CHAPTER ONE
Paige

“Wait here. I’ll only be a second.” I tell Stephen as he gets out of the driver’s side to follow me across the road. I saunter towards the gym entrance, leaving him casually leaning against his car. I can’t believe my best friend is finally going to meet my boyfriend.
Boyfriend. Wow that feels so strange to say. Especially considering I’m almost twenty-one and he’s the first person I’ve ever referred to as that.
I know, I know. Being a twenty-year-old who has never had a proper relationship is weird, right? But here’s the thing. I was ill growing up and my parents never let me go anywhere. Sucks, huh?
Plus, for the past nine years, I’ve had a major crush on a certain somebody. Can you believe, I somehow convinced myself that one day we would end up together. But that day isn’t coming any time soon.
I enter the huge open space and glance towards the weights section. I’m sure Tyler said they were scheduled for resistance training this morning. Obviously not, because they’re nowhere to be seen. After a few more steps, I spot them by the hanging punch bags.
Even in a crowded gym, they are almost impossible to miss. A stocky, long haired, tanned God-like Mateo certainly stands out in a crowd but put him next to a dark, brooding, tattooed biker Cam, and your eye is naturally drawn in their direction.
And then there is Tyler. At five foot six, he’s quite a bit shorter than both of them and a lot leaner in build. With more of a muscular runner stature, he isn’t as beefy as either of his training partners, but he is every ounce as handsome. Oh, who am I kidding, he’s fucking gorgeous. Short blonde hair with a slight side part, dark blue eyes with dancing amber flecks and strong arms. Although considering he looks like one of my favourite boy band members of all time, you could say I’m a little biased.
“Hey guys.” My grin spreads from ear to ear as I stride over to them. I’m fairly sure Tyler is driving them insane with tales of what he got up to at the weekend and what ladies he’s had the pick of this week. I love him to bits, but the guy can have any woman he wants, and from what he tells everyone, he absolutely takes full advantage. I just don’t understand where he finds the time. “You boys look like you’ve been working up an appetite.”
“I’d like to think so, we’ve been at it for the last two hours.” Saliva practically drips from Mateo’s mouth as I approach. I can’t blame him though. For something I threw together in a hurry, it smells amazing. “What’s on the menu today then?”
“I’ve gone with baked chicken, grilled asparagus and aubergine, lightly tossed in olive oil with a side of black beans. Lots of protein, slow-release carbs and it tastes delicious.” As I hand the bag over to Tyler, a group of guys walk past.
Everybody knows the type, complete D-bags who think they are better than everyone else and that women like me have no place in a gym. They think that just because I am a little heavy, they can make fun of me but the jokes on them because I love my body.
It might not always have been the case but over the last couple of years, I have learned to love every stretch mark, every inch of jiggly skin and even the flabby folds that form when I sit down. It’s been a long road to get here but I can honestly say, I adore my size sixteen self, flaws and all.
Tyler’s brow furrows, his expression grows darker, with animalistic rage. I can tell he’s about to retaliate—and I love that about him—but I’m a big girl. I can look after myself. “What’s the matter boys, are you intimidated by a woman with a bit of meat on her bones?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Mateo, Cam and Tyler watching as the idiots get a taste of their own medicine and scurry away sheepishly. That’ll teach them.
“You’ll have to fend for yourself for the next day or two because I’m going away for a few days.” The guys nod, digging into the food I brought without a second thought. Except Tyler. I’m almost certain I told him I was going away with Stephen so it’s not exactly a surprise. Maybe he forgot. “I’m going away with my boyfriend. He’s outside if you want to meet him, Ty.”
I’ve been meaning to introduce the two of them for a while now, but I wasn’t sure. Although, I’m still not sure it’s such a good idea. But me and Stephen have been dating for almost four months, so I guess it’s time for him to meet the people I care about most in the world.
Dad set us up after the company he works for did a little work on re-branding the bakery, so he’s already met my parents. He even got their seal of approval so now; it just leaves Ty and the girls. So, what if it isn’t that serious, I can’t put it off forever.
Without responding, Tyler races towards the entrance and I struggle to catch up. I really need to start running again, or at least go swimming more than once a week. “Ty, wait up!”
Catching up to him as he stops dead in his tracks outside the gym, I hunch over, gasping for air. It was only about a hundred metres so why is my heart threatening to burst out of my chest at any given moment?
Once my cardiovascular system recovers enough to function, I straighten up and glance at Tyler. The tension in his muscles is visible for the whole world to see as he glares at Stephen with an expression I can’t quite read. What on earth has gotten into him today? “Bloody hell Ty, where’s the fire?”
“You can’t be fucking serious?” He spins to face me, darkness building behind his aqua blue eyes. “You can’t go away with him.”
“Last time I checked. This was a free country.” We stand eye to eye, caught in some kind of Mexican standoff, my hand poised and ready to slap him if he continues with this nonsense. “You don’t even know anything about him. Just speak to him.”
“I don’t need to hear a word from him to know he is not right for you.” Not right for me? What the fuck is wrong with him? “You are not going away with him.”
Stephen is a great guy. He’s got a good job that pays well, owns his own house and even my dad likes him. And my dad growls at any male that so much as glances my way. So what if we don’t have a lot in common. Don’t they always say that opposites attract anyway?
“The hell I’m not!” I spit through clenched teeth as Stephen pushes off the wall and approaches. “You’re my best friend and I love you Ty, but right now, you’re acting like a dick.”
Please be nice. Please be nice. Please be nice.