UnExpected (The Fighter Series Book 2)

by Matson, TC

  “A Bud Light, please.”

  What’s with him being so freaking nice? I thought all the fighters were asses.

  “We’re not.”

  I freeze glancing up to him. I said that out loud…Fuck.

  I pop the top off his beer and set it on the counter a little more embarrassed than what I should be. “Sorry.”

  “No need to apologize. I take it you’ve had a rough day?”

  I cock my head to the side. “You can call it that.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. Could I be nosey and ask if it was about what Breakaway Sports had to say about Levi?”

  “When are you going home?” I snap, mistrustful of his intentions.

  “I’m not sure. I guess I could go when I want to. Nothing holding me here. Nothing pulling me home. All I have is time.”

  I ignore him and wipe off the bar for the umpteenth time. Hell, by now it should be a damn mirror. I can feel his eyes on me and it’s only irritating me further.

  “Is there anything else I can get you, Ryker?” I hiss.

  “A smile. You’re much prettier when you do.”

  “I apologize I don’t hold your little fantasy. Maybe you should move on.”

  He chuckles taking a swig of his beer. “If it’s of any consolation, I hope your night gets better.”

  I puff out air watching him walk away. Why couldn’t he have been a jerkface? A good argument would have released my tension. But no, he had to be nice. Why? I’ve only ever been a bitch to him.

  It’s thirty minutes before the doors close when he shows up again. Still sporting the smile.

  “I’m heading out. Do you need anything?” he asks.

  “What the fuck is with you?” I hiss.

  He bends leaning his elbows on the bar. “Paige, I get you’re mad at him, but please don’t disrespect me. I’ve done nothing wrong.”

  That’s it. He’s gone! No way to defend myself. He just spoke so nicely and turned and walked away, leaving me with a pounding heart of frustration and humiliation. I’ve been so mean toward him all because I’m angry at Levi.

  I pinch the bridge of my nose as Mason places his hand on my shoulder. “You okay?”

  As if his words hit the switch to open the dam, my tears fall. “No,” I answer keeping my eyes shut and my head down.

  “Wanna talk?”

  “No,” I repeat the same dry answer.

  He squeezes my shoulder and then walks away.

  I twist around. “What am I supposed to believe?” I call out to Mason, desperately.

  Even though I’m sure he has no clue what I’m talking about, he offers a weak smile and shrugs his shoulders. “Try talking to him,” he says making his way back to his side of the bar to finish cleaning up.

  “Yeah. Talking,” I whisper to myself. He can tell me he’s a cashier at a grocery store and I’ll believe him. That’s how much I beg for him to be truthful. I’m half blind to all his wrongs. Or am I seeing all the right?

  Me: You up?

  Just sending the two-word text sends my heartbeat to a hysterical level. I sigh not knowing if I want him to respond, but knowing if he doesn’t it will only add fuel to my fire.

  Two minutes of self-torture pass before my phone rings, popping up a camera for video chat.

  He’s in bed. “What are you doing texting me?”

  “I knew you had a long day, so I didn’t want to wake you,” I lie.

  He chuckles groggily, then wipes his eyes and adjusts his head on the pillow. “Bad night?”

  “What gives you that idea?”

  “The fact you’re wearing a scowl.”

  I clear my throat. “Yeah, you can say that.”

  That caught his attention and he jerks his head off the pillow. “Something you can’t handle?” he says with concern in his voice.

  “I don’t know.” My voice cracks and I hate myself for it.

  He sits on the edge of the bed. “Paige, what’s wrong?”

  “I asked you a question once and I’m going to ask you again. Do I have anything to worry about?”

  “No,” he says slowly. “Quit beating around the bush, Paige. What’s wrong?”

  I exhale a long breath. “I saw a picture of you on TV today.”

  “Was I as sexy as I am in real life?”

  “Wrong time for jokes, Levi,” I warn. “It was of you and Katie. They say you were training, but to be honest with you, it left me speechless.”

  His face scrunches. “I haven’t seen it. Why did it leave you speechless?”

  “Blain couldn’t come up with anything either.”

  “Now, I’m really interested in this picture. Pull it up,” he tells me.

  I open my laptop and pull up the picture. And again, it smacks me across my face. I turn the phone for him to see it.

  “Paige…” His tone is a little apprehensive. “That fucking photographer.” He sighs.

  I’m unable to think of anything to say.

  “That’s why I don’t like to be photographed without me knowing,” he says.

  His words hit me. “Why? So they don’t catch you in something like this? Is that why you were so mad at him?”

  “They didn’t catch me doing shit but training. The picture is being taken out of context. And yes, that’s why I was mad at him. He had no idea what was being said between us.”

  “What was being said?” I ask.

  “Paige, I don’t know. It could’ve been anything. I tend to piss her off the best when I’m a smartass. I could have been saying something to ruffle her feathers.”

  “Levi, you understand why I’m having a hard time believing it?” I ask turning the phone back to the picture. “Look at it. Tell me what you’d see if you weren’t there.”

  “I see it and I was there. Therefore, I’m able to tell you that picture shows no justice. Why didn’t he publish the one he took just seconds after? The one where I would have had her in an armbar if he hadn’t flashed that fucking camera in my face. Or the picture prior, where I was pissed at her wimpy shit?”

  “It just looks so…personal,” I admit.

  “It wasn’t,” he snaps. “Why is it I’m always defending myself?”

  “You’re not. All I’m doing is talking to you and telling you how I feel. Communication, it’s part of a relationship.”

  “Don’t belittle me. I know it’s part of it. But I feel you’ve convinced yourself into whatever it is you believe it to be. I’m defending myself against your insecurities on a daily basis, Paige. When the fuck are you going to get it?”

  “Do you want me to shut you out of my thoughts? Not talk to you about how I feel?”

  “I want you to get a damn grip. Put some trust in me. I mean for fuck’s sake, I know I don’t have a great past, but I thought for sure I’ve shown you how much you mean to me. I’ve begged you for weeks to come travel with me. If you’d get off your stubborn ass and do it, we wouldn’t have this petty shit to worry about.”

  “I didn’t say I didn’t trust you. I—”

  “You don’t have to fucking say it. You show it.”

  “I didn’t call to have an argument. I just needed some clarification. I didn’t know grinding against each other was part of training,” I blurt, pissed off and regretting it the second I say it.

  “I tell you what. Tomorrow, I’ll video chat you, except on the other end will be Katie. You stress to her all your in-fucking-securities and allow her to tell you what’s real and what’s not.”

  I drop my head into my hand. “Don’t. Just read the article about you two. You might want to clear that up with the magazine.”

  “If you’re not gonna be by my side while I get to where I’m going, you better come up with thicker skin. Shit gets started. Look at the tabloids. You believe what they write?”

  “No.”

  “There’s no difference except I’m not a million-dollar actor. I don’t have the paparazzi chasing me. What I do have are fans, sports photographers, and dickwads willing
to act just as disrespectful as the paparazzi.”

  “I’m sorry,” I say quietly.

  “Since we’re being honest with each other, let me add to the conversation. I’m going to bed because you have me pissed. I love you with all my heart. Sweet dreams.”

  And he hangs up.

  I don’t know if that was worse or better than I anticipated. How is it I ask him about an awkward picture and then it gets switched around on me? What did I expect?

  I plug my phone in and lay my head on the pillow, closing my eyes. Flashes of images—Levi, me, Katie, his home, Ryker, cages, Levi laughing—they all rush me. I can feel my tears begin to pool behind my eyelids and I push my fingers into the corners to make them stop. Through the quick bursts of images, darkness finally sweeps me away.

  Chapter 24

  Last night sucked. I didn’t predict that the whole thing would backfire in my face. And although I went to sleep fairly quickly, I saw every hour until I finally gave up and got out of bed. Levi has texted me a few times this morning, but our conversation was short.

  Not long after, Holly called me and asked if I wanted to do lunch. That’s exactly what I’m doing. Girl time—it’s a blessing in disguise. We decided on a small pizza joint downtown. I love this place. It blends modern and old flawlessly causing it to give off a great vibe. Black tables and booths line the rustic cement floor. Exposed brick and long lights hanging from the industrial ceilings give it a custom feeling of elegant eating for cheap.

  Holly chooses a table toward the middle and we’ve been here for twenty minutes talking. I pull the picture up on my phone and show her as I tell her how the conversation blew up in my face. Even Holly—the one who has something to say about everything—can’t come up anything good.

  “I think you did the right thing by talking to him,” she says and then takes a bite of her pizza.

  “Eh.” I shrug. “I felt like I set off a bomb.”

  “Sounds like it.”

  “Mmmm…pizza and my sweetheart. Two things I can’t get enough of,” Matt says sneaking up on our table. He places a kiss on Holly’s cheek and pulls out a chair. “Care if we join you?” he asks sliding his eyes to me.

  Apparently, I’m a little slow today because it doesn’t dawn on me that he said “we” until Ryker drops beside me. “I promise to be polite. Or should I be an ass? I’m not sure which one appeases you,” he jests.

  My eyes shift back to Holly, silently begging for the right answer. She’s just as blank as I am. She’s conflicted because she wants us to find some “mutual ground” as she calls it.

  So I choose to do right by me. “I’m sorry,” I tell him. “I had a bad night and you were the easy target.”

  “The path of least resistance. It’s the easiest road to take. I get it and I’m not holding it against you, but I hope it got better for you.”

  I roll my eyes.

  “Ok, well, let’s hope today is better.”

  I freeze. He understands eye roll?

  The waitress comes bouncing to the table, full of life with a contagious smile and takes the guys’ drink and food orders. Everyone is “Honey” and “Sweetheart” in a thick southern accent and her older brown eyes hold enthusiasm.

  “You don’t meet a stranger in this town,” Ryker says just after she strolls off.

  “Southern charm,” Holly says.

  “I’ve got that,” Ryker tells her.

  “No. You have a mix of Southern and Yankee twang and you don’t pronounce your R’s.”

  “I’ve lived in the South long enough and yes I do.”

  Holly giggles. “Pahk,” she says in the worst Northern accent ever. “Where exactly does the R go?”

  “Pah-ar-k,” he enunciates. “See how long it took me to say? I could’ve already had the sentence done.” He takes a sip of his Coke. “And there are too many Rykers.”

  “Aw, what’s wrong? You don’t feel special?” Holly teases.

  “He thought he’d have the coolest name around. Truth is, gotta be cool to sport a cool name.” Matt jumps on the teasing band wagon.

  “You could call me John and I’d still be cool.”

  I look to Holly. “Do they always act like this?”

  Her right eyebrow rises. “It’s like babysitting every day.”

  “You love it,” Matt says pushing his nose into Holly’s cheek.

  She squeals laughing and kisses him. It’s awkward and I drop my eyes to my food.

  “It’s sickening, isn’t it?” Ryker whispers with laughter in his voice.

  “Nauseating.” I snort.

  They stop only when the waitress comes back with Matt and Ryker’s pizza, placing it between them. Ryker is just sliding a piece on his plate when his phone rings.

  “Hey, Pooh-bear,” he answers. “No you’re fine. I’m out eating lunch with Matt and some friends.”

  He left out the girls, it’s gotta be a girlfriend.

  “I miss you too… I’ll be home soon… Of course. I’ll take you to the movies when I get back… Let me hop off here and finish eating. I’ll call you later, ok? I love you too.”

  He slides his phone back into his pocket and takes a big bite out of his pizza.

  “Gracie?” Matt asks with a mouthful.

  Ryker nods.

  “How long have you two been together?” I ask curiously.

  The corners of his lips pull back as he swallows his food. “About eight years, I believe.”

  “How does she like you traveling?”

  His grin is very inquisitive. “She doesn’t like it at all, but she keeps herself pretty busy.”

  “You told me once you had nothing pulling you back home. Wouldn’t you think she’s worth it?” I’m slightly annoyed he would just dismiss his girlfriend.

  “Of course she’s worth it, but I’m living my life as she is hers.”

  “But you’re not going back home for her?”

  He drags his teeth along his bottom lip, sharpens his eyes, and leans back into his chair. “Paige, my eight-year-old niece understands I travel a lot. She knows months could pass before I come back, and she also knows when I get home, I’ll spend every waking moment with her until I leave again.”

  I close my eyes in humiliation.

  He leans to me. “Please don’t think of me as scum. I’m not. It’s fascinating that you got offended at the possibility of me having a girlfriend, and although I don’t, I appreciate your concern for her.”

  I don’t dare look at him. I’m utterly mortified. Seems every time I open my mouth I embarrass the hell out of myself.

  “Sorry,” I say quietly.

  I remain quiet for the rest of the lunch as Holly and Matt play cutesy with each other and Ryker watches me out of the corner of his eyes. I’m assuming he knows how uncomfortable I am and has decided to leave me to die in my own humiliation.

  Chapter 25

  There’s a knock on my bedroom door that jolts me from sleep and sends me jumping off the bed in search of my purse for my gun. Frantically, I’m scanning and then realization slams me in the forehead. What intruder with horrible intent would knock?

  “Yeah?” I call out.

  “Paige?” Holly says a little weird.

  I pull the door open. “Normally you call. Is everything ok?”

  Her expression is doleful and my heart drops. I wrap my arms around her neck. “Oh, Holly, what happened?”

  She leans back and smiles slightly. “Let’s get some coffee first.”

  I follow her into the kitchen with my heart falling to pieces. I’ve never seen her so sad. She and Matt can’t be over. They just started. They looked so happy last night, laughing and cutting up.

  “Holly, what’s going on?” I sit on the stool.

  She takes a deep worried breath. Her eyes scan from the counter, the mug, to me, and then behind me. I whisk around to Blain coming from the living room. He’s wearing a solemn face and now my heart is in my throat.

  “What the fuck is going on?” I d
emand.

  He sits beside me and pats my leg.

  Holly pulls her phone out and pushes a few buttons then looks up to me. “I saw this last night and didn’t want you to find out the way I did.”

  Horror. Pain. Heartache. Echoes of my heart shattering blasts my ears.

  The Leveler Enjoys His Time in the City after Training

  Directly under the caption are a slew of pictures. I snatch her phone from her hand. One picture is of him holding hands with a woman at a club, nuzzled into her neck. Another picture is with the same woman and still holding hands laughing. Then several pictures of him and Katie in a club. He’s leaning over the table toward her, and in the other she’s pulling his hand. And the last photo is of him and a short guy.

  I look up to Holly. “What the hell is this?”

  “I asked the TV the same question.”

  Blain squeezes my knee. “Before you jump to any conclusions, I think you need to call him. Those other women could have been a time before you.”

  I look to him disgusted. “I’m beyond any conclusions, Blain.” I jerk to my feet. “And why the fuck do you always have his back? You’re supposed to be my brother.”

  I storm to my room and slam the door behind me. But before I can grab my phone to call him, it’s ringing and it’s him.

  “Oh, do you have perfect timing,” I bite at the video.

  His blue eyes are ablaze like a maniac with rage and worry. “Take it you saw it too?”

  “What the hell, Levi?”

  “Every single one of those pictures are taken way out of context.”

  “I…” I pause. I don’t know if I want to scream or cry. “How am I supposed to handle this? For fuck’s sake, I didn’t know you had been going to the club until just the other day, let alone seeing other girls.”

  “Paige, I swear it’s not what it looks like.”

  “You tell me that all the time!” I yell. “Are we even what it looks like?”

  “Those pictures are harmless. I was telling her not to waste her time.”

  “Oh! So you felt so bad for her you held her hand and did whatever the fuck you were doing to her ear?”

  “That’s when I was telling her. Other people were around and I didn’t want to hurt her feelings.”