by Matson, TC
“Okay. Um…his friend was Ryker. Like, your Ryker.”
Someone just punched me in the face. My world begins flaring with red. My hands are trembling from rage. “You fucking left, right?” I growl.
“At first.”
“What the fuck do you mean at first?”
“I left right when he came in but he stopped me and told me not to leave. Wait! Don’t say anything,” she says quickly. “I told him I wasn’t going to hang out with the rival. I didn’t think it was right. Then Holly came out and talked to me for a second and took me back to her apartment. When we walked back in she told him he wasn’t to speak that she has been wanting me and Matt to meet for so long and he wasn’t going to ruin it. Levi, he kept to his word.”
“You went back and stayed?”
“I did,” she says softly. “But I didn’t speak to him and he didn’t speak to me. Levi, you should have seen how hurt Holly was. She didn’t know and felt horrible.”
I clear my throat and head back into the hotel room. I need to move. I need a bag. I need to go fuck his face up.
“I left right after dinner. I promise you there were no words spoken between us.” Her voice wavers, desperation pouring into each word, but it isn’t helping my anger.
“Paige, what did I tell you about him?” I seethe.
“Don’t. Don’t you dare pull that shit with me. I didn’t have to tell you and I’m sure you’d never know. Trust me when I say I was so uncomfortable. I only did it for Holly and I’m quite sure she knows it will never happen again. I roughed it out for an hour and the first chance I had, I left. Please Levi, don’t lose your shit on me,” she begs.
The line stays quiet for several seconds or minutes, I don’t know. I’ve lost track of time as I focus on breathing and boiling with fury.
“Levi, talk to me,” she says tenderly.
I close my eyes and grit my teeth.
“Levi…”
Fuck, she sounds so sweet and despairing.
“Yeah,” I answer flatly.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to hurt you or Holly so I compromised. I didn’t stay long. And I sure as shit didn’t talk to him or about you.”
“Drop it. I’m done hearing about it,” I tell her curtly.
The more she talks about him, the more my blood continues to boil and I can’t up and leave to rip Ryker’s head off. I’d lose my position, possibly being kicked out altogether.
“I need to hop off here for a bit.” I’m trying to sound neutral but I’m sure there’s no way to hide my rage.
“Okay, call me back. I’ll be at home for the rest of the night.”
“Yep.” I hang up.
What the hell did I tell you? Nothing good ever comes from those words. Never for the life of me did I think Ryker would be in North Carolina. The bastard lives in New Hampshire.
I don’t know where the closest gym is to beat the fuck out of a heavy bag, so I shadow box in the mirror, ducking and weaving from my own punches. Left, right, left, right hook…throwing a slurry of strikes, but there’s no satisfaction without landing them. There’s nothing satisfying about your knuckles making no contact with anything but fucking air. You can release a load of unwanted energy when your hand connects with an intended target.
Fuck!
I drop and start doing push-ups—the very thing Paige jokes about right before any of my fights. Up. Down. Up. Down. No satisfaction. Up. Down. Up…this time to my feet to answer the pounding on my door.
I yank the door open, breathing heavily.
Both Adam’s eyebrows jump high on his forehead. “Did I come at a bad time?”
“Assuming makes you a dickwad. I need a gym,” I snap stepping back into the living room area.
Adam comes in and leans his shoulder against the wall right at the little excuse for a kitchen. “What’s wrong?”
I run my fingers through my hair then pinch the bridge of my nose begging for my temper not to flare. If it does, I know I’ll be out of here and on a plane. “Ryker,” I say in an exhale.
His face scrunches. “What the hell has he done?”
“Somehow in this big fucking wide world, the fucking stars aligned just right and landed him in The Hill and directly in front of Paige.”
“Seriously?” he asks in disbelief.
“I’m thousands of miles away and that cocksucker found my girl and I can’t do a damn thing about it.”
He waves his hand dismissing the situation. “I wouldn’t worry about it. He wants to get under your skin. He doesn’t know Paige can turn into Paperweight. Plus, you know Blain will help her out.”
“That’s my fucking problem!” I shout. “I’m supposed to be there for her! Not someone else. I’m supposed to protect her from shitheads like Ryker.”
He pushes off the wall, crossing his arms. “Dude, I’m telling you, Paige isn’t stupid.”
“I didn’t say she was,” I snap.
“I didn’t say you did. I’m telling you to let your girl handle it. You gotta find a way to control yourself. You’re on the road more than you are home at times.”
“Yeah,” I say defeated and sit on the couch.
“I came by to see if you wanted to get something to eat.” He drops his shoulder back on the wall.
“I just ate.” I nod toward the kitchen. “Leftover chicken in there if you want it.”
Adam scarfs down the chicken and then decides he’s going to bless me with his company. I don’t think we’ve spoken twenty words to each other in over an hour. That’s the difference between men and women. We don’t have to talk to enjoy company. No ears bleed from long, drawn out stories of how we couldn’t find anything to wear or how our hair didn’t want to please us. We don’t waste our breaths on our crushes or how we wish this country singing couple didn’t divorce. We just chill. On occasion, we speak of our wild nights because that can actually be interesting. We find pleasure, in a wicked way, in bragging about a spicy night. But with Paige I don’t divulge much. I don’t need Adam fantasizing about my girl.
We will waste our breaths talking sports. That’s a man thing and it’s instinctive. Fighting, football, basketball, whatever—it’s satisfying.
It’s been several hours since I told Paige I’d call her back. My mind has been in every direction. Pissed, then proud. Pissed because he stopped her from leaving. Proud because she stood up to him. I know she’s strong, but I know this game, and I know what the hell he’s trying to do. And now that he knows he’s that close to my girl, he’s going to use it to his advantage.
“I’m heading to bed,” I tell Adam standing up and grabbing my phone from the table. I’m sure Paige is in a panic. “Leave when you want.”
“Catch ya in the morning,” he calls out as I shut the door.
I turn the shower on, strip out of my clothes and step in. Hot water and steam open my pores and settle my mind, relaxing my muscles. I’m not your possession, Paige once said. I have more trust in you than you do me repeats over and over. It’s not that I don’t trust her, I’m just nervous she’ll get in a situation she won’t know how to handle.
My argument with myself continues as I wash my hair and body. It even follows me into the bedroom as I dress and sit on the side of the bed staring at the phone. Either she’s going to cuss me, or she’s not going to answer. Might as well find out which one, but I’m doing video so I can gauge her better.
“Hey,” she answers with a weak smile. She’s in the bed with her head on the pillow and the camera crooked. I forgot she’s two hours ahead of me.
“I didn’t mean to wake you.”
She scrunches her nose. “You can call me any time. You know that. Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Um…I appreciate you telling me, you know, about that. I’m sure you were worried about my reaction and I guess you had the right, huh?” I sound like a sappy ass puppy tucking my tail because I just shit on the floor.
“With him being our biggest argument, yeah, you ca
n say I was worried, but I wasn’t going to not tell you.”
“I’ll get better. I don’t like not being there for you,” I admit.
She smiles a little goofy. “You’re always here for me. Just a phone call away.”
“Always.” I smile at her.
Her green eyes are tired. Her blinks are slow to open and her face is all scrunched up from being on the pillow.
“You work the restaurant tomorrow?” I ask and as if I’ve just been sucker punched, my heart thunders in my chest.
Fuck. Matt knows Holly works there and I’m quite sure he knows Paige does too, so now the cocksucker will know.
Like my thoughts were in her sights she giggles. “Quit worrying about him. I’ll ignore him if he shows up.”
Her words don’t do a damn thing to help. “Call me tomorrow. Get some rest. Love you, Sunshine.”
“I love you, baby. Quit worrying. You’re my adorable sexy macho man.”
I puff out air smiling. “That you can’t keep your hands off should be added to that.”
“Well, that’s always added to your name regardless of what I call you. Hey, asshole that I can’t keep my hands off. See, it works,” she teases.
“Call me tomorrow, Sunshine. Sleep well.”
I lean back, tucking my hands behind my head, and stare at the ceiling. I’ve worked my ass off to get where I’m going. Focusing to become the next champ. Determined to be the best of the best without any distractions. Without the want to be with someone. Then came a stubborn ass, sassy and independent brown-headed, green-eyed woman who completely blindsided me. She was a thrill. An obstacle I was determined to weaken and get between those sexy ass legs. And now for fuck’s sake, I feel guilty for pursuing my passion.
I get Ryker’s fight out of the way and I won’t be on the road so much.
Chapter 11
Since Levi hit the road to train Katie, the plan was for him to return every other weekend. Jim, my manager at Tonic, agreed to let me off for most of them, and since Levi was supposed to be in town this weekend, I’m off. Unfortunately, the only way I’m seeing him tonight is on the TV during Katie’s fight.
Although he never fully admitted it, I know Ryker showing up at my work was on his mind. It was on mine too but Holly comforted my worries after she said she begged Matt to keep him away. I guess it worked since it’s been two days and I haven’t seen him.
I invited Holly and Matt over to watch the fight but obviously didn’t extend the invitation to Ryker. Even though I’m leery about Matt now, I have to try to balance it. He’s my best friend’s boyfriend. I don’t know if I can talk about Levi without him running back and telling Ryker. Is there a plot with a hidden agenda? I don’t know how to act around him and it’s even making me nervous about what I tell Holly. Does she tell Matt everything? Esh, all this is difficult.
We’re all gathered in the living room watching the preliminary fights, waiting for the co-main event. Katie has to be feeling spectacular. I mean, it’s the fight before the main event. Everyone will be watching.
“Paigey, can you grab me a beer while you’re up?” Blain asks as I’m making my way to the kitchen.
“Me too?” Jason calls out from the couch. He’s brought Tasha, I think that was her name, several times and strangely no one else. I almost want to laugh thinking he might be settling down.
I nod continuing to the kitchen.
“You okay?” Holly pops up behind me.
Startled, I squeak and spin around grabbing my chest. “Dammit, you can’t pull ninja on me,” I quip. “Yes I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Just wanted to check. It’s kind of weird that I’m dating Levi’s rival’s best friend. Or at least it feels weird to me.”
“Yeah, but it’s okay. I just don’t want to be around Ryker and I hope Matt doesn’t run off and blab his mouth to him.”
“If he does, I’m cutting him off for a week. That will teach him.” She laughs.
“Paige!” Blain calls out. “She’s about to come out.”
“Whelp, let’s go see Levi’s hard work,” I say grabbing the beers.
“You nervous?” she asks.
“Like crazy,” I admit. “I don’t know if I’m more nervous for her or him. I mean this says a lot about him.”
She smiles widely. “She’s going to kick that bitch’s ass.” She winks then strolls back to Matt leaning into him on the stool.
I hope so…
Unlike the main event, this isn’t as energy-fueled. The music isn’t loud, pumping through the fans. There aren’t any strobe lights flashing everywhere. But nonetheless, the crowd is still loud.
The moment Katie comes out of the dark entrance with Levi right behind her, the crowd roars and a swish of jealousy pangs me. I’ve never seen Katie before now, but holy shit, Ryker was right. She’s stunning. Her black hair sits high on top of her head, her face is smooth with lips that every girl dreams of. She’s in a zone, focused ahead of her, striding her perfectly toned body toward the cage.
My heart flutters at the sight of Levi. It feels like forever since I’ve seen him. He’s in a gray t-shirt that’s tight against his bulging muscles, his face stoic showing no emotions, his jet black hair up in his faux hawk that I love running my fingers through. I’m studying him like something would be different, but it’s not. He’s just as sexy and fantastic as he was the last time I saw him.
They pause at the entrance of the ring and Katie sheds her shirt and shorts allowing the ref to check her. I grit my teeth as I watch her turn and wrap her arms around Levi’s neck. I swallow the possessive feeling seeing him pat her on the back and whispering something in her ear. She nods then bounds up the four steps entering the cage.
She springs from side to side shaking out her arms and turns to Levi through the black wires of the cage. I can’t see what he’s saying but whatever it is, he’s serious as hell. She nods a few times then turns around as her opponent comes out.
I’m bouncing my knee as the ref brings the ladies to the middle, going over the rules and then making them tap gloves. Levi is adamant about doing so. He says everyone has worked just as hard as the next, pushing for their own win so there is no use to showing disrespect. There’s always a possibility of bad blood. It’s a competitive sport.
The women back up and the bell rings. Immediately, they meet back in the middle, hands up, sizing each other up, neither one throwing a punch. Over the crowd, I hear Levi shout something then Tabitha steps in striking with a left and a right, clocking Katie in the face and causing her to stumble back. Tabitha takes advantage of her unsteadiness and charges her, clenching her neck and pushing her against the cage. If Katie has listened to Levi, she won’t hit the mat. He hates the mat.
Regaining her senses, Katie ducks out from Tabitha and pushes off the cage, rocking her head from shoulder to shoulder and standing back in guard. Katie wastes no time and starts firing punches and lands a punishing kick to the thigh. Tabitha steps back but Katie charges, stepping into her guard and tries to throw an elbow. I wince seeing her mistake, and Tabitha takes Katie’s legs out from under her. She lands on her back in trouble.
Katie tries to defend herself and grab Tabitha’s wrists, but Tabitha is landing some brutal punches. I’m holding my breath and weaving my head. She’s in trouble. She bucks but to no avail. I can hear Levi yelling, but it’s barely audible from the noise of the crowd. Katie grabs her opponent around her waist and pulls her close to lessen the blows she’s landing. Just in time too. The bell rings and I finally exhale.
There’s a man in black placing something on Katie’s busted eyebrow to try and stop the bleeding. I’m happy the camera is on her corner. I get more time with Levi. He’s holding a bag of ice on her neck, talking.
“Don’t get desperate for the win. That’s where you’re gonna fuck up,” he says and she nods. “Take your time. She’s expecting you to be sloppy. Show her different. Be precise. Remember the things we’ve talked about,” he says rushed and she
nods again taking deep breaths.
Everyone is out by the time the bell rings and the women are back on their feet. Tabitha wastes no time and jabs Katie’s busted eye. She’s going to focus there and wear Katie down or damage it so much the medics call the fight.
Katie kicks, landing it on the outside of Tabitha’s thigh only fueling Tabitha more. She explodes and unloads on Katie. At first, Katie does well, ducking and weaving but after a few punches are landed, she loses her groove.
I’m on the edge of my seat. Katie doesn’t look good with blood all over her face. She’s backing away from Tabitha trying to recover. Tabitha slings a sloppy punch and Katie steps in and lands a solid uppercut with her right hand. Tabitha stumbles and drops to the mat. Katie hesitates for a second, but it doesn’t take her long to mount her hurt opponent and flood her with punches.
Tabitha’s arms go limp beside her. She’s no longer able to protect herself and the ref pushes Katie off, calling the fight. Immediately, Levi rushes in the ring and Katie jumps, wrapping her legs around his waist and tucking her head in the crook of his neck. He twirls her around with one fist in the air, smiling widely as he’s saying something. My heart sinks as I watch her lean back and kiss his cheek then plant her feet back on the mat…still in his arms.
After the ref announces the winner and raises her hand, it remains in Levi’s. He doesn’t let it go.
I twist a string from the bottom of my shirt unable to unglue my stare from the TV. There’s a tingle in my chest and I clear my throat seeing if it will help, but it doesn’t.
A man with a crew cut in a black button up shirt rushes to get to her. “Katie, how does it feel to get your first win?”
“Fantastic!” she yells out of breath still.
“How did you get ready for this extraordinary fight? I mean, Tabitha is known for her resilience and patience. She has several fights under her belt with one sanctioned win. Did that bother you?”