Fighting Chance

by Lynn Rider

  I race into the coffee shop, relieved to see Brittany’s smiling face. I slide into my seat and her smile drops. “What’s wrong?” she asks and I frown.

  “How do you know something’s wrong? I just wanted to have coffee with my soon to be college graduate friend.”

  “Bullshit!”

  “Really, I mean how do you know?” It drives me crazy that I’m so transparent. Chance knows when I want him and thinking dirty things, and within fifteen seconds, Brittany knew something major has shifted in my world.

  “Last time I saw you, there was this ray of sunshine that was exclusively yours. It was this little spotlight that had you glowing with happiness. Today, there’s no ray of sunshine, no spotlight and certainly no glow. And don’t get me started on that fake ass smile you shot me when you first saw me.”

  “Damn, you’re good.” I smile.

  “Okay, that smile is a little more genuine, but that other shit, wouldn’t fool anyone. You should drop that from your fake smile lineup.” She laughs and I smile, more sincerely now.

  “Getting better,” she says through a chuckle.

  I sigh. “Are you going to sit and analyze my smiles all afternoon or help me analyze my life? Because I could really use the latter.”

  “Oh shit, this sounds deep. We should have met at a bar for a drink, not coffee.” She snaps her fingers. “Let’s go to Jimmy’s. You can tell Gigi you live with Chance and that you can have crazy monkey sex anytime you want with him. That’ll cheer you up. And me!” she laughs and I can’t help my own quiet chuckle. She points at my mouth. “There it is. It’s not glowing, but it’s real.”

  “I think I’m moving out of Chance’s.”

  Her smile falls and she sits up, closer to the table. “What? Why?”

  “He’s fighting for custody of his two little brothers and I met them this morning. I don’t think it went over well. In fact, it was horrible. The eight-year-old is not really happy with my being there.”

  Brittany flaps her hand, dismissively. “He’s a kid, he’ll warm up to you.”

  “I don’t know. Without going into any details, they’ve been through a lot already. The best thing they could do is live with Chance. I can’t stand in the way of that.”

  “Have you talked to Chance?”

  “No, them staying the night was kind of spur of the moment. Chance started training this week for his next fight. He was late getting to the gym and he said Vic was not happy he wasn’t there at five this morning so he was taking the boys so Vic wasn’t a complete dick to him, but I’m thinking he really took them because they didn’t want to stay with me.”

  “The worst thing you can do is get inside your own head. You need to just talk to Chance. If those kids are unhappy about you being there, he’d know and he owes you enough to be honest about it.”

  I sigh. “I know, but I don’t know if I can handle him telling me to go. I’m one of those that would rather leave with her pride intact and just slink out the door and wonder what if, rather than to be told I’m not good enough.”

  “Do you love him?”

  “It’s too soon to love him.”

  “Who says it’s too soon?”

  “We haven’t known one another long enough.”

  “Who says you haven’t known one another long enough?”

  “Are you going to ask a question using every one of my answers?” I smile.

  “Fake,” she mutters under her breath and then sits up straight. “Look, no one knows your relationship like you do. Lord knows I have no point of reference. I was bounced around one miserable foster home to another. I don’t think in all those households I witnessed true love—”

  “This is really inspirational, Britt,” I tease.

  “What I’m saying is, you live in that relationship with Chance. How did you feel before these little people stormed your life? Because I can tell you, you were on cloud nine after only spending a few days with the guy. If that wasn’t love, then I’ve been imagining it wrong all these years.”

  “You drive a hard bargain. I was expecting you to remind me of the guy everyone talked about at Jimmy’s and tell me to pack my shit and run off into the sunset.”

  “Those skanks allowed him to be that version of himself. He’s never been that guy with you. Don’t cheapen his intentions or what you two have. From the outside, looking in, it’s beautiful.”

  My eyes drop to the table as I chew on my lip, considering her statement.

  “What if I can’t handle being a mom to those boys? Chance’s already warned me that his schedule is only going to get longer at the gym and he has two more fights this year. That means I’ll have to step up and carry the load.”

  “That’s something you’ll have to decide when the time comes, but Mia, one sleepover and a spur of the moment meeting doesn’t represent what it could be if given more time to work on it.”

  I sit in silence, pondering her statement.

  “Let me show you something.” She digs in her large purse and takes out a folded newspaper. “I don’t know if you’ve seen this, but I saw it at the campus bookstore this morning and almost got kicked out when I squealed, wanting to tell everyone you’re my friend.” She opens the paper and flattens down one page and slides it across the table.

  It’s the picture of Chance and I at the restaurant.

  I’m tucked protectively under Chance’s arm, him looking down and me looking up at him. Thinking back, it was probably when I stopped him from going over and shoving that camera up the photographer’s ass, but it’s the look on our faces that gives me pause. Other than its graininess of being in black and white and on the page of some local gossip rag, I see nothing but the absolute utter look of love between us.

  I look up at Brittany, her eyes sparkle, knowingly. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

  I look back down at the picture.

  It is.

  33

  Chance

  With the morning rush of the gym in full swing, the stench of sweat knocks me in the face the second the boys and I step inside. “Don’t get in anyone’s way,” I mumble over their heads as they step around me.

  Vic’s grey hair stands out in the crowd, but it’s the scowl on his weathered face that holds my attention. Yesterday’s workout was brutal. It’s a workout usually reserved for later in the training process; he was trying to push me to my limit…or kill me. I don’t know which. It wasn’t a lesson about fighting, it was punishment for the Mia-bomb I dropped on him the day before. Without complaint, I took every damned thing he dished. If anything, knowing I had her waiting at home gave me extra strength to get through it.

  He looks down at his watch and then his eyes lift to mine. I’m three hours late and the narrow glare my direction tells me having the boys in tow isn’t going to do anything to soften his mood.

  “Keep it up, Phillips!” he calls out, turning his attention to the sparring match going on in the large boxing ring.

  “Vic!” Brandon says before he and Matt charge across the gym. The force of their joined collision sends Vic back a step before he wraps his arms around their shoulders and gives a heartfelt bear hug in return. He’s saying something to them, but from this distance, I can’t hear. I slow my steps, prolonging the ass chewing he looked like he was ready to dish when we first walked in.

  Phillips mumbles something around his mouthpiece from the boxing ring, but all I make out is the word daycare. I stop and glare his direction, wondering what in the fuck this guy’s problem is.

  “Chance! You’re already late. You wanna waste more of my time this morning?” Vic calls out, getting my feet to move again. I flash another look of warning at Phillips, silently telling him today is not the day to fuck with me. His mouthpiece prevents a taunting smile, but I see it. I also see the jab coming from Milton, his sparring partner, as it makes contact to the side of his protective headgear. His neck and head move at an unnatural angle with the force. Being an ex-Navy Seal, Milton is no stranger to sparring
and fighting. That was not a sparring hit. My gaze shifts to Milton. He grins with a chin lift my direction and I nod.

  “Chance!” Vic shouts again and I walk away.

  “I’m here…I’m here,” I say.

  He looks down at the watch on his wrist, his scowl deepening. I want to tell him I saw him do that the first time. The message was already received. He doesn’t need to tell me I’m three hours late, I’ve felt every minute of the three hours spent on the phone with Edward, Brinnwood Academy, and then diffusing Brandon’s attitude concerning Mia.

  I can’t blame Brandon for being upset. He’s had a lot of change in what was already a very unstable life, but I’ll be damned if he’s just going to dismiss someone from my life without giving them a shot first. I hope I made myself clear on the way over here.

  “You want to make a buck or two?” Vic says, looking down at the boys. Their eager smiles brighten and Vic laughs, ruffling their hair. “There’s a cart full of towels that need to be folded. I was going to make Chance fold them for being late, but I think I’d rather have him pay you two fifty bucks a piece for folding them.” Having done this before, minus the hefty labor costs, both boys race toward the laundry room.

  “Thanks,” I mutter, rolling my eyes and Vic’s expression tightens.

  “It’s the least you could do. This isn’t a damned daycare!” Vic’s eyes dart over my shoulder when a faint snicker comes from behind. My fists curl, knowing damned well where that came from. Vic’s eyes drop, noticing my fists. “Get in my office, now!” He turns without waiting or sparing a glance to see if I’m following. He knows I am. “Have a seat.” He points to the chair opposite his and I slide in obediently.

  “You’re in training, Chance. I expect you here at five. No exceptions. Kids have no place here.” He sits back, waiting for me to challenge him, but I won’t. He’s right. Although, given the situation, there was no other option and I’d do it again if necessary, but the firm angry line of his lips keeps me from sharing that. “You’re not going to argue?”

  I shake my head. “No.”

  “Well, that’s a first,” he mumbles. “Now tell me what in the hell happened.”

  Having said what he needed to say, his tone softens, losing the gruffness it carried walking in. I launch into telling him about my visit and how Michelle wasn’t there when we returned to how the three of us ended up here.

  “You don’t think anything happened to Michelle, do you?” he asks.

  I shrug, not really giving one fuck if it has. “It would make my life a lot easier if she’d just sink back to the bottom of her cheap vodka bottle,” I say dismissively.

  “Chance,” he warns. I normally like that about Vic—his concern for women. He’s an old sole and chivalry always wins, but this is Michelle we’re talking about.

  “She’s fine. She came up with some half-assed story about her car breaking down on the way home from the store. Edward doesn’t want me to take them back. Thinks it’s better if Smith goes to avoid confrontation, but I want to get to the bottom of what it is she wants.”

  “I’d go with what Edward wants, Chance. He’s been doing this a long time.”

  “And his advice has always been to wait it out. I listened to him when I wanted to fight my mother for custody, too. Look where that got us. Brandon came downstairs to find three dead people in the living room. Two of which were his fucking parents!” I say, angrily.

  “You’re a fighter Chance. You know nothing about the legal system. If you never listen to me again, listen to me tell you to take your attorney’s advice on this one. You’re too emotionally invested—”

  “You’re goddamned right I am. Those boys mean everything to me, Vic!”

  He sighs heavily. “What about Mia? Where does she stand in all this?” I relax marginally with the mention of her name. My mind flits back to memories of this morning. After I silently scolded Brandon with eyes of warning for his comment about her moving out, he didn’t say another word, eating silently, not engaging in any conversation and hardly thanked her for cooking him breakfast before he retreated to his room.

  “Brandon hasn’t warmed up to the idea of her being there, but he needs to get over it.”

  “Don’t pick her over him. That’s not what he needs, Chance.” His voice is firm. I know he’s right, but he’s not giving her a fair shake either. Mia was patient, kind, knowing what they needed, even when I didn’t. She’s a fuckload better at this parenting shit than me. Matthew was the only one who seemed to warm up to that.

  “He needs to get to know her before he casts judgment, Vic. I would expect the same for anyone he meets, whether it a woman in my life, a teacher or a friend at school. It’s nothing partial to her.”

  His frown forms into a thin smile. “See kid, that parenting gig isn’t so hard, is it?” he chuckles.

  “I wouldn’t say that.” I sigh.

  34

  Mia

  “What are you doing?” Chance asks, startling me. I glance over my shoulder to where he stands, arms crossed over his wide chest, leaning against the doorjamb of his office. I scan the scattered mess of papers on his office floor and let out a frustrated groan. I’ve just spent the last two hours sifting through my small box labeled important papers and still can’t find what I need.

  I begin gathering the papers into a pile. “I’m sorry about the mess.”

  “I don’t give a shit about the mess. What are you looking for? Can I help?” he asks, stepping across the rug and lowering onto the floor next to me.

  “I need my car title or the junkyard won’t tow my car.” My voice quivers as emotion finds its way through the frustration. Chance wraps his thick arm around my shoulders and tugs me closer. “I know my car wasn’t much to some, but my parents bought that car for me.” His grip tightens and the tears start.

  “I’m sorry, Mia.” He presses his lips on the top of my hair.

  After the coffee shop, I realized I’m falling in love with Chance…hell I’m already there. But in the end, I’m going to end up losing him. Between being involved in Audrey’s shit and Brandon not liking me in the picture, the need to talk to my mom overwhelmed me. When I finally got myself together, I was parked at the curb outside of my childhood home, not remembering how long I’d been there.

  “Want to talk about it?”

  “I’ve been procrastinating on getting rid of it. I called my landlord today and told him I’ve moved out so now I need to do it, but I can’t find the damn title.”

  “That’s not what I’m talking about, Mia,” he says softly. “You once told me when things get tough, you feel the loss again. Tell me what’s on your mind.” He lowers us both down onto the carpet and wraps his arms around me. I rest my head on his large bicep and he gently kisses my ear. “Talk to me Mia.”

  “It’s just some days when I want to talk to them, they’re not here. Today is one of those days and it hit me hard.”

  “I can’t bring them back, but you know if I could, I would. I’m here, will you talk to me?”

  I force a smile, knowing that if he knew about Paul or that my sister is slipping through my fingers, falling back into her addiction, he wouldn’t be here. Chance has done everything in his life to break free of the junkies he was surrounded by. And even though it hurts to admit it, even to myself, a junkie is exactly what Audrey would be if she weren’t holed up on a farm eight hundred miles away.

  “Where are the boys?” I ask, needing to change the subject.

  “They’re back at Michelle’s. Against my better judgment, both Edward and Vic talked me into letting Smith take them home.”

  “That’s probably smart.”

  He groans. “You’re supposed to be in my corner,” he says, squeezing me playfully and forcing a smile despite my mood.

  “I’m always in your corner, Chance.”

  “Promise?”

  “Promise.”

  “I want to apologize for Brandon’s behavior this morning. I hope he’s not who made
you feel this way.”

  “Chance—”

  “No, listen. I know he was quiet and certainly not welcoming conversation from you…or anyone, actually. He’ll get there and soon he will love you as much as I do. I talked to him on the way to the gym and he just needs time to adjust.” Was that a profession of love wrapped in there? “Please just be patient with him.” He kisses my ear again.

  “Okay,” I say numbly, my mind still swirling with his words…soon he will love you as much as I do.

  “Why don’t you let me take care of getting your car towed? Smith knows some people that will do it without the title.”

  “You’ve already done too much for me Chance.”

  “Haven’t I convinced you we’re in this together yet?” He squeezes me and nuzzles his chin into my neck playfully. I smile again. Chance always has a way of making me forget all the drama outside these walls. “Please don’t be too proud to take my help, Mia. Let me do that for you.”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay?” He looks down at me as if he’s expecting me to retract it.

  “Okay, you can help me with my car,” I say.

  “Wow, Mia’s letting me help her,” he says, playfully rolling me over and straddling over top of me. “Are you ticklish?” he asks, holding out his hands before landing on my ribs. I giggle and kick uncontrollably and he laughs, putting his mouth on mine. His hands cease their assault and I still just as his tongue slides into my mouth, working smoothly with mine. “Anything you need is yours Mia. Just tell me what it is,” he whispers against my mouth before sitting up.

  I look him in the eyes and study his handsome face. My fingers reach up, roaming over the short dark stubble of his five o’clock shadow. “Just you, Chance.”

  “You have me, Mia.” He places his hand over mine before bringing it to his mouth and kissing my palm softly. “I’m serious. Anything you need, it’s yours. I may be too dense to figure it out, so you gotta help me sometimes, okay?” He grins, bringing out that little dimple and I run my thumb gently over it.

  “You’re doing just fine.” His eyes search my expression and it breaks my heart a little to see the skepticism reflected at me. “Were the boys really upset?” I ask and he rolls to the side, lying down next to me. We both lie here, looking at the ceiling.