“Hi,” I squeaked. I felt completely awkward after our… whatever you wanted to call it, because I refused to think of it as a date.
“I was just heading out,” Rollo stood. He looked at me and winked. “See you later, baby cakes. Take care of my girl,” Rollo clapped Jared’s shoulder.
Jared smiled at me and hooked his thumb over his shoulder. “I’m going to go get some pizza,” he turned to head to the counter but suddenly he was back in front of me. “Please, don’t run, Katy. Especially when I have my back turned.”
“I promised you, no more running. I’ll be here,” I played with my napkin.
“Okay,” he slowly eased away. I could see in his eyes that he was sure that I’d leave as soon as he turned around.
As much as I may have wanted to do that, I couldn’t. Not to Jared.
His back bumped into the counter and with a chuckle, he turned to give the gaping girl behind the counter his order. She was obviously starstruck by Jared, and honestly, I couldn’t blame her. Forget his good looks; there was just some kind of magnetism about him that drew people in, including me.
He finished giving his order and turned his head slightly to peer at me from the corner of his eye. When he saw that I caught him peeking, a grin took over his face. He shook his head and paid for his pizza, dropping the change in the tips jar.
“I’ll bring your pizza out to you when it’s ready,” the girl blushed. “Oh! And here’s your drink!”
“Thanks,” I heard Jared say, before he made his way back to the table.
He grabbed up Rollo’s paper plate and drink cup and tossed it in the trashcan. I blushed, knowing that I should’ve done that.
“So,” Jared said, taking the seat across from me, “what have you been up to today?”
“Um… classes… and some other stuff,” I mumbled, playing with my hair.
“Care to elaborate on this other stuff?” He leaned forward and those chocolate eyes bore into me, pleading with me to spill my guts.
“Not really,” I finally answered.
“Aww, come on, kitten. I honestly want to know and I’m not the kind of person to judge. You know that,” he batted those super long lashes at me.
Oh Lord, I was putty in this man’s hands. What had happened to me?
I took a deep breath and decided to take the plunge. “I was seeing my therapist.”
“I see,” he said, taking a sip of his Mountain Dew. “Been there, done that.”
I blanched.
“Shocking, I know. But as I have eluded to, my past isn’t all that great,” he waved his hand through the air. “A therapist can help… if you open up and talk to them. Unfortunately, I always had trouble with both and I’m going to go out on a wild limb here and say that you do to.”
I sat there, dumbfounded, my mouth opening and closing.
How could one person understand and read me so well? It was like my soul was an open book to him.
“Am I right?” he raised a brow.
“Y-yes,” I stuttered.
“I know how hard it can be to open up to people, especially someone that scribbles everything you say in a notebook,” he said. “But there are certain people out there that you can trust, Katy. You can trust me, and I believe that I can trust you. I just don’t think you’re ready for the truth, yet.” He sighed and leaned back in the chair so that the front legs didn’t touch the floor. “Besides, according to our deal, I can’t tell you my story until you tell me yours.”
“You might be waiting a long time,” I whispered.
“Kittycat, I would wait forever if that’s what you wanted, but there’s a fire in you and I know that soon, the inferno will consume you and you’ll open up to me. Then, you’ll finally be free.”
“Like a phoenix rising from its ashes?” I asked with a raised brow.
“You don’t miss anything,” he said. The girl appeared at our table with Jared’s pizza.
“Here you go. Can I get you anything else?” she asked, in a soft, quiet voice.
“No, but thank you,” he flashed her a smile.
She scurried away.
“Do you mesmerize everyone you come into contact with?” I asked, before taking a sip of my tea. Ew, the water had started to melt, leaving the tea weak.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jared chuckled, grabbing up a slice of pizza covered in… well, everything.
“Oh please,” I crossed my arms over my chest. “All you have to do is bat your eyelashes and people are falling at your feet.”
He gazed at me and batted his lashes. “I don’t see you falling at my feet. They must not be working right,” he prodded his eye. “Maybe, I should try again.”
“You’re full of it,” I laughed. A real, genuine, carefree laugh. The kind of laugh that leaves you with tears in your eyes.
“Finally! She laughs!” Jared exclaimed.
“Thank you, I needed that,” I said, using my napkin to dab at my eyes.
“I’m just glad I could help. I hope you’ll give me the chance to make you laugh more often. You know what they say?”
“What?”
He swallowed a bite of pizza. “’Laughter is the best medicine.’”
“You really believe that?” I asked, not mocking him, but truly curious.
“Yes,” he answered immediately. “Laughter can cure anything, when you laugh, it pushes the darkness out of your soul.”
“You’re a strange dude,” I shook my head.
“I prefer to think of myself as a deep thinker,” he winked. “Not strange.”
“Well, you win on both counts…” I paused, “I don’t even know your last name.”
“Seriously?” he put his pizza down and his mouth hung open. “I never told you?”
“No,” I shook my head.
He grinned. “Why don’t we use tonight as a little, get to know each other better, session. Deal?”
I chuckled, “Deal.”
“My full name is Jared James Reed. I’m twenty-four years old. I have a sixteen-year-old, pain in the butt, little sister named Karlie. She lives with me, and most days I want to ring her neck, but I love the squirt. My best friend, who you saw me with at Tate’s, is Holden. His last name is Marks, since you make such a big fuss about knowing people’s last names,” he winked. “You already know I do MMA and so does Holden. Dan and his wife Patsy, who own Fight For It, took my sister and I in when we were foster kids. Thanks to them, I’ve turned into a halfway decent man. I owe them everything. Now, Katy,” he leaned towards me, his eyes boring into mine, “tell me about yourself.”
I swallowed. I hated talking about myself. I’d rather go to the dentist.
“My name is Katyrina Grace Spencer,” I pronounced it, Kat-a-reena. “I’m an only child, to a single mother that didn’t want to raise a child. I pretty much raised myself, despite the nanny. No pets. Rollo has been my best friend since we were in diapers, because our mom’s are best friends. My mom would love for me to leave school and marry a lawyer or doctor, but that’s just not me. I see a therapist once a week, because I’m messed up, I mean what other reason does one have for seeing a therapist?” I laughed, humorlessly. “I spend most of my time doing homework. I hope to become a counselor so that I can help other people not become like me. Overall, I’m the most boring person you’ll ever meet.”
“No, I actually find you quite fascinating,” he looked at me like he was trying to solve a puzzle. “So, you’ve got mommy issues… and I’d assume daddy issues as well, if he was never in the picture, but… I don’t think that’s the reason you’re so closed off.”
“No?” I raised a brow.
“No, someone else hurt you, Katy. But unlike what you believe, you’re not broken, at least not beyond repair. Just so you know, I plan on picking up all the pieces and super gluing them back together.”
I believed him, I really did, but I also believed that he might shatter me again. I knew if Jared broke me, I’d never be put back together,
again. The pieces would be too fine, like grains of sand, not like the pieces of broken glass that they were now.
~***~
“Promise to call me when you get home,” Jared said, walking me to my car as we left Mario’s.
“I promise,” I laughed.
“I’m serious,” he said.
“I know you are,” I unlocked my car. “I’ll see you at Fight For It. The last self-defense class is this week.”
“I’ll see you then,” Jared said, leaning in. For a second, I knew he was about to kiss my cheek, but he pulled away and took his baseball cap off. He rubbed his hair and then pointed at me. “Call me.”
I watched him get in his car, before I finally found my legs again and got in my own.
It was late when I got back to my condo. I clutched my purse tightly to my chest as I made my way through the parking lot, through the lobby, and into the elevator.
I opened my door and immediately locked it behind me, leaning against it for support.
In just a few weeks, Jared Reed had managed to completely turn my world upside down. I think I would be okay if it never turned right side up again.
13
The last self-defense class came to a close. I was honestly happy that I had went to them, instead of chickening out. However, I was afraid that I would forget everything if I was ever in a situation like ‘the event’ again. Panic, usually turned my brain to mush and all rational thought went out the window.
The room started to clear out and Todd began to pack up the mats and suits. I fixed my ponytail, since little hairs kept escaping and falling in my face.
“Ready, baby cakes?” Rollo asked, holding out my purse.
“Almost,” I said, straightening my shirt. “Now I’m good,” I took my purse and slung it over my shoulder.
Rollo chuckled. “Does this primping have something to do with Jare-bear?”
“No!” I blushed.
“Puh-lease,” Rollo rolled his eyes. “You’re not fooling me. Give me your keys, I’ll head on out and you can see lover boy.”
“Here,” I shoved my keys into his hands. “Get out of here before I do something irrational like haul off and hit you.”
“Love you, too, baby cakes,” Rollo sauntered out the door.
I was turning around to go find Jared, when I walked into a wall of muscle. I started to fall and the guy reached out and grabbed me. I knew he wasn’t trying to hurt me, but I kicked him in the knee anyway. I guess the self-defense classes had worked.
The guy fell down.
“I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to! You scared me!”
“Not a problem,” the guy said, standing. His face was red with embarrassment. “Jared told me to come get you. He didn’t warn me about your kicking abilities though.”
“I’m really sorry,” I said in horror.
“Not a problem. I’m Holden; my douche-bag best friend didn’t bother to introduce us. Maybe, if he had, my pride wouldn’t be hurt right now,” he said with a chuckle, brushing his blonde hair out of his eyes.
“Katy,” I said.
“Oh, I know who you are,” Holden smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. “Jared won’t shut up about you.”
“Dude!” Jared said, coming up behind Holden.
Holden gave me a sheepish look, muttered, “Busted,” and high-tailed it away from Jared.
Jared watched his friend leave, before, grinning at me. “Sometimes, I really wonder why I’m friends with him.”
“I ask myself that every day, when it comes to Rollo,” I leaned against the cement wall. “But my life would be awfully dull without him.”
“True, very true,” Jared smiled.
“I was just coming to find you when I bumped into Holden,” I said.
“Really?” Jared raised a brow. “Normally, I’m the one tracking you down.”
I laughed. “Yeah, well, today was my last day of self-defense classes and I wanted to say goodbye.”
“Are you planning on never seeing me again?” His eyes darkened and his jaw clenched.
“No! I just-”
“Sorry,” Jared said, shaking his head. “It’s just… the thought of never seeing you again, tears me up inside. You have no idea, how many times, I’ve woken up and believed you were a figment of my imagination.”
“Jared,” I whispered, “even if I wanted to go, I’m too wrapped up in you.”
“I don’t want you to be ‘wrapped up’ in me,” he murmured, peering at me with those chocolate brown eyes.
“What do you want Jared?” I asked, sighing.
“I want you to love me,” he whispered, barely audible.
“Oh,” I took a step back.
“Katy, you said you wouldn’t run from me,” he warned.
I took a step forward, so that I was back in front of him. “I’m sorry, I’m not running. I’m just… surprised.”
He clenched his jaw. “I’m not asking you to fall in love with me today, Katy. That’s not true love. True love, takes time.” He rubbed the back of his head. “One day, I just want you to look at me with love in your eyes, despite my past. I want you to know every dirty little secret about me, and love me anyway.”
Oh, wow.
Darn him, and his way with words. He always left me looking like an incoherent idiot.
“I- I don’t know what to say, Jared,” I stuttered, trying really hard not to run away.
“Don’t say anything at all, sometimes no words, speaks volumes,” his tongue flicked out, wetting his lips.
“O-o-kay,” I faltered.
Jared chuckled. “Anyway, I sent Holden to get you because I wanted to ask you something,” he lifted his shirt to wipe sweat from his face.
My eyes automatically drifted to his sculpted chest. He had that delicious V that dipped down into his shorts. I blushed, when I realized I was gawking at him like an idiot.
“Ask away,” I spread my arms, hoping he hadn’t noticed my blatant staring.
He grinned. “I train here five days a week, and I thought maybe a couple days a week, you’d like to workout with me.”
“I don’t kn-”
“Let me finish, kitten,” he winked. “You know, that Dan and Patsy took me in. I was an angry teenager, mad at the world and mad at myself. Dan brought me here, and taught me how to fight. I’ve found it to be much more therapeutic than talking to some shrink. It allows you to release your anger in a healthy way. Instead of bottling it up inside or taking it out on the people you love.”
What he said made sense. Maybe it would make me feel better to hit something.
“Okay,” I said, with a smile.
“Really?” He looked shocked.
“Yeah, I think it would be good for me,” I nodded.
“Great,” Jared grinned. “I’m here all day, Monday through Friday. I usually don’t start my one on one training with Holden or Dan until five in the evenings, so it would be great if you could come around the same time you’ve been showing up for your self-defense classes.”
“I can do that,” I nodded.
“So,” he rocked back on his heels, “will you come tomorrow?”
I laughed. “Missing me already?”
“You have no idea,” he murmured.
“Yeah, I’ll be here tomorrow.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” he grinned crookedly. “Let me walk you out.”
He held the door open for me and then put his hand over the small of my back, just hovering there, not quite touching, but close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from him.
Rollo was sitting in my car, singing along to the radio. I shook my head.
I stopped outside the driver’s side door and faced Jared. “I’ll… uh… see you tomorrow.”
He chuckled. “Don’t flake on me, that would make me sad and you don’t want me to cry, do you?” he pouted.
“I’ll be here. I swear,” I smiled.
“I’m looking forward to it, more than you can begin to know,”
he leaned towards me, and like the other night, I knew he was about to kiss my cheek, but once again he pulled away at the last second. “See you tomorrow,” he murmured.
“Bye,” I said, getting in my car.
Rollo turned to me and shook his head. “Holy crap, that was intense. He wants you so bad, Katy, and you want him too. I can see it.”
I clenched the steering wheel in my hands. “I do, I’m just afraid of losing myself.”
“Baby cakes,” Rollo said as he put on his sunglasses, “you can’t lose yourself if you’ve never even found yourself.”
~***~
As soon as class was over, I went home and changed into gym clothes, and drove straight to Fight For It.
Jared was sitting in the waiting area, flipping through a magazine. He wore loose shorts and a sleeveless shirt. He looked up when I opened the door and sent me a relieved smile.
“I really thought I was going to have to track you down,” he stood.
I laughed. “Sorry, I didn’t tell you what time I’d get here. I drove straight here after I changed.”
“Couldn’t wait to see me?” he chuckled.
“Something like that,” I blushed.
Jared laughed and waved to Patsy. Then he motioned for me to follow him into his workout room.
The space that Jared called his was huge, there was a boxing ring in the middle of the space and then around that area were different pieces of workout equipment. A treadmill, a bike, and something that I think was called a rower. There were mats covering every surface of the floor and most of the walls had mirrors on them. The entire far left corner was devoted to a bench and about fifty different types of weights.
Jared led me to the right where several punching bags hung from the ceiling.
“We’ll start here,” Jared said, lightly pushing one of the bags so that it swung back and forth. He turned around and grabbed some of that white stuff I always saw on his hands. “I’ll need to do this for you,” he nodded at my hands.
“Oh, okay,” I tentatively held out my hands for him. He lightly touched me, but it was enough to freak me out.
I closed my eyes and kept telling myself that this wasn’t Preston. This was Jared. Jared, who was nothing but kind to me, always looking out for me. Jared wouldn’t hurt me, not like Preston had.
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