One week later…

“Turn your body to the right,” I yelled and bent forward to take Charlie down to the mat. “Never mind.” I burst out laughing.

“Bitch,” she said with her back flat on the mat. “You need to give me a chance to move to the right when you say it.”

“Do I? Or do you need to be quicker?” I went to step around her and grab my water bottle. She surprised me by grabbing my ankles, causing me to fall forward. “Oh, now who’s the bitch?”

Charlie burst out laughing. “Not moi.” She threw her hand to her chest.

We had been practicing for ninety minutes, and my body was screaming for a break. I sat up and crossed my legs in front of me. Before I said anything, I glanced around to see who was in earshot. “Question.”

“I may have an answer or may not,” she joked and sat up.

“It seems impossible to care for two men.”

“Is that a question or a statement?”

“I don’t know.”

“Zoe, do you care about two men?”

“Well, one week ago I thought I was going to be having my first threesome.”

“Hot damn. Why didn’t you?”

“Andy went missing.”

We both stayed silent for a moment. The investigators had not located our friend’s body yet. They were encouraging us to not give up hope. Every day that passed made it harder to hope, especially with all we knew about the other bodies that went missing.

Charlie reached for my hand. “I thought Stephen scared you?”

“I thought so, too.” I glanced over to where Tyler was punching the shit out of a heavy bag. “Then we talked and my body reacted.”

“Don’t do this just because of how he makes you feel sexually.”

“I know.” She was right. Then I thought about how his lips felt, and I lost my train of thought.

“Zoe,” Charlie said and started waving a hand in front of my face. “Earth to Zoe.”

“Yeah, I know.” My eyes were locked onto Tyler. He had turned his body so he could watch me as he threw each punch against the leather surface. I knew Charlie was still talking to me. Instead of acknowledging my friend, my body was pulled in the direction of Tyler.

“So that conversation is over I guess,” I could hear Charlie say as she was laughing from behind me.

“Hey,” I said and wrapped my arms around the heavy bag to steady it for Tyler.

“Hey yourself.”

It had been exactly one week since the restaurant incident. I had not talked to Stephen and marginally avoided Tyler. There were parts of my days where I had to train with him, but I tried to workout with Charlie and Lily more often.

“Training for a fight?” I asked as he threw another punch against the bag. The blow forced me to take two steps backward. “Or letting out some pent-up energy?”

He stopped and dropped his hands to the side. “Are you worried?”

“Worried?” I had no clue what he was talking about.

“We haven’t heard from you all week. Now you’re concerned.”

I knew he could see my scowl and I didn’t care. “Wow, that’s a bit harsh.”

“Is it?” He leaned in closer and whispered, “What we did at that restaurant over a week ago was not between three strangers.”

I stepped back, feeling a little surprised by his words. “I never said it was.”

“Well, that’s the problem, you never said anything.”

I threw my hands up in frustration. “Maybe I needed to absorb the gravity of the situation. This is breaking new ground for me.”

Tyler quickly walked up beside me. “You think this is only new for you?”

I stopped and looked at him. “It’s new for you, too?”

“Yeah, Zoe. Why do you seem so surprised?”

“I—”

“You figured this was my M.O.”

“No, that’s not it. I don’t know, you both seem so comfortable.”

“Because of you.”

He left me with those three words and stormed into the locker room. I wanted to follow behind him. Force him to talk to me. Instead, I grabbed my towel and headed into my locker room. I sat down on the bench and dropped my head. Tyler was right, I should’ve called. Going silent was always easier than looking at the truth. What was the truth, though?

I stood up to go answer that question.

“Tyler. I was just about to go see you.”

He smiled. The moment I saw his lips curve up, my body relaxed. “You took too long.”

“Guess that’s a habit I need to break.”

He took a few steps closer. “Maybe we both need to work on a few things.”

“Maybe.” I cleared the distance between us. “We can do it together.”

He brushed his hand through my hair while grazing the side of my face. “With Stephen,” he whispered.

“With Stephen,” I repeated.

“Here.” I grabbed Sammy from the floor of the closet. “Hold him tight. I’ll grab that small carrier.” I was pointing at a corner of my closet where I stored everything. Tyler lifted Sammy up into his arms. Immediately he found himself wrestling with a ten-pound cat. “Oh, he hates snuggling.”

“You’re telling me that now?”

“Well, I didn’t want you to show fear. Sammy knows my every emotion. He’s one smart cookie.”

Tyler held the struggling fur ball out in front of his chest. “Where is that damn carrier?”

I was trying not to laugh as I dug the thing out. “Here.” I carefully pushed Sammy inside so I could zip it up. “You’re okay, Buddy. We’re going to go for a little ride.”

Lucky was hopping around our feet as we worked to get Sammy locked up for the trip. “Does this crazy one need a leash?” Tyler bent to scratch behind her ears.

“Oh yes, she will probably run and want to meet everyone in the neighborhood.”

After Tyler and I talked at the gym, he insisted we get my fur kids and stay at his place for a few days. I knew going home with him would look odd. Especially since I spent five days locked in my bedroom hiding from reality. As I watched him wrangle up my puppy, I knew what I wanted. I had spent too many days already telling myself no.

I realized in a split-second life was too short.

I was going to stop telling myself no.

Stop being afraid of what others would think.

“Did you call Stephen?” I said and threw a pair of jeans in my duffel bag.

“He’s going to meet us at the house.” My body reacted at his words. Tyler stepped up beside me. “Is that okay?”

I turned and placed my hands on his chest. “More than okay.”

“Zo, tell me now if you’re not ready? If this is all too fast?”

“No.”

He cocked his head to the side. “No?”

“I want this, Tyler,” I admitted. “Is it too fast? Fuck yeah. But maybe that’s how it’s supposed to be. We can’t choose when we start to care for each other.”

He let out a deep sigh. “I fell for you the moment I met you.”

I burst out laughing. “And you had a shitty way of sharing those feelings.”

“Hey, how was I supposed to know you would be willing to date two men?”

“Ask.”

“You make is sound so easy.”

“It is easy.”

He bent and captured my lips. “Shut up.”

“Make me.”

“I can right here if you want?”

“Stephen would be sad.”

Tyler pushed me backwards, and my body fell onto the bed. “What he doesn’t know can’t hurt him.”

I crossed my legs and covered my mouth. Under my hand, I mumbled, “Nope, I’m saving myself.”

He attempted to crawl up my body when his phone rang. “Saved by the bell.” He stood to answer it. “Hey, were your ears ringing?”

“Stephen, you need to come save me,” I yelled.

“No, she’s fine. What? No I wasn’t going to.” He sounded like he was fighting with Stephen. “Fine, give us five minutes.” A minute later he hit end. “You ready?”

I got up on my knees on the bed and wrapped my fingers around the waistband of his jeans. “Is someone angry?”

“More like I have blue balls.” I slid my hand down and cupped my hand around him. “Zoe, don’t start something you’re not willing to finish.”

“Who said I wasn’t willing to finish?”

“Me.” He fisted his hands in my hair and tugged me closer. “We need to go.”

His voice became authoritative. I was beginning to love his bossy side. “Yes, sir.”