Submit (Out of the Octagon, #1)

by Lexy Timms

  “This sounds serious,” her father said, sounding uncertain. “But all right. What is it?”

  “I’d like you to offer Aedan a job somewhere, maybe in one of your restaurants.”

  Her father sat back in his chair. “Rosa, why? I’m not going to start supporting your boyfriend, just because he’s too lazy to work or because he likes to hit people.”

  Rosa shook her head. “No, that’s not it at all. Aedan works really hard and he’s certainly not lazy. He’s training to be a professional fighter. This has been his dream for a long time.” She spoke faster, trying to make sure she got everything she needed to say in before he cut her off. “But he didn’t get to graduate high school, so he’s stuck doing menial jobs for a living. He’s been supporting himself for a long time. It’s just...he’s behind on his gym fees or something and if he can’t pay those, he can’t train.”

  “Rosa, slow down. I understand you like this boy, but do you seriously believe he’s going to make anything of himself doing whatever it is he’s doing?”

  “I do. But it’s not just me. He believes it. With his heart and soul, waking and sleeping.” She sat on the edge of the bed, leaning forward. “Dad, do you remember all the stories you told me about shoveling horse manure when you were a kid? How you said you’d one day own a horse, rather than just clean up behind them?”

  Her father looked her in the eye. “It’s not quite the same, Rosa.”

  “Why not? You wanted something more than selling dinette sets and horse manure. Aedan wants something better than a third-floor walk-up and odd jobs on weekends. He wants a life that he can lead doing something that makes him happy. He thinks this is it.” She stopped, sitting back. “I want that for him too. This would help...but...”

  “But what?” Despite his obvious lack of belief in her plan, her father’s tone was gentle. “There’s something else, isn’t there?”

  “I kind of hope it would show him that there’s something else out there, a different way of earning a living that wouldn’t involve the potential of being hurt.” She looked down at her hands. Her voice was barely a whisper as she spoke. “It’s a selfish reason, for me. So maybe he’ll stop fighting.”

  “Does Aedan know that’s how you feel?”

  She shook her head. “No. I could never tell him. I’m trying to be supportive, but I’m having a really hard time doing that when I see him hurt, the bruises or the black eye.”

  Her father was quiet for a long time, finally sitting forward, hands between his knees. “Do you know if he would even accept a job from me?”

  “I’m honestly not sure. But I wanted to know how you felt about it before I talked to him.”

  Her father shot her a pensive look. “I’ll have to talk to him, Rosa. I can’t just give him a job without at least meeting him, more than just in passing. Can you have him come for dinner?”

  Rosa was shaking her head. “Not dinner. But maybe just for a drink, like tonight? Or the weekend. Do you and Mom have plans this weekend?”

  Rosa saw a shadow pass over her father’s face. “Your mother is...not here this weekend. She had a dog show upstate, I believe. She’ll be back sometime on Monday.”

  “Oh. Well...I guess I forgot about that.” Rosa chewed on her thumbnail. “When did she leave?”

  “This morning. Early.”

  “Oh...” The silence was broken by Rosa’s cell phone. Her father got up to leave.

  “Wait...this might be Aedan.” She flipped open the phone, glancing at the number. She held up her hand and her father stopped, his hand on the doorknob. “Aedan. Hey...”

  “Rosa. Yeah...listen. The job for today fell through. I just wanted to let you know, I’m headed back to the gym. Might as well get some training in, so the day’s not a total loss.”

  “Okay.”

  “Oh, shit. Sorry. That sounds wrong.” He laughed. “I meant the rest of my day. The first part of my day was completely amazing.”

  Rosa blushed, turning away so her father couldn’t see. “Aedan, if you have time, do you think you could you come by? I have something I’d like to talk about.”

  “Your house? I don’t know...your parents...”

  She could hear the hesitation in his voice. “It’s okay. My mom’s gone and my dad...will probably be busy.”

  “Okay. I guess. What time?”

  “How about after dinner sometime?” Rosa finished the call, clicking the phone shut, a smile on her lips.

  “I’m not going to be here?” Her father’s voice was reproachful.

  She looked up at her father in surprise. “Oh, well. He’s a little gun shy. If I told him my father wanted to talk to him, I don’t think he’d have agreed to stop by.” Rosa stood, crossing the few steps toward her father. “Dad, it’s okay. Aedan’s a good guy. Trust me. He’s been through a lot—more than anyone I’ve ever met—but I don’t think I should be the one to tell you. Aedan’s...he’s private. And his life is his to tell, not mine.” She wrapped her arms around her father, felt him hug her close. “Just give him a chance. You won’t be disappointed.”

  “Rosa, I trust your judgment...”

  “But?”

  “I haven’t actually said I’d offer him a job. You’re assuming because you think you have me wrapped around your little finger that I’m going to do as you say.”

  She looked up at him, saw the teasing look in his eyes. “You’re going to think about it though, right? Please?” She gave him her best smile, the one that he said made her dimples appear. She heard him sigh, saw the slight roll of his eyes beneath raised brows and she knew she had him. She hugged him hard. “Thanks, Dad. It really means a lot to me.”

  “You’re welcome. But will it mean the same to Aedan?”

  Rosa paused. “Do you really think it’ll be a problem?”

  For a moment, her father was silent, his expression closed. He was obviously deciding how to phrase what he was about to say. “Sweetie... You say that he loves what he does. That he believes with his whole heart that he’ll be able to make it. Do you think he’ll thank you for trying to direct him down a different path?”

  “That’s not really what I’m doing. I...” Rosa paused, sighing. “I’m trying to help him pay his gym fees. The rest is just...it’s kind of a potential side effect.”

  “Well think about it, angel. Before you make any decisions that you might regret.”

  Chapter 11

  Rosa fidgeted and paced in her room for the rest of the afternoon, managed to sit through dinner and then resumed pacing through the house. Her father finally banished her from the study, closing the door behind her. Her father’s words lingered in her thoughts. Was it really right of her, to try and change Aedan? Was that even what she was trying to do?

  The doorbell rang at eight o’clock. The doorman had been told to expect Aedan and to let him up to the apartment. Sophie was heading down the hall for the door, but Rosa ran ahead, almost knocking the woman over.

  “Rosa! Slow down.” Sophie stopped, hands on her hips.

  “Sorry, Sophie.” Rosa shot the older woman an apologetic look, then opened the door, breathless as she greeted Aedan.

  “Hey...” She grabbed his hand, pulling him into the foyer. “You remember Sophie? Did you meet her? Anyway, Sophie, this is Aedan. Aedan, Sophie.”

  “Hi, Sophie.” Aedan barely had the words out before Rosa was pulling him down the hall to the study.

  “Hey, Rosa...” He stopped abruptly, pulling against her hand and spinning her around into his arms. “Don’t I at least get a kiss?”

  “Oh. Yeah.” She laughed softly and let him pull her against him, his lips finding hers. He held her for a moment, the restlessness replaced by the joy of being in his arms.

  There was a not-so-discreet cough behind her. Aedan pulled away, stepping back from Rosa. She held his hand, feeling the tension in his grip, as if he wanted to bolt back down the hall. Her father was in the hallway, his reading glasses perched on the end of his nose.

&nbs
p; “Hello, Mr. Thomas.” Rosa had never heard Aedan’s voice sound so formal. It was odd to hear the stilted quality and it made her uneasy.

  “Hello, Aedan. Would you like to come in, have a drink? We can...chat.”

  Rosa pulled Aedan forward, trying to ignore the questioning look on his face.

  “Sure, Dad. We’d love to.” She tugged Aedan’s hand and he reluctantly followed her into the study.

  “Anything you’d like?” Her father asked. “Soda, wine...beer?”

  “A beer would be great.” Aedan was standing in the doorway, scowling at Rosa, myriad questions flitting across his features.

  Rosa pulled Aedan toward the loveseat while her father poured himself a drink. “Here, sit. I’ll go get a beer from the kitchen.”

  She flew down the hall, grabbing a beer from the refrigerator, colliding again with Sophie.

  “Miss Rosa!” Sophie said reprovingly.

  “Sorry...” Rosa’s apology was tossed over her shoulder as she hurried back down the hall. She arrived rather breathlessly back in the study, took a deep breath and handed the beer to Aedan. She dropped down beside him on the loveseat, taking his free hand.

  “Aedan, Rosa’s been telling me a bit about your...situation.” Rosa felt Aedan squeeze her hand, not an entirely friendly gesture.

  “I’m not sure what she’s told you.” The words seemed strangely hesitant.

  “About your fighting...career, is it? She’s quite impressed with whatever it is you’ve told her. I have to be honest, I’m not quite clear on what it is you do, or are planning on doing. But, I trust Rosa’s judgment in most things and she seems to think you have promise.”

  Rosa smiled at her father. She knew he was trying at least to not be dismissive. She only hoped Aedan would try just as hard to be receptive.

  Her father leaned forward a little in his chair. “I’ve got a proposition for you, Aedan. I’ve an opening at one of my restaurants, nothing fancy. Entry level all the way. If you’re interested, I’d like to offer you the position. You’d have the time during the day to devote to your... To whatever you need to accomplish this...goal. The hours are strictly evening. Actually quite late some nights.”

  Rosa had been watching Aedan’s face. He’d gone from wary to confused to something that resembled hostility. And then his face closed, that impassive look she’d seen at the party descending. She squeezed his hand again and he turned to her.

  “Did you put your father up to giving me a job?” His voice was flat.

  “I asked him if he would consider hiring you.”

  “And I haven’t actually given you anything, Aedan,” her father cut in. “I’m offering. You need to accept it, if this is to happen.”

  “And then what?” Aedan turned to look back at her father. “Am I your charity case? Your feel good for the week?”

  Rosa thought she could hear the anger in Aedan’s voice but there was a desperate edge that sounded like fear. Or his wounded pride. “Aedan,” she said softly. “It’s not like that.” She tugged on his hand. His face remained turned away. “Look at me. I heard what Frank said today, about the gym fees. I know if you can’t pay, you can’t train.” She saw a flash of real anger this time in his blue eyes as he finally looked at her. Her stomach twisted nervously. Maybe her father had been right. “And I know that would kill you.” She could feel him trying to pull his hand out of hers, but she held on. “I know how much you hate to admit you need help, but I think you do. And we...I mean, my dad...has offered you something that might help.”

  Aedan was silent, his lips set in that stubborn way Rosa had come to recognize either meant an argument or that he had shut down completely. She had hoped for a discussion or even an argument rather than a closed, silent Aedan. But her father interrupted her thoughts.

  “You know, Aedan,” he said quietly. “You remind me of myself at your age. Stubborn, not willing to take a handout. But I’ll tell you something. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t accepted help when it was offered. And this isn’t a handout. It’s a hand offering help. You’ll have to work. This isn’t a free ride.”

  Aedan looked down at the bottle in his hands, picking at the label with his thumbnail. He finally looked up at Rosa’s father, his expression resigned. “Alright. I’ll take the job.” He rose, walked across the room and offered his hand to her father.

  Her father stood as well, accepting Aedan’s outstretched hand.

  “Thank you, Mr. Thomas. I appreciate the offer.”

  Rosa watched Aedan, her eyes taking in his stiff, unhappy posture. She had another moment of doubt, that this wasn’t the right thing to have done, but it was too late now. It hurt to see Aedan looking as if he had been backed into a corner. She rose, standing behind Aedan, taking his hand into hers. The tension in his grip was evident and she felt him squeezing her fingers.

  “Here, this is the name of the restaurant and who you’ll ask for. Be there tomorrow at five o’clock. Dinner service ends at eleven. You’ll be working till at least one o’clock most nights.” He handed Aedan a slip of paper, and Aedan glanced at it before shoving it into his pocket.

  “Like I said Aedan, this isn’t a hand out. You’ll have to work. No special treatment.”

  “I understand. Thanks.” Aedan’s voice was emotionless.

  He was squeezing her fingers harder now, making her wince. Rosa tried to subtly wiggle them, to let him know that he was hurting her. The grip didn’t loosen, and she saw her father looking at them like he might say something.

  “Aedan, I think we have plans, right?” She forced a smile. “We don’t want to be late.” As she pulled him toward the door, she nodded at her father, a sign of her gratitude.

  Aedan stalked toward the front door, disengaging her hand along the way.

  “Wait.” Rosa trotted to catch up with him. “Where did you want to go?”

  He turned, his eyes hard.

  She stopped short.

  “Out of here, for one thing. Then we can decide.” Aedan pulled the door open, heading for the elevator.

  Rosa looked around wildly for her purse, grabbed it off the foyer table, and slammed the door closed behind her as she followed him out. “Aedan...you have to know...”

  The elevator was waiting, the doors sliding open silently.

  “Know what?” He was in the elevator, angrily smashing the button for the lobby with his thumb. “Know that you did something behind my back? That you feel sorry for me? That you think I can’t take care of myself. And you put me in a really uncomfortable situation with your father.”

  The doors finally closed and he turned to her. “Rosa, I’m trying really hard to be patient with you...with this. But you’ve crossed a line here...” He took a deep breath, but the elevator chimed for the lobby level

  The elevator doors slid open and Aedan strode across the lobby, pushing the doors to the street open, not holding them for Rosa. The doorman started to say something, moving toward the closing doors. She ignored him, pushing them open herself, following Aedan onto the sidewalk.

  “Aedan, slow down. Stop.” She grabbed his arm. “Listen, please. I guess I should’ve asked you first...but I wanted to know if my father would offer you something before I said anything to you. I didn’t want to get your hopes up and then have him say no.”

  Aedan had stopped on the sidewalk, spinning around. “You should’ve asked me! Should’ve said something to warn me. You can’t spring something like this on somebody and not expect them—me—to be upset.” He turned, stalking down the walk, but at a pace Rosa could match.

  “You do understand I was only trying to help?” She slid her arm through his. “I wasn’t offering you money. Didn’t ask my dad to give you money, or borrow it to you. It’s a fair offer he made. That’s it.”

  She heard him exhale sharply. “Yeah, I get that. I do. But...”

  “What?”

  “I don’t take charity. I’m not someone’s project. One of those idiot friends of yours called me tha
t the other night at that party. And I don’t want to be that. I want to be...”

  “Be what? Aedan, what do you want?”

  He stopped, turning again to Rosa. “I want us...to be on equal footing, equal in whatever this is between us.” He waved his hand. “Now, I feel like I owe you something. I’m in your debt. Or your father’s.” He shook his head. “And that just complicates everything. Links us in a way I’m not comfortable with.” He started walking again. “I don’t like owing anybody anything.

  “I’m sorry. I guess I didn’t think...” She took a deep breath and let it go again. “We are equal, Aedan. Me talking to my dad doesn’t change that. And it’s not a handout. It’s a job. That you actually have to do. It’s just... an open door.” She looked over at him. “It’s networking. People do it all the time.”

  Aedan didn’t answer.

  They walked in silence for a few blocks, up past the Museum. The night was cool and Rosa wished she’d grabbed a sweater, but she didn’t want to bring it up. Finally, she felt the tension start to leave Aedan’s body, his posture relaxing. He took her hand, winding his fingers through hers.

  “Did you eat, Aedan? You hungry?”

  He looked over at her. “No, I came from the gym. I wasn’t sure what you had in mind.”

  “There’s a little place around the corner from the Museum. It’s quiet. We can talk.”

  He took a few more hesitant steps. “Rosa, you know I can’t afford...”

  She held up her hand. “I know. And it’s a pride thing. But.” She smiled. “You want to be equal, right?”

  That startled a laugh out of him. “I don’t think that’s really fair.”

  “It’s perfectly fair.” Rosa bumped her shoulder against his arm. “There’s this thing called compromise, which you’re really bad at, by the way.” She stopped walking and Aedan drew her close, looking down at her. She softened her tone. “I know you’ve had to fight for everything in your life, but let someone else take over for a minute. Even if it’s just for dinner and a drink. You’re not giving up your dream if I feed you.”