Fighting Dirty

by Sidney Halston

  JL was in her room changing when her house phone rang twice before the answering machine picked up.

  “JL! JL! You worthless little shit!” came a roar over the answering machine. Half dressed, JL ran to the kitchen and tapped on the machine.

  “Who was that?”

  She walked passed Enzo, refusing to meet his eyes. “No one. It’s nothing. Let me grab my sneakers and—”

  He followed her to her room. “Who was that?” he repeated as the phone began to ring again.

  She looked at him for a moment as the machine again picked up. She was about to run back when he beat her to it and took the phone off its cradle. “Hello?”

  “Hello? Who’s this?”

  “You called here. Who is this?”

  “It’s Rita. JL’s mama. Is she there?”

  The fact that a woman would speak to her daughter like that shocked him. “She is. But I will not pass the phone to her while you are yelling.”

  JL stood by, chewing on the side of her nail, her leg jumping up and down like a sewing machine. He reached for her and tucked her close.

  “Oh? Oh! I see she got herself a new man. You’re not makin’ a good impression on her mama by refusing to give her the phone.” The woman took a deep breath. “Listen, darlin’, I don’t know what my daughter’s told you about me, but I’m in a little bit of a bind. You see, my car broke down in the middle of I-95 and I need some cash for a tow truck. Could you please be a doll and let my daughter—”

  Jamie Lynn ripped the phone away from Enzo’s hand, having heard what her mother wanted. “Listen here, Mama. I already told you I’m not givin’ you any more money. I am not answerin’ my cell phone for a reason. I don’t want to talk to you. Don’t call again!” she said, and slammed the phone back down.

  Stepping away from Enzo, she walked into the kitchen and started opening drawers until she found a bag of potato chips. “Sorry ’bout that,” she said, ripping open the bag and crunching a handful into her mouth. “That was nothing. My mama’s a nut. Let’s go work out.”

  She tried to step around him, but he stopped her. “That wasn’t nothing. Tell me.”

  “You and I are having a great time. I will not allow my mother to ruin that.”

  “I see that this is upsetting you, so I’ll let it go…for now.” She reached up and kissed his cheek gratefully before he added, “But that’s two stories you now owe me. The one about your scar and now your mother.”

  She nodded as she stuffed her face anxiously with potato chips.

  Chapter 8

  It was early afternoon when Enzo and JL walked into the Academy hand in hand.

  “Yo,” Cain said with a nod.

  “Hi, Cain.” JL waved to him and then to the other men who were working out.

  “See you later, sweetheart,” Enzo said, and kissed her. She slapped his ass and went in the opposite direction to find Jessica.

  From the other end of the gym she heard a yelp and the familiar voice of her brother. “What the fuck, man?”

  JL turned toward the cage, where Travis was lying on the ground spitting out his mouthguard and holding his bloody nose.

  “Shit! Sorry.” Tony knelt in front of Travis. “You dropped your guard in the middle of sparring. Stupid move.”

  Travis sat up and tilted his head back in an attempt to stop the bleeding. “Why the hell are you and my sister holding hands and kissing?” he asked Enzo. Then he turned to JL and said in a low growl, “And why did you touch his ass?”

  Tony chuckled as he worked on Travis’s bloody nose.

  “Relax,” Enzo began, but JL cut him off.

  “I can take care of myself, Trav.”

  “Really?” Travis stood and swatted Tony’s hand away. “I’ve seen how well you can take care of yourself, and it really isn’t too comforting. And you—” He pointed to Enzo. “You were just married. My sister doesn’t need you messing with her. What the fuck, man?”

  JL was about to say something, but Enzo stepped in front of her. “Don’t speak to your sister that way.”

  Travis looked like someone had just slapped him across the face. He leaned toward the fence and gripped it tightly, “Excuse me?” he snarled through the fence. “You don’t know what the fuck you’re even talking about. I would never hurt one hair on her head.” He shook the fence.

  “Neither would I!”

  JL gripped Enzo’s biceps and tried to pull him back while Tony did the same with Travis. Francesca came out of the office. “What the hell is going on out here?”

  “These two idiots are arguing,” Tony replied.

  “Well, take it into my office or something,” Francesca said.

  “No need. There’s nothing to talk about,” JL said. “I’m going to yoga and you are going to mind your own business, Travis. I’m fine. Everything’s fine,” she said, practically gritting her teeth. “And as for you, I’ll see you in an hour or so,” she said to Enzo, giving them both a warning glare as she walked away.

  “Let’s go, brother,” Tony said, snapping Travis back around. “Work it out with me in the cage.”

  “Fine,” Travis spat out.

  —

  Enzo knew he needed to speak with Travis. During the last year or so, Travis had become his closest friend, and he didn’t want their friendship ruined. But he also didn’t want to give up Jamie Lynn, and he knew she was very close to her twin brother.

  Slade had come into the gym soon after and begun working with Enzo. By the time the hour was almost up, Enzo was dead tired. But, tired or not, he needed to clear the air with Travis.

  In the locker room, as Enzo was about to change out of his sweaty clothes, Travis walked in and said, “We need to talk.”

  “Yes, we do,” Enzo agreed, but when he saw Travis standing still, with his arms crossed and his lips in a straight line, he knew that Travis wasn’t going to actually say anything. “Listen man, I’m not going to lie to you and tell you that we went on a date and that was all. We went on a date yesterday morning and we’ve been together since.”

  “I don’t even want to think about what that means.”

  “Your sister’s an adult, Trav. You know exactly what that means.” Seeing that Travis was about to lose his cool, he added quickly, “I’m not just hanging around for sex. I like her. A lot. More than I ever thought. And, I think she likes me too.”

  “She’s fragile.”

  “She’s the strongest woman I’ve ever met.”

  “Because that’s what she wants you to see,” Travis said “She’s closed off. She won’t tell you she’s hurt. She’ll just keep it inside. So this is me telling you that you’re going to hurt her. You won’t even know it, but I swear to God, when it happens, I’ll make you hurt, Enzo.”

  “Give me some credit, okay? I’m not some asshole. I’m not going to hurt her. If anything, I’m trying to break through. But like you said, she’s closed off.” Enzo took a deep breath and exhaled. “Who hurt her?”

  Finally relaxing his stance, Travis sat down on a bench. “Me and my sister, we don’t come from your world. You understand that?”

  “I understand that. I don’t care. Money doesn’t mean anything to me.”

  “That’s because you have it,” Travis said. Hesitantly he continued, “Listen, man, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. But do not hurt her. She doesn’t deserve it. She’s been hurt enough.”

  “Is it your mom?” Enzo asked cautiously.

  “My mom?”

  “Yeah, she called today and—” Enzo wasn’t able to finish because Travis stormed out.

  —

  JL sat in a corner of the gym with her e-reader in her hand waiting for Enzo and Travis to finish their powwow—at least that’s what she thought they were doing when she’d seen them walk into the locker room twenty minutes earlier.

  “What the hell?” she shrieked as her e-reader was yanked from her hand.

  “Mom called?” Travis snapped.

  “No big deal,” JL said. Wh
en she saw that Enzo was close behind and about to get between her and her brother, JL stopped him by placing her hand on his chest.

  “I need to speak with my sister,” Travis said to Enzo. Placing his hand on her forearm, Travis pulled her outside, but Enzo followed. He didn’t hover, but he wanted her to know she wasn’t alone, even if she didn’t need anyone with her.

  “When did this start? And I hope to God this just started, JL.” When she didn’t answer, he blew out a deep breath. “Jamie Lynn, damn it! What is going on?”

  “She’s called me a few times, okay? Like I said, it’s no big deal. I ignore her calls.”

  After some silence he blew out a breath and his features softened. “Darlin’, it’s a big deal. That woman is toxic. You can’t let her in. You know that.”

  “I’m not. I promise.”

  He turned to Enzo and addressed him. “She’s not to talk to our mother.”

  JL shoved Travis by the shoulder. “I don’t need a babysitter, and I don’t need you telling me what I can or can’t do.”

  “I’ll deal with you and Enzo, but I will not deal with you talking to Mama. She’ll eventually wear you down, and before you know it, you’ll be lending her money, enabling her as she sucks you dry, financially and emotionally. You know it. I know it. She knows it.” Then he pointed over his shoulder to Enzo. “And now he knows it.”

  “I already told you, I’m fine. It’s fine. She called the house and I hung up on her.”

  “If you’re serious about her, you’ll make sure she stays away from our mother,” Travis said to Enzo, and then looked at his sister for a moment before shaking his head and walking away, agitated.

  “I don’t want you to worry about my mama. He’s always just been very overprotective,” JL said, embarrassed.

  He cupped her cheek. “Sweetheart, I heard how she spoke to you. I didn’t like it. I don’t know the whole story and I won’t pressure you to tell me it, but with what I do know, maybe your brother’s right.”

  “It’s all good. Don’t worry,” she said as she gave him a kiss.

  Enzo interlaced his fingers with hers as they walked out of the Academy and into his car. It felt so natural to be with her, as if they’d been together forever instead of mere days.

  “I thought you were taking me to dinner,” she said from the passenger seat.

  He started, not having realized he’d been sitting in his car, dazed, wondering what the hell was going on with her mother. He reached over and brushed her cheek with his thumb contemplatively. “Yeah, baby. Dinner.” He leaned in and gave her a brief kiss on the lips. “Let’s go.”

  Dinner was…interesting. Interesting because she knew all the local spots, spots that he’d think twice about before entering because of the looks of the places. Again he’d been pleasantly surprised when she ordered for them and he received one of the best burgers he’d ever tasted. And the little thing could match him bite for bite—she’d eaten the same half-pound burger fully loaded, basket of sweet potato fries, and strawberry milkshake that he’d eaten. He had wanted to take her to a nice restaurant, but she refused since they were both dressed so casually.

  “Netflix at my house?” she said in the car after dinner.

  “Sure, but wouldn’t you rather watch at my house?”

  “I didn’t even see a television in your house.”

  He almost stopped the car to gawk at her. “Do you really think that I, a man, would not have a television?”

  She laughed. “Actually, I wondered why I didn’t see one. I mean, like you said, you’re a man. Plus, you’re loaded and, by the looks of this car, you have expensive taste in gadgets. So is it hidden behind a wall or something?”

  He winked and drove the short distance remaining to his house in silence. Once there, she laughed as he pulled on her arm and took her into what was obviously his pride and joy.

  “Ta-da!” he said, swinging a door open. She stepped inside a home movie theater complete with a projection screen and big comfortable seats with cup holders. In the back of the room was a wet bar and a freaking popcorn machine.

  She doubled over in laughter. “I should’ve known! Oh my God, Enzo, this is crazy. I’m impressed.”

  “So all I had to do to impress you was have a movie theater?”

  “You know me. I take nothing less than a movie theater.” She took his face in her hand and planted a loud wet kiss on his lips. “I’m just kidding around. I’ve been impressed with you for a while now,” she said genuinely.

  Jamie Lynn walked giddily to the back wall to choose a movie. Once she’d selected a romantic comedy, he settled on one of the chairs and she settled on him. It surprised him how playful and touchy-feely she was. He’d never have pegged her as so affectionate, but she was, and very much so. He laughed every time she recited the words to the movie, which she’d obviously seen several times. Eventually she relaxed and dozed off, and he picked her up and carried her to his room. He stripped them of all their clothes and she instinctively snuggled close to him. That night he went to sleep thinking that life couldn’t possibly get any more perfect. Except sometime in the middle of the night she climbed on top of him, and that’s how she slept for the rest of the night, chest to chest on top of him like a blanket.

  Now life was perfect.

  —

  “Good morning,” Enzo said with a yawn, looking down to where her chin rested on his chest and her blue eyes were fixed on him. “You’re staring. It’s a little creepy.”

  She sat up, the sheet falling down her back, leaving her bare while she straddled him.

  “Mornin’.” She smiled, her short hair sticking out all over the place and her flawless skin pink from sleep.

  “I think I’m getting too used to waking up this way.”

  “I know,” she said.

  He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to his side. “You want some breakfast?” he asked, knowing that this was a stupid question. Of course she did. The woman was always hungry.

  “I do,” she said, but as he moved to get up she tightened her grip. “But first I want to cuddle a little while.”

  His heart stopped for a few beats. “You want to cuddle?”

  “I know, I know, it’s very girly of me, but I want to. I want to cuddle some more. I love to spoon, and you smell good.” She rubbed her body closer to his. “And you feel even better.” She let out a little contented sigh, and he settled down and held her, trying to control his dick. It was turning out to be a difficult feat; he had to do some math in his head in order to get his mind off his arousal.

  “Okay, I’m done,” she said after a few minutes. “You can go make me food now. You’ve got a starving woman here.”

  He laughed, because this was precisely Jamie Lynn: soft and hard, salty and sweet. “Feel free to rub your body against me like that anytime.”

  “I think I may just do that.” She slapped his butt. “We can be cuddle buddies.”

  “I hope we get to be more than that,” he said as he walked out to make her breakfast.

  After having made Jamie Lynn everything he could find—eggs, frozen waffles, cereal, toast, juice, and coffee—she cleaned up. “You want to go for a walk on the boardwalk?” he asked as he kissed her forehead.

  “Absolutely. Let me get someone to cover my shift today.”

  “Oh, if you have to work, I understand. I missed another teleconference this morning.”

  “But it’s Saturday?”

  “So?”

  She looked up from typing something quickly into her phone. “You work too much.”

  “I know. But I have the urge to get rid of my phone and spend the day with you.”

  She smiled up at him, and her phone dinged. She looked down at the screen. “Okay, all good with work. Let’s go for that walk.”

  Walking along the boardwalk was sublime. The ocean breeze was a refreshing respite from the Florida heat that wrapped around her body like a blanket. Enzo’s fingers interlaced with hers and the
comfortable silence between them made the day even better. She never thought he’d be so wonderful; had she known, she’d have given him a chance months ago. When her phone rang, she took it out of her pocket, but since she didn’t recognize the number she silenced it and put it back, knowing it was likely her mother. He looked at her questioningly, but she didn’t comment. After a while they sat on the sand to watch the children playing with their plastic buckets.

  “So cute, right?” she said, pointing to one particular boy whose diaper sagged low with seawater.

  “You like kids?”

  “Yes. I do. You?”

  “I do. Always wanted a big family.”

  “Really? Me too.” She leaned her head on his shoulder. “I’ll tell you a secret,” she added. “I’m so jealous of your pot and pan holder contraption.”

  He pulled away just far enough to look at her and laughed. “What?”

  “In my dreams, the ideal family has one of those hanging things where you store the pots and pans, a big island, and the mother wears an apron and all the big important family discussions happen under that hanger thing.”

  With his thumb and forefinger he moved her chin up so that she could look at him. “I had one of those things in my house in Brazil and I did not have a perfect family. Far from it. Things like that don’t make a family. My parents are cordial and I never saw them fight, but I don’t think they actually like each other,” he admitted. “Parents who are present for their kids are what make a family.”

  “Yeah, I know. But still…I want one of those.”

  “Can you tell me about your family?” he asked. “I want to know more about you, Jamie Lynn.”

  Chapter 9

  JL let out a breath, pulled her knees up to her chest, and rested her chin on them as she looked out onto the ocean. She knew she came with a lot of baggage, but she had always tried to keep that baggage hidden, not letting it drag her down. She lived by the motto “Fake it till you make it.” She hoped Enzo wouldn’t hold her ugly past against her. “I’ll tell you because I don’t like secrets and I don’t want you to think I’m keeping a big one. Secrets and lies.” She shook her head. “I don’t like either.”