Hot Stuff

First, a workout with Holley, and then, delicious food.

Sounds like it’s shaping up to be a pretty good night.

Fifteen minutes into our class, Holley makes it known that she’s not a fan.

“Okay, Lauren, I don’t bend like this.” She groans, immediately stopping the advanced stretch the instructor at the front of the gym is telling us to utilize to loosen up our back muscles. “How are humans supposed to bend like this?”

I can’t help but laugh. “I thought you took yoga. That’s huge on flexibility.”

“I said I take yoga. Not that I’m good at yoga. I’m gonna end up killing myself here. I mean, are these women even women?” she questions, glancing around the gym at the other members of the class with both hands on her hips. “How do they move their bodies like that?”

“Just take it at your own pace,” I try to reassure her, bending down to touch my toes and stretch out my quads. “It’s just supposed to be fun.”

“Fun for a sadist, maybe, sure.”

I laugh. “Holley.”

“What? They are literally flipping, Lauren. Twisting. Doing kung fu moves while upside down, in the air.”

“They were gymnasts. It’s muscle memory.”

“You were a gymnast too. Do your muscles have that memory?”

I shrug.

“Are you serious?” Her eyes nearly bug out of her head. “You can do that shit?”

“Some of it.”

“Jesus. I bet the sex between you and Garrett is outrageous. Tell me it’s outrageous.”

“Holley!”

“What? Come on. Take pity on a woman. I’ll never know Garrett Alexander’s ability to give pleasure. I need to imagine that it’s above my skill level anyway.”

“Holley, you’re married to Jake. You don’t need to be fantasizing about Garrett.”

“I know. I know how hot my husband is. But, come onnn, Lauren. You’ve seen Garrett. The world has seen Garrett. Just give me a little, tiny nugget. What’s his best move? What kind of positions do you two manage? Is it something like Reverse Matrix Cowgirl Backbend?”

A shocked—and totally amused—snort escapes my nose. “Holley.”

“I’m a reporter! This is just me being investigative.”

I roll my eyes, but I have to admit, it feels so nice to have a girlfriend who makes me laugh and smile that I can’t help but share. Just a little. “It’s…sometimes bendy.”

“Oh my God, I knew it.” She tosses both hands up in the air. “You guys are probably Olympic-level sex-letes.”

“I’m starting to get scared, Holley.”

She waves me off and stretches down to touch her toes. Despite a valiant effort, she still comes up about six inches short. “Listen, just face it. You’re a beautiful person in a secret relationship with a beautiful person. I’m the paparazzi. This is a natural progression of conversation.”

“I’m just a regular woman.”

“With natural double D breasts and the ability to manipulate her body wildly.”

I snort. “Holley!”

“Okay, okay, I’ll drop it. For now. But you’d better get used to it, girlfriend. Someday, when other people know that you and Garrett are a thing, you’re going to be getting these kinds of questions from more than just me.”

Someday, when people know Garrett and I are a thing…

My heart jolts. Someday. I wonder when I’m going to be ready for people to know—for my dad to know. I know I have to tell him soon—I promised Garrett—but with this little warning from Holley, I’m starting to wonder if I’ll ever be ready.

February 14th

Lauren

After a long day at work full of hearts and chocolate and multiple deliveries of flowers to the doctors’ office, I pull into Garrett’s driveway and shut off my car to head inside.

None of the special deliveries was for me—much to Rebecca’s chagrin—but I didn’t let it bother me at all.

It’s kind of hard to expect a guy to send you obvious tokens of affection to a public location when you’re trying to keep your relationship a secret.

Also, I’m an idiot for not growing the balls to tell my father yet. I know.

Garrett’s running behind after picking up Hayden from some after-school activity, something I know from the text message I got when I was only a mile away, but I was given explicit instructions to go in the house, change out of my work clothes into the comfy clothes I brought, and then go on out to the backyard with Chloe and Sarah where they were supposed to be setting up for the backyard movie projector night.

After one deep breath, that’s what I set out to do.

Gathering the grocery bags and my tote with a change of clothes from the back seat, I climb out of the car, slam the door, and head right for the front door. It’s unlocked, just as Garrett told me it would be, so I push it open and step inside, carefully calling out to the girls, just in case they’re inside and my arrival might scare them.

“Sarah? Chloe?”

Neither answers, and I can hear the music coming from the backyard, so I venture down the hall into the kitchen, toss my groceries on the counter, and then continue down the hall to the half bath to change my clothes.