by Day, Laura
“Well, I only watch TV that’s created by Shonda Rhimes, and she does medical dramas and political thrillers, not cage matches.”
“It’s not a cage match,” he said, dropping the paper on the table. “It’s MMA fighting and it’s a real thing. There’s a big world out there, far bigger than some soap opera on TV.”
“And fighting is somehow more serious and worthy of notice than an award winning television show?”
“The fights are real,” Blake countered, “and anything could happen in them. Fiction has nothing on that.”
“Well, I wasn’t planning on watching your fight. But if it’s that important to you, I will,” Ivy said rolling her eyes.
“I think you might like what you see, Ivy,” Blake said as he left the kitchen.
She watched him go and looked down at the newspaper ad. Blake’s face was etched in black and white and he looked stern, almost scary, as he sneered at his opponent. Below it were quotes that said, “fight of the year,” and “Lambert is a knock out!” She had always shied away from Blake’s MMA career. It seemed too intense and too violent and she had never seen a single fight he had been in. She had to admit he was successful at it, but she still wasn’t sure if she could bring herself to watch him in a no-holds-bar against another man.
Chapter Seven
“Ten more, reps,” Paulie said as he stood over Blake.
Blake took a deep breath and slowly benched pressed the eighty pounds up and down as he counted through puffs of breath.
“Four, three, two...one.” With one last push he rested the bar on it’s holder and fell back on the bench gasping for breath. “You did good,” Paulie said, helping Blake sit up. He handed him a bottle of water and Blake gulped it down. “You’re really pushing yourself today,” Paulie continued. “Where’d all this focus come from?”
He stood up to stretch, but really he just needed to move. He still couldn’t believe Ivy had no idea the level of success Blake had received. He had endorsement deals, he had been on the cover of magazines, he had been interviewed by Rolling Stone, and the one person he wanted to impress had no idea. “I just want to win,” Blake said.
Ivy would be watching this match. He would make sure of it. Then she could see how far he had come. He wasn’t the street fighting kid from his youth. He was a man building an empire now. He was good at what he did and Ivy would have to see that everything that had happened had been worth it, including the fight that had gotten him suspended senior year.
“Well, I think I know what’s really on your mind,” Paulie said, but he wasn’t looking at Blake, he was looking past him, “and she just walked through the door.”
Blake turned around and saw Ivy walking through the gym. She looked too good for the setting. She was wearing a pair of skintight blue jeans with a blue sweater and black boots that came up to her knees. She looked like a fashion model on her way to a shoot.
“I’m gonna go grab a smoke,” Paulie grumbled. “Don’t waste the time I’m giving you, because once I’m back in here we’re back to work and your girl heads home.”
“She’s not my girl,” Blake said standing up.
Paulie said nothing, but turned on his heels and headed for the back door.
“Hey,” Blake said as Ivy approached him.
“You forgot your phone,” Ivy said pulling it out of her pocket and handing it over. “Your mom asked me to bring it over.”
“Thanks,” Blake said, taking the phone from her hand. But to his surprise, Ivy didn’t leave.
She put her hands in her back pocket and looked around the gym. “Nice place you got here,” she said.
Blake looked around the dark gym. He could see how it could look unfriendly to an outsider. There was a large center ring, with harsh lights above it and the bare bones materials needed for training. But Blake loved it here. He knew it was worth it. “Best gym in the world,” Blake answered. “I tried to get Paulie to open a gym in Seattle, but he refused to move,” Blake said with a shrug. “I come home just to train here at least once a month.”
“I feel like I come home once a month, too. It’s crazy we haven't run into each other.”
“Well, now our parents live together, so I imagine we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other.”
“I imagine so,” Ivy said, looking up at him through his lashes.
Blake opened and then closed his mouth not sure what to say. Was she flirting with him? There was only one way to find out. “You worried, Ivy? You look a little nervous.”
“I’m not scared, are you?”
“I’m not scared of anything,” Blake said taking a step towards her.
“Because you know how to fight?” Ivy asked. She was standing next to the punching bag and she lifted her hand and gave it a gentle push making it swing back and forth.
“I guess that’s one reason,” he answered. “There aren’t a lot of people who can beat me in a fight.”
“Can you show me?”
“Show you how to fight?” Blake asked.
“Yeah. I’ve never been in a fight before. I’m not sure how well I would do, but it would be nice to know how to throw a punch.” She stopped the punching bag with her hand and gave him a questioning smile.
“All right, I’ll teach you how to throw a punch,” Blake said. “First let's wrap your knuckles.” He took her soft and small hands in his own and gently wrapped black tape around her knuckles, telling her to open and close her fist to make sure it wasn’t too tight. “Okay,” Blake said. He maneuvered Ivy in front of the punching bag. He kicked her legs shoulders’ width apart and squared her shoulders. “You’re not very strong, so you need to use your whole body when you punch.” He stood next to her in a fighting stance and pulled his fist back and put his weight on his back leg and then stepped forward and punched forward, hitting the bag and pushing it back.
“Okay,” Ivy said. Blake moved to the other side of the bag and held it steady for her. Ivy concentrated, leaned back and then stepped forward with the weakest punch he had ever seen.
“Come on,” Blake said. “You won’t hurt yourself, put your back into it. Imagine someone you really hate and put their face on the bag and then hit it with all you’ve got.”
Ivy nodded and brought up her fist and launched it at the punching bag.
“Better,” Blake said. “Again.”
Ivy hit the bag again and each time her fist was a little more confident and she was hitting the bag harder.
“Good,” Blake said, coming over to her and standing behind her. “But follow through with your arm.” He lifted her right arm and pulled it back. “It’s all in your shoulder,” he said, guiding her arm forward and gently bringing it to contact with the bag.
He was suddenly aware of how close they were standing. She was slightly out of breath and he could hear her panted breathing. Her wrist was still in his hand and her pulse was under his thumb, her heart racing, and he wondered if it had been the training or something else. He could smell the shampoo she used, he was that close to her neck. He could lean forward just slightly and place a gentle kiss right on the nape of her neck. Right on that place he knew drove her wild.
“I got it,” she said glancing back at him. There was a determination in her eyes and he didn’t want to stop it. He took up his position behind the bag is Ivy pulled back and landed a firm hit right at the center of the bag.
“Nice!” Blake said.
“Yeah? That wasn’t too bad?” Ivy asked as she looked up at him.
“That was impressive,” he said. “You just need to put in some more time with the weights and you could be winning fights by the end of the month.”
“My hand hurts,” she said, unclenching her fist.
“Here,” Blake said, taking her hand in his. He wanted to touch her again. Their last moment had been too brief. He wanted her in his arms, where they both belonged. Blake took Ivy’s hand and gently massaged it for a few moments before taking off the tape and throwing it away. Her hand was war
m and he couldn’t help himself, bringing her palm up to his lips and kissing it.
Ivy didn’t pull away. Her lips parted as she began to take deeper breaths, but she didn’t pull away. He pulled her closer, still holding her right hand in his. She took a step closer to him and Blake wrapped his arm around her waist as her hand came to rest on his chest.
She was so close to him. She was looking up at him with those dark eyes that had always made him melt. He raised his right hand caressed her cheek, tilting her chin up. Just as he leaned down to kiss her, the back door slammed open.
“Time to get back to work!” Paulie yelled through the empty gym.
Ivy jumped back and out of Blake’s arms. He shook his head and focused on all of the good things Paulie had done for him. He loved the old man, but, at that moment, Blake could have easily thrown a punch at him.
He glanced back at Ivy, but whatever their moment might have been, it had passed. Her arms were crossed in front of her and she was looking anywhere but at Blake. Finally, she glanced at him and he saw the flush in her cheeks and on her chest. She was so naked with her emotions, everything she was feeling reflected on her face; she would have been a terrible poker player.
Blake was consumed with the desire to reach out and touch her. He wanted to run his fingers down her smooth cheek. He wanted to tilt her head up to his and look down into her eyes before he kissed her. He wanted to feel her body flush against his. He wanted to see her smile when he kissed her, to hear her eager sigh in his ear.
But not now. With a wave and a half-smile Ivy was leaving the gym. Walking past the large ring with its blue mats, she reached the door and for a moment her body was outlined by the foggy daylight and then she was gone.
Chapter Eight
Ivy packed quietly and quickly. She was staying for dinner and then heading back home that night. She was happy her father had found Ellen and that they were going to create a shared life together. Her father deserved that happiness; he was good and hardworking and decent and Ivy didn’t want him to be alone. No, Ellen and Jonas’ relationship wasn’t the problem; she was the problem.
Ivy couldn’t stop thinking about Blake. She had offered to bring his cellphone to the gym because she wanted to see him. She would never admit it out loud, but she liked his teasing ways and his jokes. Whatever else he might have been, Blake was always a good time. But he was too dangerous. It was too easy for Ivy to fall back into her old ways with him. If she weren’t careful, she could lose control. It would be all too easy to fall into his arms and she knew he would be waiting to catch her.
She didn’t want to have any reasons to put off her departure. She wanted to be able to grab her things and go before darkness fell. It would be tempting to sit with Blake on the couch, to let herself slip onto his shoulder and rest against him. She would let his hand slide down her back and along her neck. Stop it, she thought to herself. Blake is the same guy he always has been. He’s selfish and the only thing he cares about is himself and his success in the ring.
She heard Blake as he entered the house, slamming the door closed behind him. Ivy zipped up her bag and left it on the bed. She could hear as he bustled around, eventually heading towards the bathroom and turning on the shower. Once Ivy was sure he was in, she finally let herself leave her room.
Soft jazz music was playing over the house as Ivy walked into the kitchen. Ellen and Jonas were both cooking, Ellen chopping vegetables as Jonas cooked chicken on the stove. They looked almost too cute together, like a couple of young lovers without any of the age or baggage they normally carried around.
“Smells delicious,” Ivy said.
“Thanks. Will you set the table?” Jonas asked over his shoulder.
“Sure,” Ivy answered. She moved deftly around her kitchen, staying out of the way of the two cooks as she set out placemats, plates, forks, knives, and glasses.
By the time the table was set Blake had finished his shower and dressed in jeans and a tight, black t-shirt he flopped down in a chair next to the table.
Ivy refused to look at him, fighting the blush she knew was creeping along her chest and cheeks. When she did sit down and take a glance at Blake she could see he was looking at her with a small smile on his face. She could never resist that smile and she had to give one of her own in return. Thankfully Ellen and Jonas quickly joined them as food was spooned out of the bowl and they all dug in.
“This is delicious, Mom…and Jonas,” Blake said through a mouth full of sautéed chicken.
“Do you cook much, Blake?” Jonas asked.
“No, it’s mostly protein shakes and take-out burgers for me,” Blake answered. “But I do miss my mom’s home cooking.”
“She’s an excellent cook,” Jonas agreed, smiling over at Ellen.
“You’re not so bad yourself, Dad,” Ivy cut in.
“So everyone’s a good cook but me,” Blake said with a smile as he took a sip of his water in front of him. He was looking at Ivy as he spoke. In fact every time Ivy glanced at Blake she would find him looking back at her.
“Do you really have to leave tonight, Ivy?” Jonas asked.
From the corner of her eye she could see Blake almost jump a little at the question. He looked at her with a questioning gaze.
“Yeah, I have to get back to work, and I don’t want to have to deal with traffic in the morning,” she lied. She had plenty of vacation time and the commute wasn’t really that bad. But she couldn’t be in this house with Blake and his smile any longer. “It’s been great spending time with the two of you. You both look so happy. I’m really looking forward to the wedding and to being your maid of honor, Ellen.” That wasn’t a lie.
“Next time we should drive up together,” Blake offered. “We should think about the environment and our carbon footprint.”
“I do hope the two of you will get to spend some time together in Seattle,” Ellen said.
“It should be easier now that I know Ivy actually lives in the city,” Blake said.
Ivy smiled and offered no answer to Blake’s unsaid question. He knew why she hadn’t called him and she knew that had been the right decision. She needed to get back to Seattle and back to work so she could forget about him. Once she didn’t have to look at his half-naked body all the time she would have an easier time leaving him behind.
***
Her bag packed, Ivy did a quick sweep of her childhood bedroom to make sure nothing was left behind. She had just grabbed the handle of her bag when Blake appeared in the doorway. He leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed and looked wistfully around the room.
“We used to have a lot of very quiet fun in here,” he said. “Remember? You were terrified your dad would hear that you had snuck me in.”
“The folly of youth,” Ivy said shaking her head.
“Can I come in?” Blake asked. He had never asked a question like that before. Blake was not the kind of guy who asked for permission.
“Sure,” Ivy said, feeling that familiar blush creep up on her, “but I’m about to head out.”
“Why?” he asked walking into the bedroom and closing the door behind him. “Why are you leaving?”
“I told you at dinner, I have work.” She looked away from him, but had nothing else to look at and finally she had to look up and meet his intense gaze.
“Why do you want to learn how to fight?” Blake asked.
Ivy opened her mouth and then closed it again, unsure of how she should answer. She shrugged her shoulders and mumbled, “no reason.”
“You always hated fighting when we were together. You would refuse to speak to me for days after I was in a fight.”
“You were fighting in school,” Ivy corrected, her blush gone as she looked boldly into his eyes. “You were getting into fights and getting suspended. It was dangerous and stupid. You could have been expelled or really hurt someone.”
“But now that it’s MMA, you’re okay with it?” He asked.
“I...don’t know,” Ivy said wi
th a shrug. “It definitely makes it more legitimate and there are refs there so nothing too crazy or dangerous will happen. I guess I’ve just realized it’s pointless to fight you on this. You like to fight and you’re always going to like to fight and nothing I do will change that.”
“It’s the only thing I’m good at.”
“That’s not true and you know it. You’re good at lots of things, Blake. You know how to fix electronics; you fished the washing machine and the dishwasher in this house when we were fifteen. I think you could do anything you want, but fighting is easiest so you do that.”
“You think fighting is easy?”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying,” Ivy said shaking her head. “I think you’re amazing and you could do anything you put your mind to. I just wish you would pick something else other than fighting. I think you’re better than that.”