be, all right? I’m sure she’ll see I’m a mistake soon enough.”
As soon as he said it, he thought,Huh. Apparently I still have some unresolved issues with Amy that festered. Go figure.
Brad frowned. “You’re not a mistake and you never were. Amy was lucky to have you.”
Reggie sighed. “Sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry for pushing you.” Brad put a hand on Reggie’s shoulder and squeezed. “You’re cool, man. I’ll back off and get the others to leave you alone. It’s just… We want you to keep on smiling and laughing and, well, losing to me in the gym.” Brad shot him a sly grin. “I think she’s working you too hard. Tell her I said thanks.”
Reggie laughed. “Asshole.”
“Meet you at the diner.” Brad left.
Reggie drove to meet his friends, his step light, his heart overflowing. He’d let tomorrow come when it did, and for now, he’d enjoy his new girlfriend and the joy she brought into his life.
He spent the evening playing naked Yahtzee with Maggie. When she rolled five of a kind, hot damn, did he get lucky too.Rolling a Yahtzeesoon became a euphemism for an orgasm, which made little sense but became a fun thing for them to talk about when out and about.
Tuesday, he spent the early morning with her running errands. First hers, then his. After getting the boring stuff out of the way, they walked hand in hand downtown, taking in the farmers market.
Maggieoohedandaahedover several jewelry booths, but when Reggie offered to buy her something, she refused. When they stopped for lunch, he again tried to treat her, and she again refused.
