Now that I have gotten rid of my Aunt Stacy, I look over at Izzy mouthing at her to go help my aunt. She doesn’t budge at first, but the desperate look I’m giving her finally has her grabbing Bethany’s hand, “We are going to go help Stacy carry the food, we will be right back.”
“What’s going on Candice, you were just fine until I told you what London was up to.”
“It’s complicated, just promise me something. You won’t tell anyone, not a single soul Liam. I also need to ask a big favor, I need you to talk to London and find out more about her plans. I have to know.”
“She’s going to be suspicious if I call her out of the blue. There is no way she will tell me anything.”
“You have to find an angle, it’s London, it can’t be that difficult.” I say to him, slowly rising up on my feet with his help.
“Look beautiful, I’m all for saving a damsel in distress, but I think you should talk to someone about this. As soon as I said Christopher Price your face went pale, and you passed out.”
“That’s my biological father okay,” I say on a whisper. I don’t want to tell him any of this, but there is no one else to help me with London and find out why she is writing him. Also how she found out about my past. “You’ll probably learn all you need to know from London, just try not to judge me too much when you do. So will you please do this for me?”
He helps me over to the table, watching me for a solid minute. When I see the girls heading back my body stiffens in apprehension. I’m just hoping he agrees and keeps his mouth shut.
“You got it beautiful, but I’m going to need your number so I can text you when I need to.”
I tell him my number, trying to do it fast, so no one else hears me give him it.
My aunt sits a tray of food in front of me. I have my choice of nachos, French fries, a burger, or corn dog. To wash it all down she got me lemonade, packed with sugar. Not really wanting to talk, I start shoving food into my mouth, hoping they get the hint and allow me to eat in piece. The food is tasteless, it smells disgusting, and I have to force swallow every bite. I’m trying not to have an anxiety attack, so I’m thinking about anything just to keep my mind off the one thing I probably should be concerned about. The girls start talking around me, so I just shut off my brain, and listen to the mindless chatter nodding and smiling at the right times.
“Are you sure you still want to go play laser tag?” Stacy asks me. I am leaning into her car through the passenger window, “They will understand if you’re not up to it tonight.”
“I’m fine, go home and spend some time with Uncle Troy, I’ll see you sometime Sunday.”
“Okay, Okay, I’m leaving, but call me if you need me.”
“I will. Bye Aunt Stacy.”
I walk over to the group, Jasper immediately hugging me close to his body. I made Bethany and Izzy promise not to mention my little incident at the mall earlier. It took some convincing but they both agreed. Looking up at him, I see that the side of his eyebrow is bruised and has a small cut.
“What happened to your face?” I say, reaching up grabbing his cheeks.
“My sparring partner was an asshole.” He says, looking over at K.J.
That’s when I notice that K.J. has a busted lip, and looks just as awful as Jasper. I shake my head at both the boys, wondering how they can still be friends after they beat each other’s faces in. Izzy clears her throat, looking around the group.
“So this is how it’s going to be, girls versus boys, the losers have to nominate one of their team members to streak on our way out of the arcade.”
“Well Izzy, we accept your challenge, don’t we guys?” Daltons aks.
K.J. and Jasper look at each other, shrugging their shoulders. Izzy really screwed us, there is no way we will beat the boys, I have never played before.
I look up at Jasper, “You’ll take it easy on me right?”
“All is fair in love and war baby.” Then he smacks me on the butt before walking to the door, holding it open for all of us to enter.
Chapter 26
Jasper
We’re separated into our groups of three. Our team color is blue and the girls are green. They put us on opposite ends of the room, which is about the size of a football field. The only lights in here are black lights, which illuminate the neon post and obstacles they have throughout the field. Before they separated us I told Candice to hide in a small dark place. That I would come find her. There is no way I am letting the girls lose, no one gets to see my girl naked but me.
“Game starts now.” A voice says from the speakers on the walls.
We immediately split up, thinking the girls would have stuck together. I hurry around obstacles trying to find them before K.J. and Dalton. I see a flash of green scurry around a bright orange wall, but they move away too fast for me to catch whoever it is.
“Candice” I whisper. Trying to see if she is close enough to answer me. I don’t hear any response so I continue my trek around the field, every now and again catching glimpses of flashing green lights.
Three minutes into the game, I still haven’t found Candice, and I’m starting to think she didn’t take my advice. Just when I’m about to turn around and do a double take, my vest goes solid red, letting me know I have been hit from behind. I turn around to a smiling Candice, Bethany, and Izzy. Just as I suspected. They are playing the numbers game.
Walking back to the spot I started in, my vest gun unlocks, and I head off again. This time I’m going after them. If we do win, I won’t let them vote Candice in. I manage to get all the girls at least twice, but it’s not easy. They move quickly as a unit, meeting back up after one gets shot at a location I never did find.
The lights turn on to the room, letting us know our fifteen minutes are up. Walking back to the entrance hallway, I see that the green team is the winner. Their team having more kills then ours. In the hallway I find Dalton with his head down listening to the girl’s laughter. Just when I’m about to ask where K.J. is, I see him walk in.
“How did a bunch of girls beat us?” Dalton asks, looking back and forth between me and K.J.
“We were smart, we stuck together, and stalked our prey like true predators.” Izzy says. “Plus it doesn’t hurt that K.J. never shot us, he would just sneak up on us and tap our shoulders, what a gentleman he is.”
“You did what?” Dalton yells, “Just for that, I nominate you to streak out of this hallway, all the way through the arcade back to the parking lot.”
“Alright, I nominate Dalton. Jasper?” K.J. questions, looking over at me.
“You got us into this mess, even though I don’t think there isn’t a girl out there that hasn’t seen your meat thermometer, I nominate you Dalton. We will just be outside waiting.
We are not waiting long before we see Dalton hauling ass out of the front doors, heading straight for Bethany. She is holding his clothes for him, standing by his car. Candice is standing beside me, covering her eyes, laughing along with everyone else. Izzy is recording the whole thing on her phone. Insisting she is going to put it on the internet. K.J. is standing close to Izzy, pretending not to pay attention to anyone, but every now and again I see him look at Izzy from the corner of his eye. It’s a good thing we lost, because If any of these girls had to strip, there would be one pissed off male the other two would have to attend to.
“Hey Dalton, Knock Knock?” Izzy asks. He is now fully dressed and walking back toward our group.
“Who’s there?”
“Winter breeze?”
“Winter breeze who?”
“The winter breeze that just came through to help excuse the size of your little friend.”
Everyone starts laughing, I think I even hear K.J. chuckle before his face goes blank again. We all say our goodbyes not long after, splitting up into pairs. I volunteer to drop Izzy off but K.J. insist she can wear his helmet plus she is already on the bike before he can change his mind. Dalton is bringing Bethany home, so that gives Candice an
d I some alone time before those two get home.
On the ride home Candice is busy texting someone, probably her aunt, so we don’t talk much. I’m glad she decided to have a girl’s day after school. I know I take a lot of her time. This last week of training, we won’t have that much time to ourselves. My fight is next Saturday and I have to be at my best.
Chapter 27
Candice
Jasper dropped me off at home since I have been at his house for the past two nights. I was invited to stay for Sunday dinner but declined. Liam texted me asking if he could come over tonight. He has some news about London and said he would rather tell me in person.
Hearing a knock on the front door, I race to the living room, trying to get there before Stacy does. I know she would never say anything but just the idea of someone knowing Liam is here, makes me feel guilty. I know I have nothing to feel guilty about, It’s not like I am going to continue to hide this from everyone, including Jasper. I just need to tell them after I find out all the facts. I don’t want to seem like a paranoid freak.
“Hey Liam, do you mind if we talk outside. I don’t want my aunt to overhear.”
“Sure, no problem,” he says, turning around taking a seat on the first step of the walkway.
I close the door and sit beside him. I say nothing, choosing to be silent, hoping that will give him the hint to just start talking.
“So… London completely bought my reasoning for calling her. I told her I needed to find a way to get rid of you, so Jasper will be thrown off his game, and I can easily win the fight.”
“I told you she hated me enough to believe anything.”
“I want to start off by telling you I looked up everything she claimed she found online about you. Google really can make any obsessed stalker into a detective. You don’t have to say anything. I just wanted to be clear that the newspapers in your home town had several articles on your story.”
He pauses, long enough to look at me and see if I’m going to comment. I just tuck my head into my chest and wait for him to continue. Of course I knew the newspaper’s had a field day writing about what happened that night. I never read them. Never had the nerve to look them up. Why would I want to read about something I have imprinted into my memory?
“Anyway, they did a follow up story, and since no one could find out where you went, it was mostly on your dad.”
I cringe when he says that, there was never a day in my life I called Christopher dad. That name is not a given, it’s earned, and the only thing he ever earned from me was my hatred.
“He is set to be released from prison at the end of this month, and London being the vindictive snake she is, wrote to him in prison. He knows where you live Candice. He knows where you go to school, and he knows who you hang out with. Everyone but Jasper that is. London said she would never put him in danger with a complete maniac like Christopher. “
My blood runs cold in my veins, I turn my head towards him, looking into his eyes I ask the only question that matters, “Are you positive? You know without a doubt she wrote him, and he is getting out?”
“I saw the letters, I even read the ones he wrote back to her. They both blame you for their wrong doings, he promises retribution on both their behalf’s, and she promised him money to help him settle here in town. “
I sit just staring at the ground for what has to be twenty minutes. There is no way he won’t come to Tampa and do what he has promised. He went to prison, based on the statement I gave the cops. Realizing what I must do. I stand up to walk back into the house.
“Thank you Liam, you didn’t have to help, I know you probably have questions, but I don’t talk about that night. No amount of gratitude will change that.”
“I understand,” He says, pulling me in for a hug, “Just promise me you’ll go to the cops Candice. I will give them my statement.”
“London’s dad is in politics Liam. It would be different if you had proof.”
“I tried to get her to email me them, but she refused, and made me go to her house to read them.”
“There you have it, cops are not an option for me, never have been.”
I say goodbye to Liam, then walk into the kitchen where I hear Stacy singing, which means she must be baking. Walking through the door, she looks up at me and her smile instantly falls. Rushing over to me as her mixing spoon falls to the floor.
“Candice honey, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen the devil himself.”
The wording makes me laugh, not a funny laugh. No its more like the laughter of a person that is on the verge of losing it.
“Funny you say that, I just found out that Christopher is getting out of prison.” Her face goes pale, and she grabs my shoulder, begging me with her eyes to finish my statement. “The real kicker is, he has decided to move to Tampa and do the one thing he lives to regret apparently. You wanna take a guess on what that one regret is?... No… okay.. Ill just tell you. Killing me.”
The last words come out a whisper, and my walls break down, right there in my aunt’s kitchen her sliding down to the floor with me. Cradling me in her arms like my mother used to do, hollering for Uncle Troy.
Chapter 28
Jasper
I hear the crowd cheering from the auditorium, while I ‘m warming up in the locker room. There were five fights before ours, now there is just one five-minute round, before I step into the Octagon and take the head off this mother fucker. Earlier today, I received SMS messages of Candice and Liam at the mall, from an unknown number. There in his arms, that are about to be removed from his body, is my girl, he is holding her with a smile on his face. The next ones are of them talking to each other, sitting on opposite sides of a table. I thought she was with Izzy, Bethany, and Stacy but they are nowhere to be seen.
The door opens to my left, so I turn my head to see who entered, It’s K.J. and Dalton. Both are here to go over some combinations with me. Coach Roy is down at the entrance, showing Carolina and Trevor to their seats, and waiting on Candice for me. I’m not going to mention the photos to her, not before the fight anyway. I don’t want to upset her right before she watches me do the one thing she hates. She is going to sit by Dalton’s family, but I wanted to see her before the fight, so Roy is going to bring her to me.
I’m working up a pretty good sweat, hitting the bag Dalton is holding up for me. I have worked on my precision this week, trying to make sure I make every strike count. I feel like Liam will be slower coming at me in the first round, trying to gauge my reactions to his style. Then come at me hard after that. My goal is to wear him down, keep control in there, then move in for the kill and KO him in the second round. K.J. wants me to try for a first round knockout, but I want to toy with him a little, see the fear in his eyes.
I hear the door open again. This time I’m standing in the middle of the room, drinking some water, wiping the sweat off me face. I see Candice enter right behind Roy, her eyes looking at me without the glow I have come to love. This past week there has been something off with her, she has regressed back to that girl I found the first day of school. Every time I ask her about it, she denies anything is wrong, and causes me to lose my train of thought by doing all the wonderful things she has learned with her mouth.
“Come here, Gorgeous.”
She walks to me without thought, wrapping her arms around as much of me as she can. Holding me. I return the embrace, kissing her on top of the head. Roy clears his throat in the corner and then looks at Dalton and K.J.,
“Let’s give them some privacy boys.”
They all leave, patting me on the back, telling Candice bye. They will walk out with me and stand with coach Roy in my corner tonight.
“Are you nervous or having second thoughts about being here?” I ask.
“Nervous, yes. Second thoughts, no. There is no other place I want to be. I know this means a lot to you. If it gets to be too much, I’ll just close my eyes.”
“Is there anything you want to tell me Candice?”
I feel her body go taught next to mine, her body telling me what she won’t, “You’ve been acting a little off this week, I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
“There is nothing wrong Jasper. I’ve got some stuff on my mind. Just concentrate on the fight, that should be your priority tonight.”
I pick her up into my arms, her legs immediately wrapping around my waist. Looking into her beautiful blue eyes that are shinning with unshed tears, I hear the announcer’s voice through the walls, declaring Frank “The Hammer” Natali as the winner by decision. I know any minute now; we will be interrupted by everyone returning.
“You have thirty minutes, then we will be in this room once again, but this time you will be telling me what is going on not trying to hide it from me.”
She nods her head in understanding, before she places her lips to mine, effectively shutting me up. The kiss is slow, not rushed or sloppy. She deepens it, pulling me in tighter. I give her everything I have in that kiss, because something feels weird. Almost like she is trying to kiss me goodbye.
I hear the door open, and break the kiss, setting Candice back down on her feet. Her cheeks turn the sexiest shade of pink, and she rest her forehead on my bare chest, blocking anyone from seeing her embarrassment.
“They are about to walk Liam out, it’s time for Dalton to walk Candice to her seat.”
“I’ll see you in thirty,” I say winking at her, when she lifts her head off my chest. K.J. is holding the door open for her, as soon as she walks through I let the darkness consume me once again. I was born to fight my way up. Born to take what I want.
I hear the crowd yell, and Liam’s music start over the system when K.J opens the door to return. I square my shoulders, and look at my team. I don’t have to say thank you, they know I wouldn’t be here without them. We pat each other on the back and leave the room fully prepared to come back and celebrate the win.
Tearing Away (Fatally Flawed Book 1) Page 13