Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 32627 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 163(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32627 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 163(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
“Ever since I was a kid, other people would tease me and call me Bessie the Cow. Remember? I think I mentioned this before. They used to moo when I walked by, and even some of the adults would make comments. Those were the worst. They’d say, ‘Oh Bess, you’d be so pretty if you just lost some weight.’ Or ‘Bess, you have such a pretty face, but …’” I feel the sting of tears begin to form behind my eyes and try to steel myself against the sensation.
Both Ben and Brandon look stricken by this confession.
“That’s fucking awful,” Ben growls, his face filling with anger.
“Why are people so shitty sometimes?” Brandon rasps, shaking his head.
I grimace. “Some people back home still call me Bessie the Cow, and honestly? They’d never believe that two gorgeous men like you guys would be interested in a big girl like me.”
It’s hard revealing these facts, and I inhale a deep, shuddering breath. I’m telling the twins this not out of self-pity, but because I want them to understand more about me and what I’ve struggled with. But Brandon and Ben are adamant.
“Well you name the day, sweetheart, and we’ll go back to your hometown and prove just how sexy you are.” Brandon leans across the table and kisses me deeply on the mouth. “In front of everyone. I will ravish you in front of every single high school girl who tormented you.”
I giggle, my eyes still pricking a bit from tears.
“Really?” I ask in a wobbly voice.
“Absolutely,” growls Ben, his eyes heated. “I will rip your clothes right off in front of all those mean girls and devour your pussy until they’re scandalized. But now, it’s your turn to eat,” he commands, looking serious.
I giggle at his comments because they’re just an exaggeration, but I know Ben’s intent. Maybe he won’t ravish me in daylight, but he’s already done it beneath the stars. He and his twin adore my body, and aren’t shy about letting me know.
As a result, I pick up my fork, feeling heartened. I’m not usually so full of doubts, but auditions always make me nervous about my appearance. It’s definitely reassuring to hear that the two men I’ve fallen so hard for do find me attractive, no matter what others might say about my body.
“Well,” I say slowly, “in less dramatic life information, I do have a new audition this week.”
“That’s great,” Brandon enthuses.
“What play?” asks Ben.
“Cinderella!” I tell them, eager to share my excitement. “It’s a musical version, but I’ve got a pretty decent voice. I think I might have a decent shot at the ensemble.”
“Oh, we know you can sing,” Ben says with a wink. “We’ve heard you sing in the shower.”
“You have not!” I giggle, embarrassed but secretly pleased.
“You really get into some of those Broadway numbers. We honestly hadn’t heard most of them before, but I imagine you’re way better than even the stars.”
I shake my head. “Broadway is amazing. I can’t believe you guys haven’t been to New York yet.”
The men laugh easily.
“It’s on our list of places to visit, trust us, honey. Once we slow down enough to take some vacation, we’ll take you there,” Brandon says between bites of dinner. “I’m really curious to see the park in the middle of the city, but overall, it sounds like I place I’d like to visit but not live. All those buildings? All those cars? No thank you, ma’am. I much prefer the vast spaces of Wyoming.”
I perk up.
“But you know I lived there one summer, right? A long time ago, when I was young. I had these dreams that I was going to arrive in NYC and the curtains were going to part. I would be wooed by producers and directors would beg me to star in their plays.”
“What happened?” asks Ben curiously.
I let out a light laugh.
“Well, it wasn’t like that, as you can imagine,” is my reply. “It was a tough summer. Actually, it was pretty awful. I didn’t get any parts, and ended up basically volunteering to clean sets during off-hours.”
“Ugh,” growls Brandon. “But that’s over now. You’re with us, and you won’t be laboring behind the scenes anymore. You deserve to be in front of the audience with your talent.”
I smile at them, my heart warm. After all, Ben and Brandon always have my side, and I appreciate that. They want the best for me, and it only makes me fall in love with them more. As we settle back into an easy conversation over delicious food, I can’t help but count my blessings: I have two wonderful lovers who make me feel cherished, womanly, and cared for. Could life be any more wonderful?
9
Brandon
I chug back a semi-warm coffee, needing the caffeine boost this morning. Ben and I have had a few late nights at the office the last couple of days and no amount of Joe seems to be helping. It’s been almost a week since our homemade steak dinner with Bess, and I find myself missing those easy nights when we could be home at a decent hour.