Tear Down These Walls

by Sarah Kay Carter

  “My kind of girl,” Trent chuckles, as he sits down next to her. “So, what are you studying anyway?”

  “Art history,” Teagan sighs. “Not my favorite course.”

  “I’m not an art person either,” Trent states.

  Raising her eyebrow, Teagan says, “You have art all over your office at work and your house.”

  “Ah,” he interjects, holding up a finger. “That is my sister’s art. I can appreciate that.”

  “You should have her paint me something,” Teagan giggles. “Have some real art for my apartment.”

  “And what would you like a painting of?” Trent asks.

  She sighs, “Well…..I think it should be of you.”

  Trent snorts, “Well, that’s obvious.”

  “Oh my gosh,” Teagan retorts, rolling her eyes. “I was kidding.”

  “No, seriously, what would you want a painting of?” Trent inquires.

  Shrugging her shoulders, Teagan says, “I have no idea.”

  “I’ll see what I can do,” Trent replies. “The fight is on in an hour. Study away because I will be yelling at the TV when it starts.”

  “Because you can coach him from here?” Teagan chides. “He must have very good hearing.”

  “I kicked his ass……twice,” Trent declares with a wink. “I can tell him what to do.”

  “Why did you stop fighting?” Teagan asks, completely curious.

  There is a heavy exhale, and Trent stares down at the table. “Teagan, baby, I had my reasons. They were good reasons, but that’s for another day Okay?”

  “Yeah,” she replies. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to push.”

  “Hon,” Trent laughs. “You didn’t push. You asked one singular question. I promise, someday I will tell you why.”

  “Well,” Teagan starts, leaning into him. “If you ever fight again, I will put my cheerleading uniform to some good use. I can root with the best of them.”

  A wicked smile spreads across Trent’s face. “Will you wear the bikini?”

  “Sure,” Teagan giggles. “Only if it’s your colors.”

  He stops mid-bite and looks at her. “What do you mean by that?”

  Realizing what she just said, she freezes and then spits out, “Don’t you guys usually have colors?”

  “Not always,” Trent replies. “Why did you say that?”

  “I don’t know,” Teagan mumbles, looking back down at her text book.

  “Teagan,” Trent sternly says.

  “What?” She whispers awkwardly.

  He pauses as he stares at her. “You’re hiding something.”

  “Nope,” she squeaks. “I have to use the bathroom.” Teagan quickly puts down her books and gets up off the couch. Before she can go anywhere, Trent grabs her wrist.

  “How did you know I had colors?”

  She puts her hair behind her ear and doesn’t look at him. “Michael told me.”

  “Liar,” Trent chuckles. “Tell me.”

  Exhaling, Teagan turns around and looks at him. “You’re going to be pissed.”

  “Why?” He asks, looking confused.

  “You said I had free reign of the house, and your bedroom door was open,” Teagan mumbles.

  Trent bursts out laughing….loudly. “You went through my stuff!”

  “No, not drawers or anything,” Teagan whines. “Your closet was open, and I was curious.”

  “And what did you think of my bedroom?” Trent inquires. “Did you roll around on my sheets naked? Please tell me yes.”

  Pouting, Teagan goes, “No. I did want to use your bathroom.”

  “The bathtub or steam room?” Trent asks.

  “Both,” Teagan whispers, turning a dark shade of red.

  “Well, come here,” he says, taking her hand. “I want to show you something.” Trent starts to drag Teagan out of the room. When they get to the steps, he leads her up to the top floor.

  “What are we doing?” Teagan giggles.

  Turning around, Trent smirks, “I am going to show you what kind of a man I am.”

  “What!?” Teagan squeals.

  “I’m kidding,” Trent sarcastically snorts. “I don’t get to share this often, so come here.” He leads her into the bedroom and then the closet.

  “What are we doing?”

  Trent pulls her down to the fighting stuff. “I am going to show these to you. This pair is from my first official UFC fight,” Trent states, pulling a pair out.

  Teagan takes them and looks at them. “These are pretty plain.”

  “Yeah, well, I won that one and every one after that,” Trent sighs happily. “The farther I went along, the more endorsements I had.” He pulls out another pair. “This is the pair that I wore when I knocked that guy out.” She can feel his pride in sharing these with her.

  “So, saying you are undefeated, does that mean you have never lost a fight ever?” Teagan asks, pulling out another pair.

  “Ppppssshhhhh,” Trent scoffs. “Of course I lost, but not once I entered the UFC.”

  “That doesn’t happen often, does it?”

  Trent smiles. “Nope.”

  “So, how much do you make when you win a fight?” Teagan asks.

  “Depends on the fight, the endorsements you get,” Trent answers. “These are the shorts I wore both times when I beat Jed, the guy fighting tonight.”

  “I would have liked to see you fight,” Teagan says, looking up at him.

  Trent smiles down at her. “Have you ever seen a fight?”

  “No,” Teagan replies. “Why?”

  “Wait until you see the fight tonight and then tell me you would like to see me in the ring.”

  “Don’t you always win?” Teagan teases.

  “I did…..” Trent trails off. “That was a long time ago.”

  Teagan reaches over and tugs on his shirt. “I can always spar with you.” Trent looks at her. “Naked.” A devilish smirk passes over his face. Teagan giggles and backs up, “I was kidding Trent.”

  “Nope,” he quips, grabbing at her. Teagan turns around and runs. She isn’t quick enough because Trent has her up in the air and he throws her on the bed.

  “Trent!” She squeals.

  He climbs on top of her and sits on her, pinning her down. “Oh no, no take backs,” he laughs.

  “Get off of me,” Teagan gasps between laughs. “I was kidding!”

  “Come on, if you can pin me, I will buy you a car,” Trent laughs.

  “Shut up,” Teagan snorts.

  Leaning over, Trent says, “I have enough money to buy you multiple cars. Come on, girl. Let me see what you got.”

  “Trent, I don’t know the first thing about trying to pin someone,” Teagan states, giving him a look.

  “Just try,” Trent laughs.

  She pauses, thinks about it and says, “Okay.” Teagan reaches down and takes off her shirt. Trent quickly gets off of her. “What are you doing!?”

  Teagan grins and gets up on top of the bed. “It got you off of me.”

  “Put your shirt back on,” Trent sternly says, though the corners of his mouth are twitching.

  “Lay down,” Teagan quips.

  Trent squats on his knees and says, “Hell no.”

  Teagan steps over by him, “Lay down.”

  “Make me,” Trent laughs.

  Reaching around, Teagan grabs the back of her bra and says, “Lay down.”

  “Teagan,” Trent breathes quietly.

  She steps up to him and presses her knee against his chest. “Lay down,” she whispers breathlessly. He doesn’t move but stares straight up at her. Teagan falls down, so that she is straddling his lap. Her fingers are still on the back of her bra. She bends over and whispers, “Lay down,” in his ear. They sit there pressed up against each other. She murmurs, “I said….lay down.”

  “Teagan,” Trent gulps.

  “Lay….down,” she breathes against his ear.

  He grabs her and falls backwards. Teagan lands on top of him. She
grabs each of his wrists and holds them next to his head. Her chest presses against his, causing goose bumps to flutter across her skin. And his. Bending over, she barely brushes her lips against his. “Trent…..”

  “Yeah….” He whispers.

  “I want a BMW,” she exhales, biting his ear lobe.

  Before she knows it, Trent grabs her and rolls her over onto her back. Teagan can’t even catch her breath before Trent’s lips are on hers. It shocks the hell out of her, but she melts into him anyway. She bucks against him, as she grips her fingers in his hair. Trent presses against her hard. She instantly meets him and lets a soft moan escape from her mouth.

  Trent quickly pulls away and sits up. “Holy shit.” Teagan lays there in a stupor, staring at him. “I’m so sorry Teagan.”

  “Why….I mean….what?” Teagan stutters. “Why are you sorry?”

  “You didn’t ask for that,” Trent stammers, running his hand through his hair. “I just….lost it.”

  “I say, lose it some more,” Teagan replies, reaching for his hand.

  “No,” Trent sternly says, getting off the bed.

  “Yeah, of course,” Teagan snaps, sitting up. She grabs her shirt. “I forgot how much you don’t want me.”

  “Teagan, that’s not it,” Trent moans.

  “Whatever Trent,” Teagan mutters, pulling her shirt back on. “I have to go study.”

  “Teagan,” he sighs, reaching out for her. She jumps off the bed and walks straight out of the room. “Teagan! Stop!” Trent shouts.

  Trying not to cry, Teagan turns around and gasps, “WHAT!?” The first tear falls down, and she wipes it away. “Crap!”

  “Oh shit, don’t cry,” Trent says. He grabs her and pulls her back into the room. Teagan can’t help but burst into tears. “Teagan, baby, it’s not you. God, it’s anything but you.” He draws her into his arms and pulls her back to the bed. Trent sits down, holding her in his lap. “Hey, it’s not you. I would have sex with you right now if you would let me.”

  Teagan starts laughing. “You’re such a liar.”

  “No, honestly, I’m telling the truth. You are one of the sexiest women I have ever known. It’s not that I don’t want you, but I don’t do casual sex anymore. You’re important to me, and I wouldn’t want to ruin that. I am a guy and still think with my other member once in a while. I need to stay focused.”

  “You wouldn’t want to have sex with me anyways,” Teagan whispers into his neck. “I have no clue what I am doing, and you had all these women traipsing through your bed.”

  “Teagan baby,” Trent sighs. “I would gladly sweep you up in my arms and teach you everything I know, but where will that get us?”

  She sniffles into his shirt. “You would miss your fight.”

  He hums, “Great sex with a hot chick or a fight…..gosh, I’m so torn.”

  She giggles and looks up at him, her eyes still wet from tears. “Promise it’s not me.”

  “It’s not you baby,” Trent whispers, brushing her tears away with this thumbs. “You mean a lot to me, and I would never want to jeopardize that.”

  “Okay,” Teagan mutters.

  “Gosh, I wish you could see yourself through my eyes,” Trent sighs. “You are beautiful and smart, so smart. You’re the total package. It doesn’t matter, at all, that you don’t have any experience. That isn’t a bad thing.”

  Teagan looks at him and tears up again. “I don’t want to be alone anymore. I have spent four years alone.”

  “God, I know how that feels,” Trent murmurs. “But, seriously look how far you have come. I can touch you. Hell, I can kiss you, and you are okay with it. This means you have come a long way.”

  “So…..you would have sex with me right now if I asked?” Teagan sniffles.

  He laughs, “Yes, I would.”

  Putting her head back on his shoulder, Teagan whispers, “I like that.”

  “Good,” Trent replies, holding her close. They sit there for a minute just like that. Finally, he whispers, “I can start you a fire, and you can study by the fireplace.”

  That peaks Teagan’s interest. “Fireplace?”

  Trent points over to the wall where a single bookcase sits. “There’s a fireplace behind that.”

  “No way!” Teagan gasps. “Let me see!” He taps her leg, and Teagan springs up. Trent walks her over to it and then pushes the bookcase. It slides to the left to reveal a large fireplace. “That is so cool!” She looks at him. “Why do you have it hidden?”

  “Kya doesn’t know it’s back there,” Trent answers. “Out of sight, out of mind.”

  “Good thinking,” Teagan replies. “We need to make some cocoa and roast some marshmallows.”

  “And tell ghost stories,” Trent laughs.

  With an excited look, Teagan yells, “Yes!”

  “Dork,” Trent snorts. “We can get marshmallows another day. We have a fight to go watch and pizza to eat! I want to see Jed take this guy down.”

  “You will have to explain to me what’s going on,” Teagan says. “I have never seen a fight before.”

  “I will gladly share all of my knowledge,” Trent assures her. “Come on, you need to get some studying done.”

  Teagan grabs his hand and he leads her from the room. “Hey, can I ask a question?” Teagan quips.

  “Sure,” Trent replies.

  “Can I move into your room?” She inquires, running her hands along the wall.

  He stops and looks at her, “Excuse me?”

  “I mean, come on, you have a whirlpool bathtub, steam room shower, and a fireplace in your bedroom. I would never leave there if I were you.”

  “You can use it anytime that you want to,” Trent laughs. “It can be a slumber party.”

  “Sweet!” Teagan exclaims, clapping her hands. “Fuzzy warm pajamas and popcorn.”

  “Or negligées and strawberries,” Trent teases, turning off the light to the bedroom.

  “Okay, Fredrick’s of Hollywood and aphrodisiacs,” Teagan giggles, as they head downstairs.

  Chapter 9

  Teagan’s cell phone whistles, and she looks down at it. She pulls into the parking spot before picking it up. It is a text from Trent telling her not to be late. Teagan rolls her eyes. “I’m outside.” She throws all her stuff in her purse and turns the car off. “Time to kick ass,” she snickers.

  The dojo is lit up brightly like usual. This time there are other groups of people there. Teagan smiles as soon as she sees Trent across the room. She falters a little bit because he is surrounded by a group of girls, but as soon as he sees her, a grin spreads across his face. He brings his hand up and waves his fingers at her. Teagan returns the smile and steps forward to walk over by him.

  Suddenly, Teagan’s cell phone rings, and she stops. Answering it, she says, “Hello?”

  “Hey honey!” Georgia yells.

  “It’s the bride to be!” Teagan exclaims. “How nervous are you?”

  “Oh, I am pulling my hair out. There is so much to do, and I swear I will never get it done in time. Things keep popping up of course.” The frustration is apparent in her voice.

  “Isn’t that how it works?” Teagan giggles, trying to lighten her friend’s spirits.

  There is a snort and Georgia sighs, “Yeah. We already have come across a big snafu.”

  “What’s that?” Teagan asks.

  “Your groomsman fell and broke his leg,” Georgia states. “He can’t stand up in the wedding.”

  “Oh,” Teagan pauses. “So, you need me to sit out. That’s fine. No big deal.”

  “Well no…..” Georgia starts. “We found a replacement, and he fits into his tux and everything.”

  Smiling, Teagan says, “Awesome! That’s good news. Do I know him?”

  “Yeah,” Georgia replies quietly. “It wasn’t my idea, but Dwayne asked Justin.”

  It’s like a punch to the stomach; Teagan can’t even breathe. “You want…..you want me to…..I can’t. Oh god, I can’t do that.”
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  “I knew it,” Georgia sighs. “Dwayne really wants him to stand up, but I really want you, so we aren’t sure what to do.”

  “You asked me first!” Teagan exclaims, covering her mouth when she remembers she is in public.

  “I know!” Georgia emphasizes. “Dwayne keeps saying how bad Justin feels. I guess he keeps trying to apologize to you.”

  “Yeah, my bodyguard told him to leave me alone. How am I supposed to purposely talk to him now?!”

  There is a pause, and then Georgia chirps, “Your bodyguard?”

  “My date is a bodyguard,” Teagan mutters.

  “Your boyfriend’s a bodyguard?” Georgia quips. “Seriously?”

  Teagan looks over at Trent still talking to the group of girls. “Oh, he’s not my…..” Teagan starts and then stops. “Yeah, actually he is. He looks like a Greek god, too. Trent used to fight in the UFC.”

  “Really?” Georgia squeals. “Dwayne may know who he is.”

  “He would if he knows anything about fighting,” Teagan replies. “But don’t tell him. People tend to make a big deal out of it, and Trent isn’t really into talking much about it. Anyway, I can’t stand up with Justin. I don’t want him anywhere near me.”

  Georgia sighs heavily. “I knew that would be your answer. I will talk to Dwayne.”

  “He really can’t expect me to be okay with this!” Teagan raises her voice. “That asshole ruined me!” She quiets down when everyone in the gym turns and looks at her. Teagan’s face turns red. She sees Trent look at her quizzically. “I mean really Georgia. He put my virginity on the fucking internet!”

  “I know, I know,” Georgia sighs again. “I will talk to Dwayne.”

  “You know maybe I don’t want to stand up in a wedding where the groom wants me to stand up with a guy that practically digitally raped me.”

  “Those are harsh words,” Georgia whispers.

  “How else would you describe what he did?” Teagan snaps.

  “He feels awful,” Georgia sighs. “He talks about you all the time.”

  Now that pisses Teagan off. “Well, you know what, you guys can talk about me all you want because you won’t be seeing me! Have a nice wedding!” With that, Teagan hangs up the phone. She grips her phone, and a lump instantly forms in her throat. When her eyes drift up, Trent is staring at her with a concerned look on his face. Tears well up in her eyes, and Teagan turns to run outside.