Bodybuilders for the BBW

by Sam Hall

I’d walked in ready to adopt a cat, but as soon as I locked eyes with that cutie, the simple, easy to look after, far more self-sufficient cat idea was shoved aside. There was only her. Bronson’s eyes were trained on his mistress, and I had never felt such a moment of empathy with an animal. He stared at her like she was his whole world, and why the hell not? No doubt his fascination with the girl was for completely different reasons, but I saw that cloud of red hair and freckles, bloody freckles, her brown eyes almost hidden by her glasses, and was drawn closer.

Like she has curves for days and I would walk over broken glass to rest my head on her thighs and feed her bonbons or something.

Sometimes I felt like making healthy food choices was the rent I had to pay for existing as a plus sized woman. Rhys didn’t seem to share that view at all, just looking at me expectantly. I shook my head, smiling despite myself and that just seemed to make him even happier.

Never, ever again would I let some idiot treat me like an afterthought. I did not have to accept anyone’s scraps. I deserved respect, love, to be someone’s number one priority, and I refused to settle for anything less. With a sharp nod at my reflection, I turned the car on, blew my nose, and then drove home.

“I hated that you were with Dave. He wasn’t fit to touch the ground you walked on, let alone you. I wanted to break every single one of the fingers that touched you, punch his teeth down the throat that dared to speak your name.”

“Because all my life I’ve dreamed of finding that girl, y’know? Not just someone funny or pretty, but the one that steals the breath from your lungs. The girl you feel that instant connection with and it only gets better over the years. Deepens, strengthens, becomes something so powerful nothing can withstand it.”

“I just wanted someone to love. Someone to belong to. Someone I can look after, protect and make feel safe, and maybe…” I swallowed hard. “Maybe she’ll do the same for me.”

She bent down and pressed a kiss to the dog’s forehead, forcing his tail to wag even faster. “Anything for my boy.” Goddammit, I would’ve given anything to hear her say something similar about me. Fuck my life, I was jealous of a damn dog.

“Go out with all three of these guys.” Mandie was really warming to this idea. “Go and have fun. Let them fall all over themselves in an attempt to get your attention.” Her elbow jabbed into my ribs. “Do it for the plot.”

“I never wanted to be your rebound. I want to be your safe place. The one you fall into when everything else feels like too much.