by Matson, TC
She beams at Levi and pats him on his chest. “I couldn’t have done it without him. He’s pushed me hard in training. He’s worked hours increasing my stamina.” She wraps herself around his arm. “He gets in there with me, sparring and grappling. Very hands on. He’s a strict coach. I just couldn’t have done it without him.”
“Levi, how does it feel to switch roles from a fighter to a coach?” the man asks.
“Not much difference other than I’m not in the ring,” Levi answers the man dryly. He’s always hated the interviews.
“Well, congratulations on your win,” the man tells Katie and steps back to let them celebrate.
Again, Katie can’t keep her damn hands off of Levi, wrapping her arms around his waist as they exit the ring. I inhale deeply, feeling everyone’s eyes on me.
“Yay! She won.” I try forcing fake excitement. But no one says a word. “What? Are y’all not happy? Be happy. That was Levi’s hard work.” I point to the television with my cheeks burning.
Blain clears his throat. “He did well training her. You can tell he taught her the things he hates like—”
“Not everyone needs to know,” I interrupt him, scrunching my nose and sliding my eyes to Matt. “Sorry, but you are friends with the enemy.”
Matt chuckles. “Understood.”
I grab my phone and text Levi.
Me: Congrats to you both!
I’m not going to let jealousy get the best of me. Of course they’re going to be close. They work side by side on a near daily basis so they’re going to have a good friendship. I’m rambling, aren’t I?
Chapter 12
Katie had my blood boiling for most of the fucking fight. Her lack of confidence was run over by her train of nerves, pushing her to forget most of her training and fight like a punk. She just about shattered her dream of getting into the women’s division of MMA. Hopefully, winning added some assurance to her ass.
My nerves have never gotten in the way. I’m not saying I’ve never been anxious about a fight, but I’ve known from the get-go I was a force to be reckoned with and anyone who got in my way would know how it felt to be leveled.
Paige texted me over an hour ago. She knows the ropes. It can take a bit after a fight to get things together, but I just got to the hotel and I’m not wasting any more time.
“Congratulations,” she yells into the phone.
I chuckle at her elation. “Thanks, but that was her fight.”
“Your hard work in motion. I was worried about her at first.”
“Let’s just say when I get back to Pompano Beach, she will be plagued with a brutal training session for raising my blood pressure watching that sloppy shit.”
“I could hear you over the crowd,” she tells me.
“Hope they bleeped that shit out ‘cause if not, everyone got an earful. Anyway, I got good news,” I basically sing to her.
Immediately, I hear her eagerness. “What?”
“I fly out tomorrow night.”
I can’t wait to wrap my arms around her and taste her fucking lips. I need a big dose of my girl and playing catch up is going to be a phenomenal marathon.
She squeals. “I can’t wait! Do you need me to come get you from the airport?”
“No. I’ve got a rental. Just be in the bed waiting for me when I get there. Yeah, yeah. I know. I’m a perv.”
She laughs.
“I’m going to hop off and grab something to eat and hit the sack. Gotta get packed up for tomorrow,” I say.
“Okay. Sleep well.”
“You too. Love ya, Sunshine.”
“Levi…I can’t wait to see you. I really miss you.”
There’s that tug in my chest. A lurch from my heart. She drives me crazy.
“You too,” I tell her, smiling as I hang up.
A knock on the door at four in the morning wakes me from sleep. Initiate insta-aggravation. I rip open the door fully expecting Adam’s drunk ass to be on the other side. Instead, I’m greeted with a lopsided Katie who I believe is seriously fucked up drunk.
“You busy?” she slurs.
She’s definitely drunk. She took several solid punches to the face last night. Three stitches hold together an ugly gash above her right eye and half her face is bruised. But that’s the game.
“Sleeping,” I gruff.
Stepping past me, she lets herself in. My stare lingers into the empty hall for a moment before I push the door shut.
She’s standing in the middle of the living room in gray yoga pants and a red shirt, wringing her fingers. “I need to talk to you,” she mutters.
Oh for fuck’s sake. This is just like the “don’t interrupt me until I’m done” conversation. Normally, the “I need to talk to you” is code for something is fucked up and I’m the one who fucked it up.
I stalk to her. “If this is where you tell me the small ass kicking you endured last night did you in, I think it would be best for you to leave,” I say candidly in a low voice.
As she looks up to me, her eyes show uncertainty. I clench my jaw. I’ve never hit a woman in my life, but if she tells me she’s out, I’m not so sure I’d be able to refrain from strangling her.
Rather than telling me what’s on her mind, she stretches to her tiptoes, grabs my neck, and locks her lips to mine.
Straightway, I grab her arms and push her off me. “What the fuck?”
She glides her hands down my chest, smiling with motive. “Tell me you don’t feel it,” she says in a seductive slur.
I grip her hands and stop them from going any farther. “I don’t. How much have you had to drink?” I ask backing away.
I back my dumbass against the couch and she pushes me down and then straddles me.
“Don’t play stupid, Levi,” she says trying to nip at my neck. “I know you want me. I heard you say you wanted me to scream your name. I do…I do want to. Let me show you.” She grinds against my dick, which unfortunately has poked his head up to see what the ruckus is about. “See. You want this too. Please.”
That’s it. I stand watching her slide to the floor. “Get the fuck out of my room.” I growl.
She looks up confused as I yank her by the wrist off the floor, pulling her to her feet. “But—”
“There aren’t any,” I interject.
“I heard what you said,” she rushes out.
“You didn’t hear what all was said either. You need to leave and sober up.”
Anger burns her eyes and she shoves me in the chest. “Fuck you, Levi.”
I exhale, gritting my teeth and walking her backward to the door until her back hits it. “Right here is the reason why I don’t drink. I can’t stand not being in control of myself and losing my rational thoughts. Katie, you’re drunk and on pain meds. You’re only intensifying the stupidity. Go back to your room and sleep it off.”
Cue the fucking crying. Her eyes swell up and she drops her head to her hands resting against my chest. In a babbling mess, she apologizes too many times to count with additional words mixed in. I can’t understand her through her drunken sobs.
“You won a fight, but you’re crying about it?”
Women…you’re so fucking confusing.
She wipes her tears. “I’m happy. But I don’t have anyone to share it with,” she snubs.
“The bottom of the bottle isn’t so friendly, is it?”
She shakes her head.
“Go sleep it off. You’re going to feel like shit tomorrow.”
Her face falls. “I have a slight problem. I don’t have my room key. I thought we would…” She shakes her head again. “I just don’t have my key.”
I scowl and rumble another growl. It’s too fucking early…late…however you want to see it, to deal with this shit. I look to the room and back to the couch.
“You can stay here. Go get in the bed and go the fuck to sleep.”
“Wh-where are you going to sleep?”
That was the most hopeful question I’ve ever heard.
“On the
couch.” I point. “Alone,” I add sternly. “You’ll still be asleep when I wake up and if you’re out here, you’ll be in my way. Let me grab some shit from the room.”
She’s on my heels as I enter and grab a shirt, pillow and my phone. I turn right before shutting the door. “Good night.” There’s no Mr. Nice Guy in that. I’m pissed.
I toss the pillow at the end of the couch and drop, lying on my back. That’s the exact reason why I don’t drink. You become something you normally aren’t. Some people say you show your true feelings. Either way, I hate the feeling. I’m not ignorant. I know she’s crushing on me, but for her to be that blunt isn’t like her.
Hangover headache added to a sore body…yeah, Miss Drunk Mess is going to feel like a gold fucking medal that’s been tossed off a ten-story hotel balcony in the morning.
It’s seven in the morning and I’m woken by the tone of my text message. I reach to the table for my phone and groan. This couch sucks. I’m stiff as fuck.
Paige: I’m so excited to see you. I didn’t sleep well at all last night.
Ah yes. Tonight, I’ll have my girl’s arms around my neck and her legs wrapped around my waist savoring the sound of my name falling from her lips.
Me: So you’re in the bed waiting on me? Are you naked?
Paige: I was in the bed all night waiting for you. Unfortunately, my superhero didn’t put his cape on and fly to my rescue.
I push the button for video chat.
She answers beaming from ear to ear and before she can say anything, I pipe in. “I’ll be flying to your rescue tonight.”
She throws her hand over her forehead. “Oh, superhero, I’m miserable without my sexy boyfriend. Can you help me?”
“So this sexy boyfriend. Tell me about him.”
Her lips twist up. “He’s gorgeous, muscular, like really built with a heart of gold. When he’s shirtless, just as you are, I love to trace my fingers over his tattoos. Matter of fact, that one looks just like his.” She nods at the heartbeat tattoo on my left pec. “Every once in a while, he’ll say things to make me melt on the spot. And his eyes…oh my. I fall into them every time. They’re majestic. And when he wraps his big, strong arms around me, and pulls me close, I know I’m safe.”
“Sounds like you really like this guy?” I respond coquettishly.
“Oh, you have no clue.”
I’m grinning like a bastard. “Maybe you’ll show him soon.”
She bites her thumbnail and shrugs innocently. “Maybe. So what time’s your flight?”
And just like that, our flirtatious play is over. Shut down. “A little after five my time. It’s right at a six-hour flight.”
Her top lip curls unsatisfied at my answer. “It will be midnight before I get to see you.”
“I’ll make up for it.” I’m grinning more devilishly now because I lied about the flight. Take off is around two-thirty, which will place me at her doorstep around nine-thirty. The way she looks when she’s surprised is my kryptonite. Her eyes will light up. Her smile will shine. Simply incredible.
I hear the bedroom door pop open and quickly I look over my shoulder. Katie’s frozen in place with wide, apologetic eyes.
“Fuck,” I sigh sitting up.
“Who was that?” Paige’s excited demeanor fades away into the darkness.
“Katie,” I answer. “Let me call you back in a few.”
Her brows furrow creating those pissed off lines that dance across her forehead. “Seriously?”
I rub the left side of my face. “It’s not what it looks like. She drank too much last night and lost her hotel key so I let her crash here.”
“She’s in your clothes,” she informs me disgruntled.
I glance to Katie. She hasn’t moved. And Paige is right. “What the hell are you doing in my shirt?”
“I-um-I needed something to sleep in,” she stutters.
“Last I checked you were fine with what you had on,” I snap, dismissing her statement.
“Um, hello?” Paige calls from the phone.
I’m in deep shit. “Sunshine, I’ll call you back. I love you.”
Yep. I’m in really deep shit. She just hung up on me.
I flick my eyes to Katie. “Why the hell are you in my clothes?”
She looks down at herself then back up. “I needed something to sleep in,” she repeats herself quietly.
“How are you feeling?” I ask caustically.
She clears her throat hanging her head low. “I…um…I’m gonna go.” She scurries to the door wrapping her arms around her body.
“I’m sorry for last night.” They’re the last words she says before closing the door. That didn’t even come with eye contact. It’s a walk of shame without having reaped the benefits of what the walk is all about. Sucks to be her.
Chapter 13
I throw my phone on the bed. What the hell was that? The inside of my body is on fire as a confused rage storms through me. I stand on wobbly knees unsure of where I’m going. My lungs are squeezed so tightly, I feel lightheaded.
Mere hours after seeing them celebrate in a very friendly manner, she’s in his clothes with him half-dressed himself. And then he leaves me hanging…
Now do I have the right to be pissed off?
I’m pacing the floor trying to release the blend of emotions I’m feeling. My evil imagination is running amok. Quick torturous pictures of them frolicking in the sheets flash before my eyes. Her on top with her long black hair a wild mess, him on top of her, sweat dripping from their naked bodies. Hot tears begin to sting my eyes and I jam my palms against them, begging for the images to disappear.
I think I’m going to throw up.
I’m brushing my teeth after my little rendezvous with the porcelain god when I hear the ringtone for video chat. I roll my eyes in no hurry to answer despite the unceasing ring.
My phone landed on the pillow, “his” pillow, and I exhale reaching for it.
“Paige,” Levi says the second I answer. “Stop and listen.”
“How am I supposed to feel about that?” I ask.
He’s aggravated, his forehead crinkled, his eyes dark and steely. “Probably the same damn way I’d feel. She came over late as hell and drunk as fuck. She didn’t have her room key and figuring I’d wake up before her, I sent her to my room and I slept on the couch so I wouldn’t bother her when I woke up.”
“You don’t do the couch,” I remind him. “And why the hell was she in your clothes?”
“I don’t do the couch with you. Mad or not, we’re in the same bed. I don’t care if you put a fucking wall of pillows up between us, you’ll be in my bed with me. And your guess is as good as mine. When she went to bed she was in her own damn clothes.”
“So she rummaged through your stuff to wear your clothes? You realize how bogus that sounds?”
“Yes. I’m just as pissed about it as you.” There’s a pause as he leans back in the recliner and runs his hand over his face. “I know all this looks like shit and if I was in your position I would be furious. But, Sunshine, you have to trust me. You—”
“Stop. Please,” I interrupt him. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore,” I tell him. My head is throbbing and my throat is on fire from holding back the tears.
He grumbles rubbing his forehead. “Fuck…”
I’m lost in a daze. Everything is foggy. “I’m…I’m going to hop off here. I’ll see you tonight, right?” I finally look down at the camera.
His lips twist up ruefully. “I wouldn’t miss it. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Okay, I love you.” Still in a haze, the words lag exiting my mouth.
I don’t wait for his response and tap the “End” button before dropping my head into my hands. I want to believe him. I truly do, but how do I erase what I saw? How do I stop his past from taunting my insecurities?
A few swipes of my finger and I’m texting Holly. She always knows what to say.
Me: You home?
H
olly: Yep.
Me: Care if I stop in?
Holly: Come on! Matt gave me a new bottle of wine. Let’s try this puppy out!
I laugh.
Me: You realize it’s not even noon?
Holly: There’s a time limit to this? Shit. It’ll be our secret.
Me: Be there in a few.
These stairs never seem to get any easier. It’s embarrassing how three flights can kick my tail. “I don’t see how you do the stairs every day,” I breathlessly tell Holly when she answers the door.
“All in the legs, girl.” She pulls the door open farther. “I’m blessed with your presence at my place twice in one week. What gives?”
“If you remember, the last time I was here was the first time you had ever invited me over.”
She bounces her finger at me. “Oh yeah. Good point.”
“I need an outsider’s opinion,” I say nestling into the corner of her couch.
“Ooh.” She pats my leg. “Lubrication makes it easier.”
I snicker. “What the hell are you talking about?”
She smiles tenderly and shrugs. “I’m trying to lighten your mood. You reek of anguish and it’s stinking up my house. So what’s wrong?”
I watch as I wring my fingers. “You saw how Katie and Levi acted when she won last night, right?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see her nod.
“Well, I called him this morning and he was on the couch half naked and as we were talking, Katie came out of his room wearing his shirt.”
Snaky lines appear on her forehead. “How do you know?”
“We were video chatting.”
“So…what was his reasoning?”
“He said she showed up drunk and without a room key. Instead of putting her on the couch, she slept in the bed so he could get up early and not bother her. On top of that, he got off the phone with me quick, just leaving me hanging.”
“Hmm…sucky on his part. What do you feel happened?”
Finally, I raise my lost stare to her. “I don’t know. I want to say nothing, but my mind is my worst enemy.”
She studies me for a moment, her brown eyes shifting back and forth from mine, and then bounces off the couch, heading toward the kitchen. “Let’s test this wine.”