by Aly Martinez
“I told you I’m not going to work today. So just relax and let me take care of you.” He put his hands on his hips, but his eyes were dancing with excitement.
“You can’t miss work. And why are you looking at me like that?”
“’Cause I have a secret,” he said proudly.
“Is it that you won the lottery? Because I will repeat: you don’t get paid if you don’t go to work.”
“I’m quitting my jobs.”
“Okay, I’m having you committed. Maybe it’s too many punches to the head or something, but you have definitely lost your mind.”
He barked out a laugh. “Nope. I got a new job.” His smile was so wide that I worried his lips wouldn’t be able to handle the stress.
“Um, what kind of new job?” I asked suspiciously.
“It pays double what I was making before. The boss is a good guy, although he can be a real asshole sometimes. It’s not far from here, so I’ll be able to save on gas money. Oh, and you’re off duty for taking the boys to the gym in mornings.”
“It pays double?”
“Eight hundred a week.” He continued with the weird smile and evasive answers.
“Stop screwing with me. What the hell kind of job is this?”
He seemed to be enjoying my frustration, but he finally spilled it. “Slate’s gonna bankroll me so I can go pro.”
“What?” I breathed in shock.
Somehow, Till’s smile grew impossibly wider.
“Shut up. Are you serious?”
“Yep.” The pride on his face as he answered with that one syllable was something I’d never seen him wear, but God, it fit him.
“Holy shit! Till, you’re gonna be a professional boxer!” I squealed, and he started laughing. “I want to hug you so bad right now, but I’m too afraid to move.”
The tears welled in my eyes, but for the first time in a long while, they were because I was truly happy. After years of busting his ass, Till was finally getting something he wanted. And it was huge.
“Get over here and hug me!” I demanded.
“Okay, okay. If you insist.” He crawled back into bed and gently wrapped his arms around me.
“You’re going to be amazing! I know it.”
“God, I hope so. Slate gave me the week off and said he’d send the contracts and my first check over today.” He kissed the unmarred corner of my mouth. “Let me take you out to dinner tonight. It will be like our first real date. Oh, hey. You want to get married? My new job has health insurance too.”
My heart stopped. I died. Croaked. Kicked the bucket. Bought the farm. All of it.
The amount of times I had dreamed of Till Page asking me to marry him, by all accounts, should have been embarrassing, but never once in my numerous dreams was the proposal ever followed by, “My new job has health insurance.”
“Um, did you just ask if I wanted to get married . . . so I could use your health insurance?”
“I asked you out on a date too. Don’t forget about that.”
“Okay, so I’m going to give you a little warning that will probably benefit you greatly in the future.” I painfully rolled to face him. “If you ever ask if I want to get married and it’s not followed by ‘because I love you eternally’ or ‘I can’t breathe without you,’ or hell, I will take ‘because your body has ruined me for all others’.”
He chuckled, and I arched an eyebrow that quickly silenced him.
“I will have the freckle from under my boob permanently removed.”
His smile quickly went flat. “You wouldn’t!” he hissed.
“Wanna bet?”
He narrowed his eyes, and I narrowed mine right back. The stare-down was short-lived because he broke it with a kiss.
A gentle yet still toe-curling kiss.
“Okay. Point taken. However, just so you know, I do love you eternally.” He kissed me. “And I can’t breathe without you.” He kissed me again. “And your body has most definitely ruined me for all others.” He squeezed my butt. “And one day, I’ll be serious when I ask you to marry me. So start practicing your yes, and let me take you out tonight.” He kissed me again, slipping his tongue into my mouth.
“No,” I answered when he pulled away.
“No? Well, there’s no way I’ll ever propose with you throwing no around all willy-nilly.”
I laughed. “Till, I can’t even get out of bed. Much less go out to dinner. I’m sure I look like hell. Let’s order celebratory Chinese food and rent a movie. Then save the date for when I can properly sex you up afterwards.”
“On the first date?” he mocked in shock.
Just as I was about to give him a detailed explanation of what he could expect after that first date, there was a knock at the door, which was quickly followed by Quarry’s agitated voice.
“Till! Wake up! You’re late for work.”
“Should we mess with them for a little while—tell them I got fired?”
“Oh my God, that’s mean!” I slapped his chest, but I couldn’t say no to the excitement dancing in his eyes. “Okay, but just for a few minutes.”
“I’ll get a real job,” Flint announced as he paced around the room. “I can quit the gym and start working full time after school.”
“Me too,” Quarry agreed from his place at the edge of the bed.
“I just don’t get why they would fire you. You’ve never been late before.” Flint began chewing on his thumbnail as someone knocked at the front door.
“I’ll get it.” Till flew off the bed, leaving me with the fallout from his cruel joke.
I felt horrible watching them stress about how to keep the rent paid. “He didn’t get fired. He’s messing with you,” I announced after he walked out of the room.
“That asshole!” Flint gritted out with a mixture of relief and anger.
“Pretty much.”
“Son of a bitch!” Quarry shouted, rising to his feet.
Flint pushed a hand against his chest and shoved him back down just as Till rejoined us.
“So listen, Till. I know this is a little unconventional, and I didn’t want to tell you, but given the current circumstances, I think I have a solution.” Flint said.
“Oh yeah. What’s that?” Till bit his lip to fight back a smile as he settled back on the bed, tearing a large, manila envelope open.
“I made, like, two hundred bucks stripping for this bachelorette party last weekend. I lied about my age, but those old women loved that I was young. One even offered me an extra hundred to take it all off. You should have seen her eyes when I did. I could do it, like, once a weekend. My body could pay our rent.”
I had to give it to Flint. His face was so serious. I knew he was screwing around, but I’d almost bought into his story.
“Excuse me?” Till dropped the envelope.
Quarry joined the fun. “Hey! I could be your bouncer!”
I thought Till’s eyes were about to pop out of his head.
“You did what?” Till took an angry step toward him.
A smile spread on Flint’s face as he said, “Your jokes suck.”
Till let out a relieved breath. “Your body will pay the rent?” he mocked as he pulled Flint into a headlock. “We’d be homeless in no time if I counted on that.”
For a full ten minutes, they wrestled on the floor while Quarry acted as the ref.
God it felt good to have them back.
When Flint finally tapped out, Till climbed back into bed beside me.
“All right, so I didn’t get fired. But I did get a new job.” He threw his arm around my shoulders and puffed his chest in pride. “Slate’s bankrolling my transition to pro.”
Flint’s eyes jumped to mine for validation that this wasn’t another one of Till’s jokes. When I gave him a nod, his jaw slacked open.
“Shut up,” he breathed.
Quarry did what Quarry always did. He let out a curse. “No. Fucking. Way.”
Till didn’t even bother to scold him as he responded, “Way.”
“Seriously?” Flint asked, still in disbelief.
“You’re a professional boxer!” Quarry shouted, jumping up on the bed.
“Oh, God!” I cried out as my body shifted with the bounce.
Flint swiftly plucked him off the bed by the back of his shirt.
“Sorry,” Quarry said sheepishly.
Till’s hands patted over me as if he were inspecting for new wounds. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I’m fine. Don’t worry about it, Q. Go back to the boxing thing,” I encouraged even as my ribs throbbed.
“Right.” Till stared at me, uneasy, but he dragged his attention back to the boys. “So things are gonna change around here. I’m gonna be busy, but my hours should at least be more predictable. Hopefully, I can swing it so I can work out while you guys are in school. Then I can help you in the afternoons. The other good news is Slate doubled what I was making before. So, Flint, I want you to keep whatever you make at the gym from now on, and, Q, I want to start giving you an allowance for helping out around the house.”
“Sweet!” Quarry pumped his fist.
“Oh, and Eliza’s moving in.”
“What?” I shouted, sitting up and immediately regretting it. “Shit!” I hissed, collapsing back against the pillows.
“See? She’s ecstatic about it.” Till slid an arm under my shoulders and gently dragged me back into his side.
“When exactly did we decide that I’m moving in?”
“Oh, good idea! She can cook for us all the time now,” Quarry announced.
“Yep. And she hates your nasty-ass ramen too, so at least I’d have reinforcements in that department,” Flint added.
“Okay, then. It’s settled. We’ll move her stuff next weekend.”
“What the hell just happened? I did not agree to move in with you. Last week, you were telling me how we couldn’t be together, and now, you want me to move in?”
“Don’t give me that look. You told me forever.” He smirked.
“Well, what if it doesn’t work out? I’ll end up homeless!” I snipped back, but waves of warmth were crashing in my chest. I’d fought so hard for so long to get him to take a chance, and there he was, jumping all in.
“What kind of asshole do you think I am, Eliza? I’d never let you be homeless.” He looked hurt, and I instantly felt guilty. “I’d at least let you sleep on the couch,” he teased.
“How about we just chill and let things play out for a little while. There’s no rush, Till. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Then why wait? You’re the one who pointed out that we’re basically married. And after that shit last night, there is not a chance in hell you will ever sleep alone again. I’ve got the boys, so it makes more sense for you to move in with us.”
“Is this about you wanting to live together or you worrying about me? Because if this is about my safety, then I’ll pass.”
“Why can’t it be both? Yeah, I’d kinda like to know you’re safe every night. But I also love you and want to spend as much time with you as possible. Why are you even arguing about this? Word on the street is that you’re pretty obsessed with me.” His lips lifted in my favorite way.
“Obsessed? I’m not the one who has spent the last eight years climbing through windows. If there is a stalker among us, it’s most definitely you.”
“I don’t stalk. I keep tabs.” He winked.
While I didn’t get his stupid joke in the least, I still laughed with both arms holding my stomach. I looked up, and Flint and Quarry’s eyes were still asking the question they were all waiting for the answer to.
“What happens if I say no?” I asked Flint.
“It would be unfortunate. But your belongings have already been scheduled for relocation.” He cracked his knuckles. “Welcome home, Eliza.” He gave a grand gesture around the room.
“So, what do you say?” Till tilted my head back and stared deep into my eyes.
“I think it’s too soon.”
“Quarry, you’re up!” he called out, never dragging his gaze away from mine.
“Puh, puh, please, Eliza. We’re hungry,” Quarry exaggerated, full-on batting his long, black lashes.
Till bit his lip to stifle a laugh, but Flint let it fly freely.
I rolled my eyes. “You’re moving my stuff regardless of what my answer is, right?”
“Yep.”
“Absolutely.”
“Hell yeah.”
I once again rolled my eyes, but an impossibly wide smile gave me away.
“She’s in!” Till declared.
He wasn’t wrong.
FOR THOSE FIRST FEW WEEKS after Eliza moved in, I was a nervous wreck pretty much every minute of every day. I waited for her to disappear, proving my theory that she had no business in reality. But each morning as she woke up in my arms, I slowly started to believe that I could possibly have it all.
On the surface, things went right back to the way they always had been between us. Except, instead of sneaking in her bedroom window, I was sneaking into her shower. I couldn’t get enough of her. After years of fighting my constant desire to be with her, I couldn’t keep my hands off her. She must have felt the same way, because if I was within her reach, she was touching me too. Her body was healing, but she still offered it to me—and I took it every fucking time.
Derrick Bailey was officially removed from our lives. He had been arrested and found guilty of assault. Not even dear old daddy had been able to get him off the hook, and lord knows he tried. Thanks to Slate speaking at his sentencing, his punishment was rather lengthy. It still didn’t feel like enough for what he had done to my Eliza, but I breathed easy every night knowing he could never touch her again—not as long as she slept at my side.
After my week off to help Eliza heal, I formally began professional boxing at On The Ropes. Slate wouldn’t schedule my first fight until he felt I was ready, and if the way he was training me was any indication, he had been right in holding me back. I was struggling to keep up with the unbelievable regimen he’d created for me. I’d worked hard my entire life, but this was something else completely. By the time I got home from the gym each night, I could barely keep my eyes open. But every day, as I stared up at that painting on the wall, I knew it would be worth it. He couldn’t work me hard enough to erase the image I had of someone painting my name into that blank. I was hell-bent on making it happen.
With the new paycheck, things loosened up around the Page house. We weren’t wealthy by any stretch of the imagination, but for a crew of kids who truly knew what it meant to be broke, it sure felt that way. Especially on occasions when we could afford to actually celebrate.
“Happy birthday, Quarry!” Eliza clapped as the waiter brought plates for the cake she’d spent half the day baking.
“Eleven feels pretty good.” He rubbed his stomach, sliding down to recline in the booth.
Flint laughed beside him as he polished off his burger.
“I’m serious. I could get used to this life.” Q dragged his finger across the side of the cake, scooping off the frosting and shoving it into his mouth.
“So I was thinking. What about Till ‘The Terminator’ Page?” I asked.
“Lame!” Eliza and Flint vetoed.
“Hey. I kinda like that.”
“Thank you, Q!”
We high-fived over the table.
My new boxing nickname had been the hot topic of conversation over the previous few weeks. Slate had put a special clause at the end of my boxing contract stating that, “Till ‘The Kill’ Page” wasn’t cool enough.” Yes. He’d actually used that exact sentence in a legally binding document. He’d thought that it was pretty funny, but when I’d asked if he was kidding, he’d answered with a resounding no.
We couldn’t decide on anything. It felt like all the good ones had already been used or just didn’t fit. Earlier that afternoon, Slate had informed me that my new name was due by the next day or I was fired for breach of contract. He’d said it with
a smile, so I doubted that he was serious, but I’d decided to play it safe just in case.
“Vicious Fury?” Flint suggested then popped a fry into his mouth.
“Fists of Fury!” Eliza shouted excitedly.
“Been used already, baby.” I dropped my napkin on my plate and draped an arm around her shoulders. “The Whirlwind?”
Quarry vetoed that one. “Stupid.”
“Okay, what about Till ‘The Strong Will’ Page,” Eliza suggested as she began cutting the cake.
“Oh no.” Flint threw his hands over his mouth, feigning fear. “You’ll never beat Till Page, he has a . . . a”—his chin quivered dramatically—“strong will!”
We all busted out laughing. Well, everyone except Eliza. She threw a candle.
“Okay . . . how about Till ‘The Lights Go Out’ Page? Come on! You have to admit that’s a good one!” Quarry exclaimed before shoveling chocolate cake into his mouth.
“Oh! I like the play on your name in that one,” Eliza replied, passing me a slice.
I rubbed my chin, pretending to consider it. “Well, I love it. My only concern is what if I fight someone who isn’t afraid of the dark like Q?”
“I’m not afraid of the dark!”
Even Eliza laughed that time. “The Fatal Kiss.” She leaned up and gently pecked my lips.
It caused Quarry to make a gagging sound, Flint to yell, “Veto!” and me to drop my hand into her lap. Her eyes went wide and her cheeks heated as I snuck it under the edge of her skirt.
“The Hell Greeter! You know, because of you and the whole purgatory thing.” Quarry’s eyes flashed to Eliza, who was biting her lip as she pried my hand from between her legs.
“I feel like this is purgatory,” I mumbled. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.” I slid out of the booth, dragging her with me.
I threw an arm over her shoulders and the four of us walked to Eliza’s car. I was genuinely happy for quite possibly the first time in my life. I’d just paid for my entire family to have dinner at decent restaurant, and I hadn’t had to save for six months to do it. I had a job I loved, Quarry had a birthday present waiting for him at home, and Eliza was going to end the night calling my name. Life was good.