Men Love Curves: BBW Romance

by Ruby Madden

  “Yeah, I’ll go,” Chase responded to Day’s question though he looked at Rhys as he said it.

  “Well, you young folks have fun. I’m going home to have a glass of wine and get some shut eye.” Pat said, before hugging Day and Chase, and then shaking hands with Rhys one last time.

  ~~~

  Most of the students left their instruments in the now locked conservatory for their matinee performance the next afternoon. Many of them, including Day, Chase, and Rhys, took the L from downtown to Lincoln Park. It was the most uncomfortable and awkward ride Day had ever been on.

  Chase suddenly became uber affectionate, like he used to be more than a year ago. He couldn’t stop touching her or kissing her. It was PDA overload. Even Amy was giving them perplexed looks. The most awkward part was that Rhys stood a few feet away from them, holding onto the metal pole as the train rocked him side to side and watched them curiously.

  Daylen wasn’t sure, because of her lack of knowledge of the world. But her shyness and wallflower like tendencies, made her a pretty good observer of things and people around her. She was pretty sure that there was some silent male, testosterone driven battle going on between her boyfriend and conductor. She’d felt it the moment she’d introduced them. And now, Chase was putting on a show and Rhys was watching his every move for any evidence of falsehood in his feelings for her. Day assumed Rhys wanted to gather as much proof as he could for why it was okay for her to go halfway around the world to further her education.

  Day had been wracking her brain for weeks, on what she should do. If going to London was the best thing for her career, she wanted to do it. Plus, it didn’t help that her relationship and her playing were spiraling downhill, right along with Chase’s behavior and career. She was willing to stay and work on them, together as a couple. But the only problem was, she couldn’t be the only one willing to put in the work.

  She was still on the fence, waiting for something to give her the answer. Her answer came only about an hour later.

  ~~~

  “You can’t tell me that Mozart is better than Beethoven!”

  “The only reason Beethoven has been more revered than Mozart, is because he composed many of his most famous pieces when he was deaf. So that automatically made him the golden child of classical music. But Mozart composed over six hundred works…”

  Day had found herself the mediator of a heated debate over who was the better composer when she heard cheering coming from the kitchen of the loft apartment. She quickly excused herself from the argument before it came to blows and headed towards the sound. The sight that greeted her filled her heart with disappointment.

  Chase was in the middle a keg stand. The party, though probably boring to him, had been mellow and pretty adult for a bunch of college seniors. But the older graduate, who was supposed to be more mature, had turned the celebration into a frat party.

  Two guys that played the tuba and used carrying around the heavy instruments brought Chase’s legs down when he was finished breaking a new record. Chase’s large muscled body wobbled a bit, once he was on his feet. He clumsily high-fived the two guys and then went to fill up more beer in his plastic cup.

  “I bet you stuffy band dudes haven’t seen that before.” Chase slurred slightly.

  Day was humiliated. She couldn’t believe that Chase would ruin her night by getting wasted at their opening night after party. She knew it would be only a matter of a drink or two more and she’d have to get help to carry him out to a cab. It was obvious that it was time to go.

  Someone came to stand beside her and pulled her eyes from the trainwreck that was her boyfriend and long-time best friend, who was now a stranger. Day looked up to see Rhys standing next to her. A dark eyebrow was quirked up and a telling smile pulled at his firm lips.

  “Looks like he’s having a great time,” Rhys observed.

  “Yes!” Day blurted out though it was obvious that she wasn’t responding to what he’d just said.

  Rhys looked down at her. The look said, “Go on.”

  “Yes, I want to go to London.” Day informed him, firmly.

  “Done. Let’s work on getting you ready.” Rhys grinned broadly.

  “First things first.” Day looked over at Chase, chugging the rest of his beer.

  First, I have an unpleasant discussion ahead of me.

  ~~~

  They walked into their apartment forty-five minutes later. Well, Chase stumbled into the apartment. Day looked around at the space that didn’t feel like hers. It never did. It didn’t even feel like Chase’s. The condo was for someone else. For the person Chase thought he was. For what he thought Daylen wanted.

  Chase flopped down on the couch and reached for the remote for the huge flat screen television. Day took a deep breath, before broaching the subject.

  “Chase wait. I need to talk to you about something important.” Day said nervously.

  “What’s up?” He looked up at her groggily, letting his hand with the remote flop onto his lap.

  “I-I was accepted into the Master’s program at the Royal College of Music.” Day started.

  “That’s awesome, babe. Congrats.” Chase smiled and then turned back to the remote.

  “Wait. There’s more.” Day wrung her hands, anxiously. “See the school is in L-London. A-And I’ve said y-yes,” she stuttered out.

  “Wait…what?” Chase sat forward on the couch, finally giving Day his undivided attention. The fog of alcohol cleared slightly.

  “I’m going to London to get my masters. It’s a two-year program.” Day clarified her stomach in knots.

  “So you mean to tell me, that you applied and decided to go to a school thousands of miles away, and you didn’t even talk to me about it?” Chase asked incredulously.

  “Y-Yes. It’s the chance of a lifetime.” Day began her argument.

  “And who the hell gave you this idea? That British dude you introduced me to. What was his name, Sir Nigel McFancy-Pants Billingsworth or some shit like that?” Chase pushed off the couch quickly and ran a hand over his buzzed hair, and then down his gorgeous face.

  “He said, he’d mentor me.” Daylen defended.

  “Fuck, Day! Of course he said he’d mentor you, he wants to get close to you. He was eying you up like fucking tea and crumpets!” Chase shouted and glowered at her snort of nervous laughter. “It’s not fucking funny, Day! I stayed in this godforsaken state for you! With all its shitty memories. I could’ve tried to go with another team, but I wanted to be close to you. And now you’ve decided to go to the other side of the world? You didn’t even talk to me about it. You went behind my fucking back!”

  “I didn’t know what to say! And you’re never around to talk to me anyway. Always afraid that I’m going to get on your case.” Day railed right back.

  “That’s because you fucking nag me to death. I’m a grown ass man! I don’t need you mothering me.” Chase growled.

  “You don’t act like it.” Day scowled at him. “A grown ass man could drink without getting annihilated every damn day!”

  “So what?! I like to drink. It’s no big deal.” Chase argued.

  “Chase, you don’t even see the problem. You’re so in denial.” Day reached out her hands, imploring him to hear her.

  “Who the fuck said you were so perfect?!” Chase yelled.

  “I’m not perfect! But I will not end up like your mother. Miserable and watching you drink yourself to death like your father.” Day had said the words before she realized what she was doing.

  “Get the fuck out,” Chase said under his breath, deceptively calm.

  “Chase-”

  “GET THE FUCK OUT!” He roared.

  Day flinched and stepped back as if he’d hit her. Her heart squeezed painfully, her stomach dropped, and her eyes instantly filled with tears. She stepped towards their bedroom to pack her things, but he stepped in her way. His fists were clenched at his sides and the green flecks in hi
s light brown eyes glowed with fire.

  “I-I need to get my things.” Day’s voice wobbled with tears.

  “Why do you need clothes, when it looks like you’re just gonna be whoring yourself out to your British pimp.” Chase sneered.

  Daylen’s hand shot up and slapped his face so hard her palm stung. Chase’s face barely moved and she struck him once more.

  “Fuck you, Chase!” Day screamed. “You put me through hell for more than a year. Every fucking time you leave this condo, I think it might be the last time I see you!” She choked on a heart-wrenching sob but continued. “I didn’t know if you’d be found in a ditch somewhere. Or crash that damn sports car into something and kill yourself. I can’t continue to sit by and watch you ruin your life. I’d stay for you. I’d put my career on hold for you. If you even attempted to get better. But you won’t. And I…and I can’t watch the boy I l-love turn into a man I hate. A man he would hate.” The dam broke and Day sobbed as Chase blinked back his own tears. “Now let me pass.”

  Chase slowly stepped to the side and Day ran into their bedroom. She grabbed some luggage and threw whatever she thought she needed into the suitcases. If she left anything behind, she’d come back to get it later, though she hoped she didn’t have to come back. She wasn’t so sure she could handle seeing him again.

  Chase stood in the doorway, silently watching her. She could tell that he wanted to stop her. He wanted to apologize. He wanted to be better. Day knew him well, so through her tears, she also saw his pride forcing his silence. It was the final nail in the coffin of their relationship. If he couldn’t even fight for her, for their relationship. It was clear that he wasn’t going to fight for himself either.

  Day zipped up the suitcases and rolled them quickly to the door. She stood there with her eyes squeezed shut, facing the closed door for several beats. Day could feel him only inches behind her. She waited for any clue that he wanted her to stay. Tell me to stay dammit! Fight for me!

  Her lungs burned as she held her breath. She felt his breath on her neck, blowing the fine hairs on her nape. Day felt him move behind her and she opened her eyes to see his thick corded arm reach for the doorknob. Without a word, Chase opened the door and held it open. A painful sob burst from her lips at the cruel gesture.

  Tears blinded Day as she ran out the door and down the hall. The sounds of glass crashing reached her ears as she stepped into the elevator. The doors slid closed, ending the agonizing noise coming from the condo and closing the chapter to that part of her life. To her life with Chase. To her childhood.

  Adulthood never felt so shitty.

  Continue Reading in Catching Day…

  BEAR AND BEAR ALIKE

  By

  MARIE MASON

  CHAPTER ONE

  Two black jaguars prowled through the thick foliage behind a partially completed office complex on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia. Lifting their noses, they scented the air, always aware of the danger that surrounded them. They smelled nothing but the red Georgia Clay. If the security guard followed the same routine he had for the past several weeks, he would be inside the office trailer eating his supper and of no threat.

  With a shimmer of light by a giant oak, the animals disappeared and two black haired women appeared in their place. The women quickly donned the clothing they’d carried around their necks while in animal form. They’d done the same thing for the past month. Steal onto the construction site and wait. Always waiting.

  “He’s not coming.” The woman nearest the tree, Abigail Sorenson, wadded up the plastic bag she’d used to transport her clothing and stuffed it into the back pocket of her jeans. She and her sister, Emma, were once again on the Blackwood brothers’ property. For the last time.

  “He’s not dead, Abby.”

  Conviction filled her sister’s voice, and Abigail knew Emma wanted to believe that. She wanted to believe that. But they’d left their father beaten and bleeding in another city over two months ago. According to their plan, they should have already moved onto the next town without him. They should have packed up and kept running and prayed their father would catch up with them.

  They’d barely escaped discovery when the Blackwoods had caught a jackal and his cronies stealing supplies and sabotaging equipment on the site. The women had known what was happening and had done everything to quietly discourage the other shifter, but they couldn’t afford to go to the authorities. No doubt the bears had turned them over to the Council, the ruling body of all shifters. Every shifter species had a representative on the Council to protect them.

  Abigail snorted. There was no caring Council member for the cats. The hyena who represented them was in the back pocket of Henry Jacobson, the Panthera, who ruled the prides in the southern part of the United States. Anyone who opposed him met a swift and untimely demise.

  Like their mother.

  And, now, possibly their father. She pushed those thoughts away. Her father had to still be alive. If he wasn’t… she couldn’t go there. Not yet. They still lingered in Atlanta for one, well, two other reasons—Ryland and Ryker Blackwood, Abby’s mates. Finding her mates had given them a glimmer of hope they had never had before. Not that she planned on acknowledging her mates. Having a mate, or even mates, would not keep Emma safe.

  She tugged at the hem of her lightweight shirt. It was early fall and the temperature was still pleasant. Thanks to her chunky figure, she’d never be a beach bunny, but she loved the feel of the hot rays against her skin and preferred the warmer climates further south. Instead of enjoying herself on a warm sandy beach, she’d find a large rock in some out-of-the-way place and sun herself—in both human and cat form. She hadn’t done that in ages.

  After they changed clothes, the women jogged to the nearly completed building. Emma watched as her sister lifted the large metal gate on the service elevator and glanced nervously at the office trailer. She didn’t think the guard could hear them. The buds to his iPod were practically glued to his ears. Not the smartest behavior considering the trouble the Blackwoods had experienced the last few months. She stepped inside the elevator behind her sister and pushed the big red button to take them to the third floor.

  Their floor, she thought fondly. It was here that Abigail’s mates had discovered her sister’s scent and she had discovered theirs. Emma felt a sharp pang of jealousy and envy blossom in her heart. Her sister had not one, but two, great big bear shifters to love and protect her. Oh, her feelings weren’t because she begrudged her sister her mates, but because she would never have one. Genetics and circumstances had conspired together to ensure that would never happen.

  The rattle of the metal cage rang loudly through the night air and she cringed. Too bad they couldn’t have jumped up here in their cat form. They were stronger and faster as cats. Unfortunately, Emma’s human form was not as sleek and elegant as her cat.

  Once on the third floor, the sisters gravitated to the side with the best view of the city. She grinned at Abigail and sat down to dangle her feet over the edge. Hesitating only a few moments, her sister joined her. Just a few years ago, heck, just a few months ago, her sister would have scolded her and pulled her away from the edge. Emma was the daredevil, the risk taker. Almost the complete opposite of Abigail. Her sister wasn’t exactly a stick-in-the mud, but she did need to lighten up a bit. She weighed the pros and cons of everything she did. Of everything they did.

  The concrete floor was cool beneath Emma’s legs and a gentle breeze blew across her face. It was just enough in the still night. She watched the lights from the Atlanta skyline waver and twinkle in the distance. She was a jaguar shifter and being up high made her feel comfortable. Secure. Safe. That was almost laughable. She and her sister might never be safe again.

  Emma knew her sister was right. Their father wasn’t coming and they needed to leave Atlanta. But, Emma believed something her sister didn’t. The Blackwood brothers could help them. Fate had sent the sisters to this city for a reason
.

  And she was not about to let Abigail screw that up.

  After a lifetime of pretense, the girls were masters at camouflaging their scent. The bears couldn’t track them past the woods in the back of the building, and Abigail refused to seek them out. She wanted nothing to do with her mates. Time to put her plan into action.

  With a casual air, Emma rose and strolled around the floor. As she walked, she rubbed herself against the walls, along the iron girders, anywhere she could leave her sister’s scent. She always wore Abigail’s clothing. While most sisters loved to swap jeans and sweaters, Emma wore her sister’s clothing to hide a secret.

  Tonight, she’d deliberately worn clothes saturated with Abigail’s scent. She prayed the bears would find the scent and follow the trail.

  Tonight, Emma had decided to provide fate with a helping hand. This was the last time she could help the lug-headed animals. She’d be lucky if she could convince Abigail to stay a few more days. Her sister was stubborn, determined to protect Emma no matter what.

  Her sister should have learned by now, Emma was just as stubborn. She would not be the reason her sister didn’t get her happily-ever-after. She just hoped her efforts tonight would be enough.

  ~*~

  Ryland and Ryker Blackwood stood on the third floor of the office complex on the outskirts of downtown Atlanta. All twelve floors were in various stages of completion. The project had fallen behind thanks to the recent trouble on the site. Another construction firm owned by a jackal shifter had set out to destroy the reputation of Blackwood Brothers’ Construction. All because they had won a government contract.

  Granted, the contract was worth a couple of million dollars, but it wasn’t worth the potential loss of life that would have occurred if the jackal had been successful. The jackal and his followers had damaged iron girders and sabotaged the concrete mix being used in the hopes that the building would collapse once it was occupied. If that had happened, the Blackwood brothers would have been ruined.